Susan Alleman is a 57-year-old resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, who spent most of her adult life uninsured and hoping for the best. She had seen the health care system up close — navigating it alongside her partner during his long illness before he died of cancer in 2021, and then again with her father in 2023. By 2024, it was her turn.
Read Susan’s storyCarmilla Collins is a 51-year-old single mother living in Douglas County, Omaha, Nebraska. She works full time and holds a part-time job to make ends meet, raising her 15-year-old daughter while supporting herself on paychecks that leave little margin for error — and even less for unexpected medical bills. For the better part of a year and a half, she had no health insurance at all.
Read Carmilla’s storyLily Fang didn't leave her full-time job until she had a safety net: New York's Essential Plan, with no premium and no deductible. Now, federal cuts are eliminating that coverage for 450,000 New Yorkers, and for Lily, the loss is about more than a doctor's visit — it's about whether maintaining self-employment is feasible.
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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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Kelly Gunn, a 46-year-old Virginia resident with employer-sponsored insurance, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in July 2024 and faced thousands in out-of-pocket costs. She later learned her bill could be slashed by 50% or more once it reached collections, leading her to advocate for transparent, consistent pricing from the first bill rather than after financial hardship sets in.
Read Kelly’s storyWhen Meagan's 22-month-old son collapsed in her arms — doctors sent her straight to the ER, where he got a Pedialyte popsicle and a few hours of monitoring. Then came the bill. With no clear explanation from the hospital or insurer and no path to appeal, Meagan and her husband were left responsible for nearly the entire cost.
Read Meagan’s storyWhen Jen Jobe was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 38, her focus was survival. She did not expect that years after treatment ended, she would still be fighting the financial consequences of staying alive.
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