Jennifer Jaff, a Connecticut lawyer who suffered from Crohn’s disease became a significant voice representing those with chronic diseases. She died aged 55.
When her illness meant that she could no longer work in her law practice, she founded and became director of Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness in 2005. In her practice, she assisted more than 5,000 clients with filing insurance claims for “invisible disabilities,” including Crohn’s, autoimmune disorders and sickle cell anemia, the Times notes.
Jaff participated in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, writing an amicus brief arguing in support of the Affordable Care Act’s provision prohibiting insurers from discriminating against people with existing conditions.
Of the court’s ruling in June, Jaff was quoted as saying, “I live and breathe chronic-illness law, and in my estimation this is the most important civil rights advance for people with chronic illnesses ever. There can never be equality if we can’t get health insurance.”
[table id=9 /]
