LETTERS

Rep. Naughton's compassion

Posted 9/8/16

To the Editor: I am writing this letter to share an experience I had with Rep. Eileen Naughton and would like the people of Warwick to know what a compassionate, caring, and professional person she is. I have one daughter. I raised her myself as a single

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LETTERS

Rep. Naughton's compassion

Posted

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to share an experience I had with Rep. Eileen Naughton and would like the people of Warwick to know what a compassionate, caring, and professional person she is.

I have one daughter. I raised her myself as a single mom working two jobs to make ends meet. When my daughter was 13 years old, she became sick. An active child involved in sports and other activities, she suddenly started suffering with pain and was unable to eat or live her normal life. She was eventually admitted to the hospital. After a lengthy stay and lots of testing, she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease. Following her diagnosis, she underwent treatment with chemotherapy and high doses of steroids. Although she was healing, the years that followed were also difficult as we dealt with the effects of this horrible disease.

As you can imagine, all of the hospitalizations, treatment, and doctor visits were expensive. I was grateful to have health insurance through my employer, and her father also had her on his health insurance plan. Being on both insurance plans meant that her medical expenses were completely covered; for example, in our case my insurance would pay 80 percent of hospital stays, prescriptions, etc. and her father’s insurance would pick up the remaining 20 percent. Without his coverage, I would have had to pay the remaining 20 percent out of pocket, which would have been tens of thousands of dollars.

One day, I was picking up one of her many prescriptions from the pharmacy. I was told that I had to pay a large sum of money. Because my daughter had recently turned 18 years old, her father decided to remove her from his insurance. Having her on his insurance was at no cost to him, as he had a family plan which covered his other children.

I did not know what I was going to do. My daughter was getting ready to attend college, and I knew there would likely be flare ups of her disease and I needed to keep her double covered. I tried going to court about the situation, but the judge told me that this was the law and he had his right. I did not feel the law was being fair to my daughter. She never was a part of the “system.” I always worked to support her and wanted the best for her.

When I got back home on this day in 1997 I thought to myself, “if this is the law, I should call the State Rep for my area.” I called City Hall and got the name of Eileen Naughton. I placed a call leaving a brief message. The next day she called me back, we had never met each other and I felt like I had known her for years. After telling her my story, she said she would do her best to help me. I had to return to court. She offered to go with me and met me there at the next court date.

After court she told me she was going to introduce a bill to change the law. The law was changed so in cases where a child has an illness or disability, and parents are separated, both parents must keep the child on their insurance as long as they are a student or until they reach age 21. Because Rep. Naughton helped us, I was able to keep both coverages for my daughter. I am very grateful to Eileen for going above and beyond to help not just my daughter, but the countless others that have benefited from her efforts. Patricia Santos

Warwick

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  • Scott58

    Eileen Naughton really, really must go! When I contacted her about gov Gina Raimondo's horrible Road Works car/truck highway tolls bill, she was arrogant, belittling, and did not in the least want to hear my concerns. She was already planning to vote for the car/truck tolls, since that's what speaker Mattiello told her to do.

    She did just that and voted YES on TOLLS, which is NOW state law. Once these toll gantries are put up all over Rhode Island you and I are going to pay big-time!

    Eileen always goes along with leadership.. she is the poster child of "go along to get along". Just look at her horrible voting record of voting with leadership for special interest and corporate give- aways: 38 Studios, Truck Tolls..... She is giving away your and my money!

    She wouldn't know what an independent thought was if it fell on her head!

    Please remember on Tuesday, September 13th to vote for anyone but Rep Eileen Naughton! She has been in the legislature far far too long and believes she is better and smarter than you or me. I think she may even have known Roger Williams....that's way too long to serve.

    You would think that perhaps out of some sense of community fairness she would step aside and let someone else have an opportunity to serve.

    Please remember to vote this Tuesday, September 13th and let Eileen Naughton know she is Not better than you or me. She must go!

    Please Vote for DAVID KRUZONA or CAMILLE F VELLA WILKINSON.... Even if only by accident either one would have to be better than the status quo!

    Sunday, September 11, 2016 Report this