After more than three decades in the classroom, Darlene W. thought she had done everything right. She built a career teaching in a small rural public school in New York State, retired with a pension, and found affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. For the past two years, she’s relied on that coverage for peace of mind in retirement. But now, with federal subsidies under threat, that sense of security is unraveling.
Read Darlene’s storyReShonda Young is a cancer survivor who accesses health care through the Affordable Care Act. With premium tax credits, her plan is $94 a month. But without them, her payment could skyrocket to $592 a month. She's asking Congress to think of people like her when considering changes or cuts to the program.
Read ReShonda’s storyAshley James lives in Jefferson County, West Virginia with her husband who is a disabled veteran. Together they have ten children, and their youngest is 16 years old. She describes herself as a newly married wife and a working mother who depends on Medicaid to stay healthy and able to do her job.
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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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When the ACA Marketplace opened in the fall of 2013, Amy signed up for a plan that was exactly the same as the plan she’d bought directly through her insurance company. But instead of $1,400 a month, the same plan cost $530 a month, without the help of tax subsidies. Plus, it was even more robust than the original plan, including dental and vision coverage she’d never had before.
Read Amy’s storyAthena Joost, a 28-year-old nurse living in Oregon, knows firsthand how prescription drug prices can impact treatment options. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition that can cause debilitating flare-ups. After initial treatments failed, her doctor recommended a biologic medication. Together, they decided on Stelara (Ustekinumab)
Read Athena’s storyWhen her four-month-old son fell from his highchair, Hanna Utkin rushed to the emergency room for help, only to later receive hundreds of dollars in unexpected “facility fees” for a visit that lasted just minutes. Her experience highlights how hidden hospital charges can leave families paying far more than they expect.
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