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 […]
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Shari & Hal Horne, California
Shari Horne has been married to her husband Hal, who lives with a chronic illness for 25 years. Shari is a caregiver for Hal and after he suffered injuries from a recent fall, the couple quickly became overwhelmed. “It was a tough time that required even more caregiving from me, and the hospital bills became […]
Kelly Reed, California
When Kelly Reed’s daughter, Katelyn, was born with Down syndrome, their family didn’t know much about the condition or the disability community. So, they turned to community medical centers, like the Regional Center, a statewide network in California funded largely by Medicaid, to learn more. As they began to understand Katelyn’s condition, they were able […]
Gail Smith, New Jersey
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 […]
Sharon Watson, Michigan
Sharon Watson and her husband are raising three children in a small Michigan community. Their oldest is 15, their middle child 13, and their youngest—a bright, energetic girl—is 10. Her husband, a disabled Navy veteran, receives VA disability compensation as his primary income. Sharon works full-time as a special education aide at her daughter’s elementary school—a job she […]
Crystal Foster, California
Crystal Foster had a complicated pregnancy resulting in severe long-term health issues for her son, Tyler. Tyler is now 29 years old, and Crystal has been his caregiver for his entire life. “From the moment he was born, my only goal was to care for him at home. The thought of him being housed in […]
George Goodsaid, California
George Goodsaid has been the primary caregiver for his parents for the past six years. He helps them with many of their daily tasks, including personal care, household tasks, transportation to medical appointments and managing medications. His mother is 78 years old, and his father is 67 years old with diabetes. His father also had […]
Michele Steepleton, Iowa
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. “She had been managing rheumatoid arthritis since her twenties and then later […]
Heidi Riley, New Jersey
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. Her brother, a retired self-employed business owner, lives alone in Jackson and has multiple chronic conditions, […]
Hannah Johnson, Pennsylvania
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. Hannah works for a local nonprofit to raise awareness about mental health. She also holds a job with a local business, interacting with […]