Garret Frey: A Life on the Line in Iowa’s Medicaid System

Garret Frey lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a city rooted in Midwestern values where community and care for one another still matter. In 1987, Garret was in a motorcycle accident leaving him with a C4-C5 spinal cord injury, quadriplegic and ventilator dependent. As a person living with a physical disability, Garret knows firsthand the difference Medicaid makes, not just in his life, but in the lives of millions.

“Medicaid helps people like me,” he says, “but it also supports children, adults, seniors, veterans…people from every walk of life.” For Garret, Medicaid has been a necessary support system, but he’s concerned about where things are headed. “Without proper funding, people won’t get the services they need. Lives are at risk. That’s the truth.”

He’s watched with alarm as Iowa’s Medicaid system has changed under privatization. “Now insurance companies decide who gets care and who doesn’t,” he explains. “They choose which doctors and providers people can see—and worse, who doesn’t get services at all. That’s dangerous.”

Garret has a quiet but unwavering conviction: Medicaid isn’t a handout. “It’s not an entitlement,” he says. “It’s a government-assisted program, and yes, it’s had flaws, but we need to improve it, not dismantle it.” He supports the idea of a larger transformation in how we view health care in this country, whether that means single-payer, Medicare for All, or another system that centers equity.

What worries him most is the direction things are going. “We can’t keep cutting and limiting services and expect people to survive. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not humane.”

Despite the challenges, Garret remains a strong advocate, not just for himself, but for his community. “We all deserve dignity and care. Medicaid gives people a fighting chance. Without it, we’re abandoning people.”

Garret’s message is urgent: “This isn’t just about policy. It’s about people’s lives. And it’s time we start acting like that matters.”