And so when I hear that these Medicaid services might be cut or eliminated for some people, that really concerns me because for me, that care and those services were really important.
Austin and his wife returned to the US in 2023 after spending nearly eight years living abroad in South Korea. One of their first concerns: what are we going to do about health care?
“Over the years, I went to the doctor several times for colds, for flus, for different specialist inspections, and never paid more than $10 or $15 at most for specialist care.” When he and his wife moved back to the U.S., that sense of security quickly faded.
Moving to a district in Virginia with a poverty rate of 25%—significantly higher than the state’s average of 10%—he knew that many of his neighbors were likely in the same boat. With Medicaid enrollment in Virginia averaging around 22%, it wasn’t hard to imagine that in his city, the number was even higher. “So that’s one in four or maybe one in five people in my town who are probably enrolled in Medicaid.” And now, with proposed cuts to the program, those same people faced the terrifying possibility of losing access to the health care they depended on.
His wife enrolled in school, and Austin took a position as an adjunct faculty member at the same university. But that job didn’t provide health care benefits, and his income qualified him for Medicaid.
The moment he received his Medicaid card in the mail, a wave of relief washed over him. “Getting that Medicaid card in the mail was such a huge relief to know that I have at least a basic line of health care that I can rely on.”
A running injury had left him with persistent hip pain, making it difficult to sit for long periods or even stand while teaching. Thanks to Medicaid, he was able to see a physical therapist. The treatment helped alleviate his pain and improved his overall quality of life. Without Medicaid, he wasn’t sure how he would have managed.
The stress of returning to a system where health care often felt like a privilege rather than a right had already weighed heavily on him. Knowing he had at least some access to care made all the difference.
Now, with full-time employment and private health insurance, Austin no longer relies on Medicaid. But that didn’t change his perspective. He knew how vital the program was—not just for him, but for his former students, his neighbors, and so many others in his community. “And so when I hear that these Medicaid services might be cut or eliminated for some people, that really concerns me because for me, that care and those services were really important.”
Austin believes health care is not a political issue. It isn’t about red or blue districts. It’s about people—people who deserve access to medical care regardless of their income.
“And so I really hope that this administration listens to the concerns of constituents who are saying that this care is important for them…This is just a basic human right and I hope that we can continue to access this type of care.”
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