Michelle Morse
Encyclopedia
Michelle Morse was an advocate for student health rights. A new federal
law passed in 2008 is named for her to acknowledge her efforts to ensure that college students did not lose their access to health insurance when taking a leave of absence for a serious illness.
Ms. Morse was a student at Plymouth State University
in New Hampshire
when she was diagnosed with cancer on December 12, 2003. Her physician stated that she needed to quit school to undergo therapy. However, Ms. Morse found that the leave of absence would nullify her insurance. Instead, Ms. Morse chose to continue her studies while undergoing therapy. She maintained better than a 3.0 grade point average, taught classes, and took on the state and national legislatures to enact laws that would protect student health benefits. She graduated cum laude in May 2005. She died November 10, 2005.
Michelle’s Law (H.R. 2851), as it is now known, passed vote in the House
July 30th, 2008 and Senate
September 25, 2008. The bill was signed into law by President Bush
October 9th, 2008.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
law passed in 2008 is named for her to acknowledge her efforts to ensure that college students did not lose their access to health insurance when taking a leave of absence for a serious illness.
Ms. Morse was a student at Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University, formerly Plymouth State College, is a regional comprehensive university located in Plymouth, New Hampshire and part of the University System of New Hampshire....
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
when she was diagnosed with cancer on December 12, 2003. Her physician stated that she needed to quit school to undergo therapy. However, Ms. Morse found that the leave of absence would nullify her insurance. Instead, Ms. Morse chose to continue her studies while undergoing therapy. She maintained better than a 3.0 grade point average, taught classes, and took on the state and national legislatures to enact laws that would protect student health benefits. She graduated cum laude in May 2005. She died November 10, 2005.
Michelle’s Law (H.R. 2851), as it is now known, passed vote in the House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
July 30th, 2008 and Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
September 25, 2008. The bill was signed into law by President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
October 9th, 2008.
Sources
- "Michelle Morse, Inspiration for 'Michelle’s Law,' Loses Her Battle with Cancer at Age 22". Michelleslaw.com, November 12, 2005.
- "An angel on my shoulder": Mother balances grief with legal reality. Noah Farr, The New Hampshire, November 18, 2005.
- "Senate Approves Bill That Would Allow College Students to Keep Their Health Coverage in the Event of Medical Leave". American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Sept. 25, 2008.
- "H.R. 2851 Michelle's Law". Govtrack.us, October 9, 2008.