The Cost of Staying Alive in Rhode Island - Janet Tanury
Janet Tanury, Guest MINDSETTER™
The Cost of Staying Alive in Rhode Island - Janet Tanury
The carrier and service fees attached to RI Energy bills are exorbitant, and they’ve pushed the average monthly bill to nearly triple what it was just a few years ago. For many of us, that’s an inconvenience. But for seniors, disabled individuals, and families with medically fragile members who rely on oxygen, CPAP machines, or other critical devices 24/7—these skyrocketing rates are a death sentence.
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Where’s the state support? Where’s the assistance for those who literally can’t survive without electricity? Rhode Island loves to brand itself as a caring, progressive state, but we can’t pat ourselves on the back while our most vulnerable neighbors are forced to choose between breathing and paying the rent.
The Public Utilities Commission, the Governor’s Office, and every legislator who’s allowed this unchecked rate hike to happen needs to step up. We need immediate action: a discounted medical rate for those with life-sustaining equipment, a cap on service fees, and an expansion of state assistance programs that reflect the reality of today’s energy costs.
And let’s not ignore the healthcare crisis that’s compounding this issue. Rhode Island is losing primary care physicians at an alarming rate—many are retiring, or leaving the state for better pay elsewhere. Seniors and vulnerable residents are being left without access to basic medical care, forced to rely on emergency rooms for routine needs. Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island has canceled all of its Medicare PPO plans, meaning seniors can’t even cross state lines for care without being hit with out-of-network charges. For those who need specialized care or have family support in other states, this is yet another barrier they can’t afford.
On top of that, accredited home healthcare agencies are also pulling out of Rhode Island because it’s simply not sustainable for them to operate here. The state’s strict requirement that only Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) can provide home care, while other states allow home health aides, is driving agencies out of the market. This leaves seniors with limited, often unaffordable options. Private-pay care becomes a risky gamble, with families forced to hire individuals who may be uninsured, unlicensed, or worse—unqualified or even predatory. This puts some of our most vulnerable citizens at risk.
No one should have to go into debt just to stay alive, and no one should be left without access to the care they need. It’s time for Rhode Island to step up, address the skyrocketing costs of basic utilities, and ensure a healthcare system that truly serves its people.
I urge every Rhode Islander to contact your legislators, the Governor’s Office, and the Public Utilities Commission. Demand change. Demand action. Lives depend on it.
Janet Tanury is a resident of East Providence.