A huge thank you to Dora Correal, Kavita Bernstein, Kristina Ward-Deshler, Cristy Vaughn, and Heather Castonguay for sharing their personal Medicaid Matters messages. This video will be sent to our database of nearly 60,000 people as well as posted via NOAH’s social channels later this week.
Wendy’s important video message about Medicaid was shared to the same audiences last week and garnered great results. So far, more than 100 people have submitted comments to “Why Medicaid Matters to Me”. Below is a small sample of some of the powerful stories we have received.
Patient Messages
AHCCCS matters to me because it is one of the only ways I’ve been able to seek medical treatment over the years. My mother passed away when I first started college and I lost everything including my home. I’ve been struggling ever since to try and stay afloat along with pursuing my education. Without AHCCCS I wouldn’t have been able to go through with physical therapy from the car accident I was in back in high school, get treatment for my mental health issues, or begin to transition safely. I’ve been on the edge of suicide due to feelings of hopelessness but because of Noah, Lisa Rivera and Danielle, have been able to help me to stay mentally afloat and have a safety plan. If it wasn’t for AHCCCS covering my physical therapy, I wouldn’t have been able to walk due to the sciatica pain I was suffering through.
Medicaid in Az (AHCCCS) and Medicare (ALTCS) are the only programs that are keeping my husband from being committed to an independent living center or nursing home. With these programs he can continue to live in his wheelchair accessible home that he’s lived in for 33 years. We’ve been together for 22 years married. If he’s got to go to a facility, it will tear apart our family.
He is able to live at home with these two program supports that cover his long term chronic medical needs (spinal cord injury, paralysis, Parkinsons, dementia, and bowel and bladder incontinence.) They cover home nurse care (catheter changes) care givers (so I can work part-time). Functionally he is like a quadriplegic. ALTCS provides palliative care for him.
Please don’t force our family to be destroyed.
I have cystic fibrosis. I can work sometimes, and sometimes I can’t because my health has gotten to bad. Growing up with undiagnosed Cystic fibrosis and while living in poverty, having medical coverage meant that I didn’t suffer more than I was already. My health has improved thanks to a medication that this insurance paid for. And because of that, I was able to go back to school and have now started a new job. I am transitioning into my employers health coverage and am paying taxes. Please don’t limit or remove coverage for people.
It’s the difference between life and death. Without health how is one to be a productive member of society in any way?! If you don’t have your health you have nothing.
I did not have healthcare for a couple years and it severely impacted my health and was part of the reason that I was so sick by the time I went to the hospital. Having reliable access to good Healthcare benefits our society and helps our economy in so many ways. I sincerely hope that when deciding these matters our government takes into consideration the massive impact that healthcare has on every aspect of someone life and not having it leads to serious physical and psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, fear and hopelessness.
How Can You Help?
Please continue to reach out to our Arizona delegates in the U.S. House of Representatives to let them know why Medicaid matters to you and encourage others to do the same. Take a moment to complete your own “Medicaid Matters to Me” postcard using the form here under Wendy’s video and browse the easy to use tools on our Contacting Your Elected Officials page for additional outreach options. Thank you to those of you who have already sent letters and emails or made phone calls to Congress. Please keep reaching out, together we can make a difference!
