Sara Emerle knows firsthand what Medicaid means for families in crisis. In March 2022, her mother was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Everything her mother needed—tube feedings, specialized nutrition, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, dietitian support, and appointments with specialists—was paid for through Medicaid.
Read Sara’s storyChristine Meehan, 51, has worked as a hairstylist in Pennsylvania for over three decades. Because she does not receive insurance through her employer, she relies on coverage through Pennie, the state’s health insurance Marketplace, and premium tax credits that help her afford that coverage. Her silver-level plan, even with a subsidy, remains expensive and limited.
Read Christine’s storyDawn Wheeler, a cancer survivor from Edwardsville, Kansas, credits the Affordable Care Act with saving her life by providing access to life-saving treatments she otherwise couldn't afford, and Premium Tax Credits with keeping that coverage affordable. Now, she advocates to protect the ACA, knowing firsthand what’s at stake if it’s taken away.
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In 2017, Tomeka James Isaac was pregnant with her first and only son, Jace. At 40 years old, she was told early on that she would be at high risk for pre-eclampsia, yet despite this ominous warning, Tomeka’s pregnancy was progressing smoothly. Until, at her 35-week appointment, complications began.
Read Tomeka’s storyKea had a plan. Pregnant with her first child, she knew she wanted a natural birth, and she wanted her birth experience to be an experience that was unique to her. However, she felt dismissed by doctors when she made requests, and ignored at appointments. Kea switched to a birth center, and everything changed for the better.
Read Kea’s storyTamara's 18 month old grandson fell ill with a slight cough and signs mirroring COVID-19, but was not tested by his pediatrician. After his oxygen levels dropped, he was taken to the ER but was still not tested for COVID-19 due to not meeting testing criteria.
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Adrienne, a Pennsylvania resident and mother of two, never expected a simple diagnostic procedure to lead to over a year of financial and emotional distress. In February 2024, she underwent a thyroid biopsy at a hospital she knew well, the hospital where she gave birth to both of her children and one she visits frequently for appointments. Everything about the process felt routine—until the bill arrived.
Read Adrienne’s storyJim and Teresa Matthews never imagined that a hospital visit could unravel into a financial bureaucratic nightmare. When Teresa was hospitalized after a sudden episode of transient global amnesia—a rare, temporary loss of memory—they discovered a hidden flaw that left them with a $4,500 bill for a single day’s worth of medication and no clear path to challenge it.
Read Jim’s storyMorgan Barrett, a resident of Kansas, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at only seven years old. She and her two siblings have the same form of the disease, and growing up, they faced many serious health challenges.
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