But if these rates are approved, they will be particularly painful for those on low or moderate income, and particularly those on a fixed income. Many of these people throughout our state are elderly. They're having a rough time already. The cost of drugs, the cost of home heating oil is going up, and now they're going to be hit, if these rates are increased, are approved and increased, with another demand on their meager resources. It's just not fair.
Winter is about to begin.
And imagine what it's like to be a retired person, retired couple, living down on the Cape all year. The income is fixed. They don't have much leeway in terms of what to pay for. I spent a lot of my time in health care, and I know what these people are up against. They're balancing their ability to pay for food with their ability to pay for drugs that they need, and now we're about to hit them again.