The now infamous WorldCom (remember them?) got its start in Mississippi when officials in numerous state agencies and colleges began switching unexplainably phone service providers to Bernie Ebbers' startup around 1990 - giving him an instant revenue stream in the millions with almost no startup costs (other than a little grease, if you know whut I mean).

The rest, of course, is history - but the really big losers were ultimately Mississippians themselves (institutions and individuals), many of whom lost a bundle when the WorldCom house of cards came tumbling down.

the guy needs to get out more but then, he is a republican who does not care

They have created in their own warped minds a caricature of people needing assistance and they are closed to reality or facts.

and he'd be really happy to spend twice as much state money keeping the mother in prison for not being able to afford the medication and supplies that would have kept her alive.

I do hope ads keep hammering away at this heartless SOB to get him out of office and keep him out.

so they don't have to provide any benefits.

I hate republicans.

are mentally challenged. Can't help it

just in case

I moved to OS when I was around six years old, and moved away in 1999 when I went to university. Small world!

I still miss Aunt Jenny's catfish...

Last edited Wed Jun 29, 2016, 02:46 PM - Edit history (1)

I grew up in Ocean Springs, and I'm 99% sure that this Jeffrey Guice is the father of a kid I graduated with. When we were in middle school and junior high, he was pretty much just like any other kid.

Then we hit high school, and he seemed to "realize" that because his family was rich and influential he was a special snowflake. He and I were friends until he came to the conclusion that my family wasn't wealthy enough to be worth his notice. I didn't live in Gulf Hills, so of course I was riffraff. I can absolutely imagine the kid I knew saying very much the same thing.

To people like this guy, anyone who struggles to make ends meet is clearly just lazy, or stupid, or some combination of the two. Why, if your kid needs costly medication, just work harder!

EDIT: On reading the caption by the image, apparently this guy only joined the legislature in 2008, so it can't be my father's classmate. I'd be willing to bet he's an uncle or something, though, and my main point remains the same: the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

The people at the top need more zeroes in their bank accounts more than the people at the bottom need nutritious food, medical care, quality housing, and higher education. We must, after all, keep our priorities straight here...

Welcome to DU!

I've lurked and read for a number of years, only very recently decided to create an account. I'm enjoying being able to take part in the discussion rather than just watching from the sidelines.

to have to worry about her daughter, and to put up with this crap from an elected representative is beyond the pale.

I am diabetic type II. I have done everything needed (normally) to control it. I've lost 100 lbs. I exercise not as much as I should but as much as I can tolerate due to chronic pain. However my meds have increased. My insulin is at a cost of 3 vials a month $300. When I had no insurance I went to a free clinic and received my meds at no cost. I now have medical assistance and I don't have to pay the $300, there is absolutely no cost to me.

I constantly worry about what happens when I am 65 covered by Medicare (I will opt for a Medicare advantage plan) and how I will pay for these meds, whose price will continue to grow.

This is how quickly the price increases:

This was last week's post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027617436

Today I went to pick up the prescription of Santyl for mom. Last week we paid $60 after receiving a $150 discount from the drug company, and mom paying $60 ($50 + $10 over the $200 mark).

The pharmacist rings up the prescription and asks for $145. I said no, it was $60 with the discount last week (Monday the 15th). He goes to the computer checks and comes back and says the $145 is with the company paying $150. I said the drug can't go up $85-$90 in one week, he says yes it can.

I declined the medication had it transferred to Walmart, where I find the goodrx.com price to be $214.80. The coupon/discount will be $150, so mom's payment will be about $64.80.

I'm not in disbelief that a pharmaceutical company will up the price by $90 in one week, especially one that discontinued the generic/cheaper version of this salve. I've also found out that since 2013, the increase in prescriptions for Santyl is about 25%, which is a reason this company is doing this.

This is obscene.

Can you place the phrase "GRAPHIC!!!!" Next to the link for the photo of this "person?!"

My son says the ACA just made people have to buy insurance and is not helping him. He is generally healthy (so far), but is allergic to bees. The epinephrine pens he carries in case of a sting used to be about $13. Now a two-pack is about $500.

You'll have to provide a lot more info for anyone to be able to help your son get the info he needs. Something must be terribly wrong with your state if the ACA "is not helping."

This is really terrible for your son. Please reply with as much info as possible on the makes and models of the epi-pens you mentioned and where he buys them. $250 for an epi-pen? I've never heard of such a thing, and I'm from Texas, where the ACA is considered a vast Communist conspiracy plot to brainwash the masses...except by those who secretly love it.

There are many, many people on this board and millions of others all over the country who've had great experiences with ACA coverage and are thrilled to have the option of using it. So sorry your son is not one of them. But given enough info, people here will be glad to help! Hang in there!

We live in NC (red state, of course). He says he is not eligible to get ins thru the ACA because his wife works for the state and he could get insurance through her, but it is so expensive there would not be much left in her paycheck (state doesn't pay very well). He has ins through Blue Cross, but it doesn't cover much, but is still expensive-- money that he didn't have to spend before ACA made everyone buy insurance or pay a penalty. I realize many people have been helped tremendously by ACA and it has several great features like carrying children until 25, can't be denied because of previous disease, etc. I think he got the pens at WalMart and did get a discount ($100 if I remember correctly what he said).

It's the manufacture. I'm going through the same thing. Now they're so expensive it's insane.

I agree it's the manufacturer jacking up the cost astronomically, but in a better world the ACA would have contained provisions preventing what seems to me as price gouging by the manufacturers.

Read the article. This has nothing to do with ACA.

My husband has Type 1 and we have good insurance, but it doesn't pay for his test strips. We are able to afford them, but those little suckers do add up to a considerable expense.

That was my first instinct too. Even if one had no compassion for her, it would have been more humane to have not sent any email. Instead he does this! What a tool!

I wish her well and hope she can help other parents in her situation.

We need healthcare for all - not costly insurance!

The state undertook this service and she is asking that it do its job and deliver on its promise. He was elected to serve his constituents, not lecture them. She isn't asking for charity, she's asking him to do his job and exercise oversight.

And the reason is almost always MONEY.

and feel real superior . That's how sickos get their kicks . Good on her for sharing with the public and giving a back at ya.

There, but for fortune, go you and I.

Truly heavy sigh.

Well-fed, self-satisfied, sneering GOP asshat.

Curse him and his fellow Repuke cohort.

Then, it's too bad-so sad, folks; you're on your own. We won't help you.

Sorry, but the state does have a moral obligation to help its citizens with basic, quality of life needs. That is the underpinning, after all, for programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Oh, I forgot -- it's every man (or child) for himself in this compassionate, benevolent country.

Fuck. Them.

This is insulin for the love of all that is good and holy. The right is just plain evil.

Almost as high as my house payment.

Is no joke. My daughter was dx'ed at age 9 and is almost 19. Just monthly supplies to keep her alive is well over $5000 out of pocket if you do not have insurance. The co-pays on her meds and supplies can total over $1000 a month alone. I can completely understand the dire straits she is in for her child. There has to be some way for her to receive help with her daughter's prescriptions.