As the mother of three children living with a chronic bleeding disorder, I understand all too well the worry and importance of having access to effective healthcare, and the stakes for those who don’t. Unfortunately, as the unintended consequence of new insurance regulations, many chronically ill South Carolinians are on the verge of being unnecessarily imperiled, and swift corrective action is needed.
At the height of their childhood, three of my five children were diagnosed with hemophilia, a condition that results in abnormal blood clotting. Without careful monitoring and regular, and often costly, treatments, hemophilia can cause excessive bleeding – the results of which can be life-threatening. Fortunately for our family, a non-profit patient assistance program stepped in during our greatest hour of need to provide temporary help and access to the expensive treatments and services necessary for our children’s survival.