After a lymphoma diagnosis and a stint on Medicaid, Arizona resident Jessica Pineda thought she was back on track when she secured employer-sponsored coverage. But a surprise $1,250 facility fee forced her to cancel a procedure she urgently needs, leaving a cancer survivor with worsening symptoms and no clear path to care.
Read Jessica’s storyAndy Keith is a 26-year-old resident of Wichita, Kansas who depends on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace to manage her complex medical conditions. As a teenager, she was diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases, Graves and Hashimoto’s, and a thyroid imbalance. Up until last year, Andy was covered by her parents’ private plan. Now, she has a marketplace plan that provides full coverage for her medical care.
Read Andy’s storyHannah Bink never expected to become a care coordinator, benefits navigator, and family mediator all at once. But as her grandparents’ health declined, that is exactly what she became.
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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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After a lymphoma diagnosis and a stint on Medicaid, Arizona resident Jessica Pineda thought she was back on track when she secured employer-sponsored coverage. But a surprise $1,250 facility fee forced her to cancel a procedure she urgently needs, leaving a cancer survivor with worsening symptoms and no clear path to care.
Read Jessica’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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