Missy Ely: A Nebraska Mom, a Trump Supporter, a Voice for Medicaid

Mellissa Ely, known to many as Missy, is a 51-year-old woman from Lincoln, Nebraska, a mom to two boys and a grandmother to four grandkids. She is also a registered Republican, a supporter of Donald Trump, and has been navigating the health care system for years with the help of Medicaid expansion. 

Missy’s ability to spend time with her family has been shaped in large part by her access to care. Before gaining access to Medicaid through expansion, Missy was uninsured. During that time, she faced a heart attack and was only able to take a very limited number of medications. Reflecting candidly on what her life might look like today if she continued down a path without health coverage, Missy shares, “Without Medicaid expansion, unfortunately, I think I would be dead.”  

“If Medicaid expansion had been expanded when the Nebraska voters originally voted it in,” she adds, “I would have had treatment right away when I had my heart attack. I probably would have never have had the heart attack. Because it took so long for me to receive treatment, I am a heart failure.” 

For three and a half years, Missy has relied on Medicaid to help manage multiple health conditions. During that time, it gave her access to vital treatments that would have otherwise been out of reach. “Medicaid expansion allowed me to get the heart treatments that I needed. I have psoriatic arthritis. It helped me get treatment for that. And because I have both of those, I’m very limited on medications. And Medicaid expansion helped me be able to get those medications.” 

Missy is not the only one in her community who relies on Medicaid to access care. ” I would go to the clinics, free clinics in and around Lincoln. And there was so many people, they had to turn people away. With Medicaid expansion, there’s not that strain on the free clinics and more people are able to get medicine that they need.” 

Because it has been such a lifeline for her, Missy has strong feelings about potential restrictions to Medicaid, particularly noting how difficult it has been for her to cut through the red tape to qualify for disability. “In my case, the arthritis was so bad. There were times I couldn’t even get up. With putting a [work] requirement on that, you’re going to affect those people who can’t physically get up and disability is so hard to get. I applied at least five times and it just puts a strain on the people and, yeah, depression, anxiety is real.” 

 Access to her prescriptions is another major concern. “With Medicaid expansion, I am able to get my prescriptions that I need for my heart. If I did not have Medicaid expansion, there are at least two medications that I would not be able to afford. Nowhere close.” 

While she isn’t sure if her own children are on Medicaid, she knows firsthand the role it plays for others in her life. “I do have friends and family, well friends that are on Medicaid. And she’s got three children and all of them are on Medicaid. And I know she’s working, but even with her working with three kids, there’s no way she can afford medical care without Medicaid.” 

For Missy, being healthy means being present, especially for her grandchildren. “Sunday, we had a great Easter. I got to spend the day with two of my grandsons and my youngest son and his girlfriend. And without the medications, I wouldn’t even be able to lift my grandkids.” 

Missy’s story is a clear, personal reminder of what Medicaid expansion has meant, not just to her health, but to her family, her future, and her community.