Whitney Lee is a disability rights and mental health consultant in Utah who focuses specifically on autism. They participate in research studies on autism and suicide and have assisted researchers studying Medicaid recipients. Whitney has relied on Medicaid for about five or six years in addition to being covered under their parent’s insurance plan. Medicaid helps cover the remaining medical costs that would be over one hundred dollars or more.
Read Whitney’s storyAmy Johnstone relies on the Affordable Care Act and its Premium Tax Credits to afford health insurance in one of the country’s most expensive markets. Without these subsidies, her medical expenses for a chronic condition could easily exceed her household income. Her story highlights how critical the ACA and tax credits are for ensuring access to health care.
Read Amy’s storyWhen his daughter Gloria was born with complex medical needs, Leslie Rogers uprooted his life to fight for her survival. The family endured impossible choices, liquidating their savings and facing sleepless nights to keep her alive. Medicaid finally gave them stability, but with cuts looming and critical programs already shrinking, Leslie worries families like his could once again be pushed to the brink.
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In 2017, Tomeka James Isaac was pregnant with her first and only son, Jace. At 40 years old, she was told early on that she would be at high risk for pre-eclampsia, yet despite this ominous warning, Tomeka’s pregnancy was progressing smoothly. Until, at her 35-week appointment, complications began.
Read Tomeka’s storyKea had a plan. Pregnant with her first child, she knew she wanted a natural birth, and she wanted her birth experience to be an experience that was unique to her. However, she felt dismissed by doctors when she made requests, and ignored at appointments. Kea switched to a birth center, and everything changed for the better.
Read Kea’s storyTamara's 18 month old grandson fell ill with a slight cough and signs mirroring COVID-19, but was not tested by his pediatrician. After his oxygen levels dropped, he was taken to the ER but was still not tested for COVID-19 due to not meeting testing criteria.
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Amber Bazile was adopted at six weeks old by her parents, Margaret and Wayne Mimbs, and raised in Macon, Georgia, where she still resides today. Amber lost her mother, Margaret, in May of this year after months of mismanaged hospice care. Amber shared, "we believed she would be cared for with comfort and dignity, but that’s not what happened. The care was disjointed, neglectful, and inadequate."
Read Amber’s storyWhen his daughter Gloria was born with complex medical needs, Leslie Rogers uprooted his life to fight for her survival. The family endured impossible choices, liquidating their savings and facing sleepless nights to keep her alive. Medicaid finally gave them stability, but with cuts looming and critical programs already shrinking, Leslie worries families like his could once again be pushed to the brink.
Read Leslie’s storyKelly Fryman, a 63-year-old woman living with diabetes in Florida, has spent years working to keep her condition under control. At first, Kelly managed her condition with medications such as Trulicity and Mounjaro. Eventually, she switched to Farziga because of cost, but even that became unaffordable. The only way she can stay on the medication is through free samples from her doctor.
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