On October 9th, a new federal law went into effect allowing college students with serious illnesses to take a one year leave of absence from college while still retaining health insurance coverage through their parents’ plan. Before the legislation, students could only stay on their parents’ plan if they took a full course load.
The American Cancer Society estimated that the law would help 2,400 students who would be diagnosed with cancer in 2009, reported Fred Hintz in the “Daily Orange.”
The campaign for the law was led by New Hampshire residents AnnMarie and Glen Morse. Their daughter, Michelle, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003 while attending Plymouth State University pursuing a degree in teaching. After the diagnosis Michelle took a full course load to avoid accruing health care costs that her family couldn’t afford.
The Morses first campaigned to pass this bill through the New Hampshire legislature. When the bill was signed into state law in 2006, one year after Michelle’s death in 2005, the Morses decided to promote their legislation nationally. They were rewarded in 2008 when George W. Bush signed their bill into law.
The activation of the bill has drawn Morse’s story back into the spotlight just as the ongoing health care debate reaches a climax with the upcoming vote on reform legislation.
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