Jennifer Coulibaly: A Pennsylvania Family Proves Health Coverage Saves Lives

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. Their lives and health care are supported by programs that have become essential to their survival.

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.

During her pregnancy, Jennifer developed severe preeclampsia, which led to an emergency C-section. “Without Medicaid, I don’t know what would have happened,” Jennifer said. “I don’t use that as an expression. It literally saved my life and my daughter’s life.”

In the stressful days following Joy’s birth, Jennifer didn’t have to worry about how they would afford medical coverage for their daughter. Medicaid covered them both. Later, Jennifer experienced further complications and needed surgery for a herniated disc. Medicaid covered that procedure too.

“Without having Medicaid coverage, I wouldn’t be able to afford these surgeries and procedures, which would make it even harder to care for my newborn daughter,” she said. “The C-section I had was absolutely lifesaving, and I’m so grateful that Medicaid covered it, as well as my back surgery, because I wouldn’t have been able to pay for these procedures otherwise.”

Emmanuel has dealt with lingering health issues stemming from a childhood injury. When he was three years old, he broke his leg in multiple places. The effects lasted into adulthood, and just recently, he underwent hip surgery. The procedure brought significant relief, and his Pennie coverage made it possible.

“If he didn’t have the health care through Pennie, we wouldn’t have been able to afford all of this,” Jennifer said. “He would have probably been in a wheelchair within about 10 years, and he’s only in his 30s.”

Jennifer speaks with conviction about what programs like Medicaid and Pennie have meant for their family. Now, she worries about what could happen to families like hers if these programs are cut.

“I just plea with you guys not to cut Medicaid, not to cut Pennie,” she said. “Because they’re just so important, and they literally save lives.”