In a disheartening exchange, Mississippi State Representative Jonathan Parker dismissed a concerned mother’s plea regarding her daughter’s healthcare needs, suggesting she simply buy her own medications.
Jessica Miller, a mother of an eight-year-old with Type 1 diabetes, has depended on Medicaid for the past three years to obtain the necessary supplies for her daughter’s insulin pump. However, after the supply company was changed six months ago, Medicaid ceased coverage for the new supplier. Miller reached out to 23 different companies in hopes of finding one that would accept Medicaid, but to no avail.
In a bid for assistance, she sent a respectful letter outlining her struggles to her state representatives. One of them, Parker, responded with an insensitively blunt message. Miller expressed her astonishment at Parker’s lack of empathy, noting that he seemed to assume that her family was merely seeking a handout.
Miller’s husband also battles Type 1 diabetes and works two jobs to support the family. In addition to her advocacy efforts, she manages an online community called Living with Type 1 Diabetes. Despite their hard work, the family faces exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $2,000 each month for medical supplies and medications.
Miller detailed the staggering costs in her response to Parker:
- Insulin: $400 per vial (two vials monthly for her daughter, three for her husband)
- Additional insulin: $150 per vial (for emergency pump failures)
- Test strips: $300 monthly (per individual)
- Insulin pump supplies: $375 monthly (per individual)
- Continuous glucose monitor sensors: $300 monthly (per individual)
- Glucagon: $450 per syringe
- Ketone strips: $80 for a box of 10
- $150 monthly for various smaller prescriptions, including adhesives and glucose gels.
She stressed that the cost of insulin alone is equivalent to her mortgage payment, emphasizing its vital role in keeping her daughter alive.
Initially, Parker declined to comment publicly, stating he “doesn’t conduct interviews.” However, following the viral spread of Miller’s story, he issued a statement acknowledging his remarks as “insensitive and out of line.” He expressed regret but failed to address the specifics of Miller’s situation and the overwhelming frustration many families face when dealing with insurance companies. He likely has not experienced the same challenges they endure.
Fortunately, since the incident garnered significant attention, Miller has been contacted by Medicaid, which may soon provide coverage for her daughter’s essential medical supplies. Furthermore, Parker is up for reelection in 2019, an opportunity for constituents to voice their concerns.
For those interested in home insemination, this is a great time to explore options like fertility boosters for men, which can be found in our post here. If you are looking for comprehensive tools, the at-home insemination kit is an excellent resource too. Additionally, for more information about fertility treatment, consider visiting this valuable resource.
In summary, Jessica Miller’s experience highlights the challenges faced by families relying on Medicaid for critical medical supplies, particularly when confronted with insensitive responses from public officials. Increased awareness and advocacy may lead to improved support for those in similar situations.
Keyphrase: Medicaid struggles for diabetic families
Tags: home insemination kit, home insemination syringe, self insemination