Ray Horton: A Father of Five Fighting to Protect His Family’s Health

At 31 years old, Ray, a father of five from Michigan, is working hard to raise a young family while managing the pressures of everyday life. Until recently, Medicaid was something he hadn’t thought deeply about. His wife, Autumn, handled the paperwork to make sure their kids had coverage. But as he began reflecting more seriously on his faith, and his role as a father and husband, he realized how critical that support truly is.

“When you have to budget out for food and you got soccer and now, I’ve got a $17,000 foundation repair bill, even a $50 doctor visit is crucial.”

He and Autumn are raising five children: Raymond, Ariel, Lincoln, Jeremiah, and Jesse. Their ages range from nine to one. After initially planning for a smaller family, he experienced a shift in perspective following a powerful personal transformation. “I kind of had my own salvation experience and I found Christ and that really changed my life.” He said that moment led him to become more present and focused as a father, setting aside old habits like video games and embracing the responsibilities of parenthood.

“Being able to look at my own life and from the perspective of my kids, I want to take care of myself more for their sake and for my wife’s sake,” he shares.

Today, he coaches his son’s soccer team, takes his daughter to dance class, and is preparing his three-year-old for his first season of soccer and school.

Despite the joy of parenting, financial pressures weigh heavily. If Medicaid were cut, he said, he would be forced to sacrifice his own coverage to preserve his children’s.

The family is careful with how they use support services. “We’re not abusing the system. We’re using the system the way it was meant to be used,” he said, “When we get our food assistance each month, we’re not going out and buying pop and Doritos to fund our parties. It allows us to not have to choose the cheaper option that’s processed and full of dyes and seed oils”

Recently, the family took an unplanned trip to Great Wolf Lodge, a memory he cherishes. “It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t for a birthday. It was just because we wanted to make memories with our kids. That is why we had kids.” He worries that cutting Medicaid would not only strain their finances but also rob them of these kinds of meaningful family experiences. “If the Medicaid was cut, those costs would come out of making those memories.”

In closing, Ray urges lawmakers to take a closer look at the real lives behind the policies. “Even if our leaders and our lawmakers aren’t responsible for the problem, tearing it down is not the answer.” Instead, he calls for real solutions that protect families like his and give them a fair chance to build stable, healthy lives.