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Kay Marcel lives in Urbandale, Iowa, where she and her husband have spent a lifetime ensuring their son Joel can live a full, safe, and meaningful life. Joel is 46 years old and has Down syndrome, along with several health conditions that require daily monitoring and consistent care.
Schmeeka Simpson, a 44-year-old mother of three, grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Now living in Omaha, she works with the Nebraska Civic Engagement Table and serves as the policy fellow at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. In her roles, she helps shape advocacy efforts and community agendas. But long before her career in civic leadership began, Simpson’s early years were shaped by Medicaid.
Gail Smith lives in a nursing home in Somerset County, New Jersey, where Medicaid has sustained her here and in another facility for the past four years. “It’s been a lifeline for me,” she shared. After a near-fatal health crisis in 2021, she lost a kidney and now depends on two teams of specialists to monitor her condition closely.
After her young son experienced a life-threatening seizure, Sharon Watson’s world was turned upside down. With the help of Medicaid, her family was able to access lifesaving care, rebuild their lives, and advocate for a future where every child has the right to survive—and thrive.
Michele Steepleton never imagined she’d see her older sister Susan on the brink of losing everything including her life. But when Susan, now 60, lost her job during the pandemic, it triggered a health crisis that spiraled quickly and dangerously out of control.
Heidi Riley, a retired financial services professional from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, has watched her brother’s life change dramatically due to serious illness, and she has seen firsthand how Medicaid has played a critical role in keeping him alive.
Hannah Johnson lives in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr.’s district. She relies on Medicaid to care for her physical and mental health while working hard to support her community.
Rachel Peace, a 32-year-old small business owner and her 36-year-old sister Brittany, both born and raised at the Jersey Shore, rely on Medicaid to meet their health care needs.
Eileen Conti is an ophthalmologist in New Jersey. Her practice is one of the few in her area that accepts Medicaid coverage. She has fought for patients to receive the eye care they need when nobody else would treat them because of their insurance status. But if Medicaid is cut, helping patients treat vision problems will become even more difficult, with devastating consequences.
Frank helps to take care of his sister, Jenna, an adult with Down Syndrome and a fragile heart. Frank and Jenna rely on Medicaid to keep Jenna alive and active in her community. Medicaid provides critical coverage for Jenna's cardiology appointments, dental care, home caregiving assistance, day programs, and more. If Medicaid is cut, Jenna would not only lose the programs that help her thrive, but she could face life-threatening risks to her heart.