MORE THAN MEDICARE: 
FATHER GRIEVES SON'S LOSS

May 2019

Scott Desnoyers is still trying to come to terms over losing his son. Danny Desnoyers took his own life by driving into the Mohawk River in early April. It prompted a lengthy search by the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office.

Danny battled addiction on top of being diagnosed with depression and psychosis. He also was in the middle of custody battles for his children. 

"I know he had a lot of struggles he had to fight. He was fighting them anyway," Scott said.

However, he says Danny was trying to turn his life around. He recently secured four different jobs to make ends meet. One allowed him to spend time outdoors, which was Danny’s favorite place growing up. "I couldn’t bring him fishing because he’d play with the frogs, the lily pads, the butterflies," Scott said of Danny.

He says all that was stripped away when Danny was denied his medication. His insurance was cancelled for an overdue payment of $20. 

Even after Danny paid the bill, he wouldn't be able to get his meds for another month. The cost would be $250 out of pocket, a price he just couldn’t afford. 

"This is legalized murder. They are directly responsible for killing my son," Scott said.

Now, Desnoyers is lobbying for Medicare for all. He's hoping to bring Danny's story to the Senate floor and is already catching the attention of California Congressman Ro Khanna.

His hope is to bring a change of universal health care to the United States, which would give everyone access to life-sustaining medication.

"They know a percentage without medication are going to attempt suicide, going without insulin, are going to die. My son is not a percentage," Desnoyers said.