Letter: Outraged by Republicans' lack of support for bills capping insulin prices

I am a registered nurse, and I am outraged. I am a family member, and I am outraged. I am a friend, and I am outraged. Do you have diabetes or have a friend or family member with diabetes? We all do. Does everyone take insulin? No, but over 7 million regularly take it. What is essential to know is that the number needing insulin is climbing. Even if someone does not require insulin now, they may need it regularly in the future. They may temporarily need it when they get sick or have surgery.

But will they be able to afford it? Currently, some are already at “catastrophic” levels of spending on insulin. That means they pay at least 40% of their income after food and housing on insulin, and many go without insulin. These high prices are like armed robbery with a syringe.

Diabetes knows no age boundaries. Children get it too, and it is called Type I diabetes, and they need insulin daily.

Current lawmakers Rep. David Joyce (R-14th District) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) voted no to capping insulin prices. What can you do?

Vote in November like your life or the lives you care about depend on it. Lives do depend on it. Vote for Matt Kilboy (Democrat running for 14th District), a registered nurse and a vet who knows the value of health care. Vote for Congressman Tim Ryan as he now runs for the U.S. Senate. Both have made known their support for this issue. The Ohio Nurses for America endorses both Kilboy and Ryan. Both will work for your health care rights.

Ruth Ludwick, RN, Brimfield

This article originally appeared on Kent Weeklies: Nurse supports Matt Kilboy, Tim Ryan views on healthcare