Joyce Clark Turner is currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah and training at the University of Utah to be an advocate for those with mental health challenges. She has worked multiple careers throughout her life and has experience navigating the health care system as both an employer and an employee. Along with this, she was on Medicaid while recovering from an alcohol use disorder.
Read Joyce’s storyEllen Allen, a resident of Pinch, West Virginia, is the Executive Director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, a nonprofit advocating for accessible and affordable health care across the state. She is also a mother to an adult with disabilities. Ellen’s organization is too small to offer a health insurance plan, so she turned to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to meet her own health care needs.
Read Ellen’s storyAs an engineer, Steve Ramirez understands complex systems. But finding comprehensive health insurance coverage when costs skyrocket has become increasingly difficult. With ACA tax credits now expiring, Steve faces a 642% increase in cost.
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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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As an engineer, Steve Ramirez understands complex systems. But finding comprehensive health insurance coverage when costs skyrocket has become increasingly difficult. With ACA tax credits now expiring, Steve faces a 642% increase in cost.
Read Steve’s storyFor two years, Wayne, a 56-year-old living in Colorado with his wife, relied on marketplace insurance to protect their health, and their finances. Their monthly premium of $690 was high but manageable. That all changed when Wayne, a self-employed commercial cleaner, contacted his insurance agent to ask about the upcoming year.
Read Wayne’s storyWhen Lacy Marshall’s daughter suffered a long seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy, the family was quickly overwhelmed by insurance changes, denied imaging, and unexpected bills. Their experience pushed Lacy to speak out about how confusing and costly the system can be and help others navigate it.
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