Supporting candidates who'll help me stay alive

I was very upset by the plight of 67-year-old Annette Jackson as stated in her letter of April 24 about not being able to afford the insulin and medicines that she needs so as to control her diabetes and stay alive. It's just terrible that in our wealthy nation, elderly people face the real possibility of death simply because they can't afford their life-saving medicines.

I'm a 71-year-old diabetic who depends upon insulin and takes a new brand-name drug named Jardiance. I've just emerged from the Medicare coverage gap. Fortunately, my finances enable me to afford my medications even when I'm in the coverage gap. But, I'm also fortunate because Obamacare has reduced my cost for being in the Medicare coverage gap.

Recently, I wrote to my congressman, Peter Roskam, and asked him to explain how the repeal of Obamacare would affect the $2,500 in cost savings that I now receive from Obamacare when I'm in the Medicare coverage gap. Instead of a specific answer to my question, I received from Roskam's office a generalized statement on the shortcomings of Obamacare. When I wrote back again for an answer to my very specific question, I received no further reply.

I'm certainly aware that I'm just one voice among many, and I often wonder if my many letters to newspapers and others are simply a waste of time. But, one thing's for sure about both me and my wife. We vote in every election.

I can certainly promise Congressman Roskam and other politicians that my wife and I will be back at the polls next March. First and foremost, I'm going to vote for candidates who want to help me, and other seniors like me, to stay alive.

Dave Schulz

Hawthorn Woods