Change in law will help younger Hoosiers diagnosed with devastating illness

By: 
Editor Stephanie Ferriell

Senator Houchin presents the Kemp family with a copy of "Tammy's Law."

A new law will benefit Hoosiers under the age of 65 who are approved for Medicare due to a devastating illness. Those individuals will now be allowed to purchase supplemental insurance, something they were denied in the past.

SEA 392 was authored by State Senator Erin Houchin (R-Salem) after she was contacted by Salem resident Jeff Kemp. Jeff's wife, Tammy, is in the late stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Dealing with the insurance company's denials, mistakes and lack of choice has made a difficult situation even more so, said Jeff Kemp.

Because Tammy Kemp is not 65, she was denied the opportunity to purchase supplemental Medicare insurance and all the benefits that come with it. Jeff Kemp said the family faced enormous out of pocket medical expenses, a lack of choice in caretakers, services and programs, false charges and denied claims. But most of all, it consumed an enourmous amount of his time as he filed appeal after appeal.

While "Tammy's Law," as it will be known, is too late to help the Kemps, Jeff Kemp said he knows it will be of great benefit to other Hoosiers down the road.

Read much more about this new law in today's Salem Leader.

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