DeJoie for Congress
Democrat for New Hampshire's 2nd District
Democrat for New Hampshire's 2nd District
Michelle's Law
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Michelle's Law is named after Michelle Morse, a 20 year old college student who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2003. Michelle was advised by her doctor to take a medical leave from college to receive aggressive chemotherapy, and Michelle and her family believed that the insurance coverage that they’d been paying for over many years would cover the costly chemotherapy she needed.
However, when the family informed the insurance company of Michelle’s diagnosis, they told the family that Michelle would lose her insurance if she did not remain a full-time student. Michelle’s family was unable to afford the costly COBRA payments involved if she took a leave of absence from school. So Michelle remained a full-time student while also receiving the debilitating weekly chemotherapy treatments she needed to fight her cancer. Michelle's mother, Annmarie Morse, brought this story to the NH Legislature with the hope of bringing some degree of fairness to this one small aspect of insurance regulatory policy.
HB 37 (2005) was introduced to correct this injustice. After languishing for several months, HB 37 was slated to be killed in committee because it was seen as an insurance mandate. When I became aware of the bill, I appreciated the importance of the legislation to New Hampshire’s families, and began working with Michelle, Annmarie, and the bill's sponsor, to keep the bill alive. After successfully blocking the bill’s demise, the first thing we did was work to rename the bill Michelle’s Law. Understanding the personal and compelling nature of Michelle’s story, I began arranging for Annmarie and Michelle to tell their story more publicly. After appearing on every major news station in New England and in most daily newspapers in New Hampshire and Boston, Annmarie and Michelle were instrumental in helping Michelle’s Law became law in 2006. Unfortunately, the law couldn't save Michelle, who died November 10, 2005. But her legacy is significant. Because of Michelle, legislation similar to Michelle’s Law has been enacted in 30 states. On October 9, 2009, Michelle’s Law became a federal law.
Because of Michelle’s — and her family’s — courage and advocacy, no other family will have to go through the heartbreak that the Morse family did. Michelle's Law ensures that college students can take a medical leave of absence without losing their health insurance.
When Michelle’s Law was finally signed into law by the Governor, the bill ‘s sponsor noted "If John DeJoie hadn't gotten involved with Michelle's Law, it never would have happened.
However, when the family informed the insurance company of Michelle’s diagnosis, they told the family that Michelle would lose her insurance if she did not remain a full-time student. Michelle’s family was unable to afford the costly COBRA payments involved if she took a leave of absence from school. So Michelle remained a full-time student while also receiving the debilitating weekly chemotherapy treatments she needed to fight her cancer. Michelle's mother, Annmarie Morse, brought this story to the NH Legislature with the hope of bringing some degree of fairness to this one small aspect of insurance regulatory policy.
HB 37 (2005) was introduced to correct this injustice. After languishing for several months, HB 37 was slated to be killed in committee because it was seen as an insurance mandate. When I became aware of the bill, I appreciated the importance of the legislation to New Hampshire’s families, and began working with Michelle, Annmarie, and the bill's sponsor, to keep the bill alive. After successfully blocking the bill’s demise, the first thing we did was work to rename the bill Michelle’s Law. Understanding the personal and compelling nature of Michelle’s story, I began arranging for Annmarie and Michelle to tell their story more publicly. After appearing on every major news station in New England and in most daily newspapers in New Hampshire and Boston, Annmarie and Michelle were instrumental in helping Michelle’s Law became law in 2006. Unfortunately, the law couldn't save Michelle, who died November 10, 2005. But her legacy is significant. Because of Michelle, legislation similar to Michelle’s Law has been enacted in 30 states. On October 9, 2009, Michelle’s Law became a federal law.
Because of Michelle’s — and her family’s — courage and advocacy, no other family will have to go through the heartbreak that the Morse family did. Michelle's Law ensures that college students can take a medical leave of absence without losing their health insurance.
When Michelle’s Law was finally signed into law by the Governor, the bill ‘s sponsor noted "If John DeJoie hadn't gotten involved with Michelle's Law, it never would have happened.
