Melinda Moses: Urging Lawmakers to Stop the Bickering and Protect Health Care

Melinda Moses lives in Huntington, West Virginia. Back in 2006, in her mid-thirties, Melinda became disabled, and since 2009 she has been utilizing Medicaid. She says without it, “I would not be able to have access to my doctors. I would not have access to medications. I would not have access to medical care at all.”

Melinda once worked, but her disability ended her career. She stressed that people with limited income like her cannot afford health care without these programs. “West Virginia Medicaid is essential, and so is Medicare. We need both. We need these programs to help keep us healthy.” Her current coverage, dual complete, helps her access additional health care services like dental and vision which are essential to overall health. “Without Medicaid, I would not be able to go see my doctors and get my medicine, be able to have my teeth pulled and get my glasses. You see, Medicaid is essential to what I need to take care of my mental health, my physical health and also to be able to access what is meaningful in my life.”

Melinda’s testimony extends beyond her own experience to the broader community. “Not only will I suffer, but others will suffer too…There are children who will suffer because they do not have adequate health care. Their health will decline.”

She also speaks to the dangerous impact of cuts in rural areas, particularly how reductions in federal support for Medicaid can lead to hospital closures. “Rural hospitals are important in West Virginia because West Virginia has a lot of rural population. And if people have to travel one hour to find a big hospital, well guess what? A lot of people are going to die. These legislators need to rethink themselves.”

Melinda called for lawmakers to live on the income of people who depend on Medicaid to understand the reality. “Congress needs to rethink cutting Medicaid because there are going to be a lot of people suffering like myself. We will have to choose either our electricity or our health care. And most of us are going to choose essentials like our electricity and our housing, because if they make people on Medicaid pay for going to the doctor, they’re just not going to go.”

In a message to all legislators, she urged unity. “Stop the bickering. Come to your logical mind senses. Health care does not know no boundaries. It does not know politicians. It does not know who is democrat. It does not know who is republican. And it does not know who is independent…There shouldn’t be a debate over saving someone’s lives.”