[Nfbmo] Writing to your House and Senate Members

[Gary Wunder]

Folks, if there was ever a time to write about the medical benefits you
need, that time is now. Your representative needs to hear from you; by
entering your nine digit zipcode on the Missouri House of Representatives
site, you can get the instructions for how to contact your state senator and
representative. The address you will want is
http://www.house.mo.gov/
 
The House will vote soon and they may vote to pass cuts to what you receive.
The Senate has no such proposal before them but will when they get the bill
from the House. The time is now to write to your House members asking them
not to pass this transfer of money and to write your senator asking that
they not pass it should the house do so.
 
My letter is enclosed just to give you an idea how to write, but your story
is more important than anything I have said.
 
Dear Representative Webber:
 
I hope you will oppose the move to remove blind Missourians who receive the
Missouri Blind Pension from the medical care that has been provided since
1967.  There are reasons aplenty why this legislation was enacted, and many
people who would be removed from the medical care they now receive would not
qualify for other insurance due to pre-existing conditions or could not
afford such insurance were it to be made available.  Many people who are
blind suffer from other medical conditions, usually those that caused
blindness.  People who suffer from glaucoma can pay hundreds of dollars per
month for eyedrops, doctor visits, and surgeries to try to regulate the
pressure that will keep them from losing their eyes.  Those who do lose
their eyes will find that most insurance will not cover prosthetic devices
because they conclude that filling the hole in one's head with an artificial
I is a cosmetic device.  Many people who are blind suffer from diabetes
which requires that they by special equipment to audibly announce blood
sugar readings. 
 
If some blind recipients are able to transfer to Medicare Part D, they will
still find their cost for drugs significantly increased. The co-pay for
drugs under Medicare part D, the doughnut hole, and the co-pay after
benefits are once again reinstated is likely to cost many blind Missourians
in excess of $5,500 a year.

While there are a number of blind people who have successfully benefited
from the services of rehabilitation services for the blind and now enjoy
remunerative employment, more than 70% of all blind people are unemployed,
and of those who are employed, it is estimated that only 30% are employed at
jobs commensurate with their talent and education.  Please consider all of
this as you decide how you will vote on the proposed transfer of $28 million
now used for services to blind people and proposed for higher education.

Thank you for reading and considering my letter.
 
Gary Wunder, president
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri