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Medicaid

Danielle Fazio: Keeping her Clients Calm Amid Medicaid Cuts

Card Image Danielle Fazio is a private mental health trauma therapist based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Since starting her practice just over a year ago, she has become one of only eight private providers in her area who accept Medicaid. Danielle specializes in treating trauma as well as anxiety disorders. About 60 to 75 percent of her patients rely on Medicaid to access the care they need.

Medicaid

Ashley Elliott: How Medicaid Keeps Her Son Alive

Card Image In 2014, Ashley gave birth to her son at just 35 weeks, 5 weeks short of full term. At first, everything seemed fine, but within moments, the situation turned critical. Over the next year and a half, her son was in and out of the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries and interventions. A hospital social worker stepped in and encouraged Ashley to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, a critical recommendation that helped the family stay afloat.

Medicaid

Valerie MacIver: Fighting for the Benefits That Keep Her Independent

Card Image Valerie MacIver works at the Disability Resource Center in Salem, Massachusetts. Living with a disability since early childhood, she has faced lifelong challenges. At 18, Valerie began receiving government benefits. Now, she now fears the implications of the recently passed Republican health care cuts on her life. “As a disabled woman, I need SNAP, Medicare, and MassHealth to bridge the gap between what I can do for work and the rising cost of living,” she shared.

Medicaid

Elizabeth Feldman: Hours from Death, Medicaid Paid for the Care That Saved Her Life

Card Image Sepsis nearly killed Elizabeth Feldman and left her with hospital bills she couldn’t pay. Medicaid erased the debt and opened the door to preventive care. Elizabeth believes the country is reaching a critical moment. "We're at a tipping point in this country and in this state when it comes to health care." For her and many others, Medicaid is not a political issue. It is a lifeline.

Medicaid

Sarah: Cuts to Medicaid Will Devastate Rural Families

Card Image Sarah lives in rural Oregon, where her family relies on Medicaid to survive. Her 19-year-old son is autistic, has ADHD, and lives with working memory impairment and slow processing. Basic tasks, like remembering to take medicine or drink water, require constant, hands-on support.

Medicaid

Jesseca Lockie: Protecting Programs That Protect Children’s Lives

Card Image For Jesseca Lockie, a mother in Nevada, protecting her son’s life means navigating a complex and costly health care system. When her child was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder at eight months old, she quickly discovered that even with private insurance, essential treatments were financially out of reach. That’s when the Katie Beckett program became her family’s lifeline.

Medicaid

Shari & Hal Horne: Peace of Mind Because of Medicaid

Card Image Shari takes care of her husband, Hal, who has a chronic illness and broke several ribs after a fall. California's Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) and food assistance has been critical to helping Shari and Hal afford food, medication, respite care, and other services. They know that without Medicaid, they would be completely overwhelmed.

Tori Baggot: How Premium Subsidies Keep Health Insurance Within Reach

Card Image Tori Baggot relies on affordable health coverage through Pennie to manage a chronic illness while building a small business and planning for a family. Without advanced premium tax credits, her monthly costs would more than double, putting her health and future out of reach.

Medicaid

Jennifer Coulibaly: A Pennsylvania Family Proves Health Coverage Saves Lives

Card Image Jennifer Coulibaly, her husband Emmanuel and their baby daughter Joy Gabriela live in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. After spending years overseas doing missionary work in West Africa, they recently returned home to continue their work and raise their young family. Jennifer and her daughter are covered by Medicaid through Highmark Wholecare. Emmanuel, who works part-time at an auto auction in Mechanicsburg and is not offered employer coverage, has an affordable health plan through Pennsylvania’s state-based marketplace, Pennie.

Medicaid

Sam Gwesinie: Living, Working and Raising a Family with Medicaid’s Support

Card Image Since she was 17, Sam Gwesinie has relied on Medicaid to survive. Now 27, she’s a mother of two in Minnesota, managing multiple chronic health conditions while raising a young son with autism. Medicaid, she says, is what keeps her family afloat. “Medicaid is the heartbeat of my family,” Sam said. “Without it, we wouldn’t have food, we wouldn’t have housing, my baby wouldn’t be fed.”

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