Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Page H3309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DANIEL DESNOYERS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
California (Mr. Khanna) for 5 minutes.
Mr. KHANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell the sad story of Daniel
Desnoyers, who took his own life because he did not have the money to
buy the basic drugs that he needed for his mental health issues.
Daniel Desnoyers was a young man who struggled with depression and
psychosis, mental health issues that show no physical symptoms but take
a deep psychological toll on those whom they afflict.
Daniel did the right thing. He purchased health insurance through the
New York health insurance marketplace from Fidelis, a subsidiary of
massive international conglomerate Centene Corporation.
In March, Daniel went to the pharmacy to refill his prescription for
risperidone, an antipsychotic medication that he needed. He was
informed by the pharmacy that he no longer had health insurance and the
1-month refill would cost him $250.
Now, to some people, $250 may not seem like a lot of money, but to
Daniel it was. According to a 2018 study by the Federal Reserve, 40
percent of Americans would not be able to cover an unexpected $400
expense. Daniel, unfortunately, was one of them.
So he did not buy the medicine, and he began to ration his
antipsychotic medicine, taking it every other day until he could get
his insurance back. He contacted his provider, Fidelis, at the
beginning of April when he learned that they had canceled his plan
because he missed a $20 payment.
Fidelis didn't immediately reinstate the plan. Instead, the company
informed him that his coverage would not resume until May 1. This meant
another month without a refill of his prescription, another month
without the medicine Daniel needed to function. His ration of medicine
had run out.
On April 9, filled with thoughts of suicide--a listed side effect for
antipsychotic drug withdrawal--Daniel superglued his seatbelt shut,
posted a farewell message on Facebook, and drove his truck into the
river, ending his life.
Daniel Desnoyers died at the age of 29 because he was late paying $20
to a corporation that pulled in more than $60 billion in 2018.
Something is deeply wrong in this country where we let a young man
die because he cannot afford medicine that he needs and when his
insurance is taken away because of a $20 missed payment. Daniel died
because we have a system that puts profits over patients.
A healthcare system that does not guarantee basic care for all people
is a healthcare system that is broken. Medicare for All could have
prevented Daniel's death, and it could prevent the death of so many
others. Lloyd Doggett's pharmaceutical bill that would hold these
pharmaceutical companies accountable could have prevented Daniel's
death.
Twenty-eight million Americans are still uninsured, and millions more
are saddled with high deductibles and high premium plans which lead
them to forgo the care they need. Medicare for All is the plan that
will guarantee every American the basic care that they have a right to.
Daniel Desnoyers wasn't a perfect man and he didn't lead a perfect
life, but he tried, and our Nation owes it to him and others like him
to make sure that they have the medicine they need to live with
dignity.
I will continue to fight for Daniel, for his father, for his family,
and for all Americans.
____________________