Good news!!!

YAYAYAYAYAY!

You’ll never guess who called!

None other than one of NH’s finest representatives and Health Care Reform Supporter: Congressman Paul Hodes!

I met him very briefly in August right after his victory in passing “Michelle’s Law.”

This law was inspired by real-life cancer warrior Michelle Morse, who was a full time college student at Plymouth State University when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Her doctors advised her to take a medical leave while undergoing chemotherapy, but she could not because she would lose her family's health insurance.

Michelle passed away after graduating from Plymouth State University with honors.

The goal was to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that dependent students who take a medically necessary leave of absence do not lose health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.

Paul Hodes sponsored this bill with the support of Anne Marie’s Morse, Michelle’s mother so, "No other family will have to walk in our shoes and fight to keep the coverage they pay for to keep their seriously ill or injured college student on their policy," AnnMarie Morse said. " I am pleased that no other family or college-student will have to make the choice Michelle had to make, choosing between her health insurance or her education."

Helping turn one families’ loss into a nationwide improvement has earned Rep. Hodes my admiration and ensures that Michelle did not die in vain.

I can’t count the times I’ve cried and prayed that no family will ever have to suffer the pain and stress we have by fighting for my life and to maintain insurance coverage throughout treatment.

This is a feat not even I could accomplish as a young woman well educated in the health care system with the best support system available.

I was purged from my life insurance company immediately upon formally leaving my employer, and was purged from my disability company 4 years after starting the receipt of my benefits.

If I couldn’t maintain my coverage while sick, nobody can.

Hopefully the regulations set forth in the upcoming healthcare reform will protect patients, who do not have the wealth or energy to make their needs clear, from oppressive tactics such as these.

Oh, and more good news, I’m home from the hospital with my family!