I have relied on Medicaid for both my daughter and I on and off since she was a toddler.

Not long after graduating with my MA in Family Counseling, my daughter and I were left without health insurance, since I was no longer allowed to purchase the university's group health plan. With my first job out of college being part-time and for very little pay, I was forced to get us Medicaid coverage—and I couldn’t have been more thankful. 

That was the first time Medicaid saved the day.

I eventually found full-time work and purchased an individual plan for myself, but my daughter remained on Medicaid as she still qualified due to my still low income. This was the case of course until I started my own business.

Burnt out from agencies where I worked more hours than I was paid while grappling with a chronic sleep disorder, in addition to barely seeing my daughter (who was spending most of her time in aftercare because of my work) I knew it was time for a change and I quit my full-time job.

I’d had enough.

I started my own business, which afforded me a flexible schedule and the ability to manage my disability, but I knew healthcare might become an issue. In fact, in a pre-Obamacare world, I had applied for a private health plan, but was denied due to pre-existing conditions.

Once again, Medicaid saved the day.

Starting my own business has in many ways been the best decision I ever made for my daughter and myself, but I couldn’t have done it without Medicaid.

The first years of a new business are challenging to say the least and I’m still not making enough money to purchase health insurance through the marketplace. Although Medicaid does not cover many of my prescription medications, I am grateful to receive whatever assistance I can. My daughter is seven now and Medicaid has kept her healthy and us out of medical debt. Everything she’s needed has been covered. I was especially thankful for our health coverage when my daughter’s tonsils and adenoids were taken out—Medicaid covered all of it.

Access to affordable health insurance is a human right, a moral obligation, and essential for public health. No child or adult should have to do without healthcare. We don’t live on an island by ourselves—we need to remember that the health of our larger community impacts us all. There are absolutely things that need to be reformed in these social support programs, but we need to have something for people. We need to work on the programs we have, because without them families like mine wouldn't thrive.