Medicaid
Valerie MacIver: Fighting for the Benefits That Keep Her Independent
Valerie MacIver works at the Disability Resource Center in Salem, Massachusetts. Living with a disability since early childhood, she has faced lifelong challenges. At 18, Valerie began receiving government benefits. Now, she now fears the implications of the recently passed Republican health care cuts on her life. “As a disabled woman, I need SNAP, Medicare, and MassHealth to bridge the gap between what I can do for work and the rising cost of living,” she shared.
Sepsis nearly killed Elizabeth Feldman and left her with hospital bills she couldn’t pay. Medicaid erased the debt and opened the door to preventive care. Elizabeth believes the country is reaching a critical moment. "We're at a tipping point in this country and in this state when it comes to health care." For her and many others, Medicaid is not a political issue. It is a lifeline.
Sarah lives in rural Oregon, where her family relies on Medicaid to survive. Her 19-year-old son is autistic, has ADHD, and lives with working memory impairment and slow processing. Basic tasks, like remembering to take medicine or drink water, require constant, hands-on support.
For Jesseca Lockie, a mother in Nevada, protecting her son’s life means navigating a complex and costly health care system. When her child was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder at eight months old, she quickly discovered that even with private insurance, essential treatments were financially out of reach. That’s when the Katie Beckett program became her family’s lifeline.
Shari takes care of her husband, Hal, who has a chronic illness and broke several ribs after a fall. California's Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) and food assistance has been critical to helping Shari and Hal afford food, medication, respite care, and other services. They know that without Medicaid, they would be completely overwhelmed. 
Tori Baggot relies on affordable health coverage through Pennie to manage a chronic illness while building a small business and planning for a family. Without advanced premium tax credits, her monthly costs would more than double, putting her health and future out of reach.
Jennifer Coulibaly, her husband Emmanuel and their baby daughter Joy Gabriela live in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. After spending years overseas doing missionary work in West Africa, they recently returned home to continue their work and raise their young family. Jennifer and her daughter are covered by Medicaid through Highmark Wholecare. Emmanuel, who works part-time at an auto auction in Mechanicsburg and is not offered employer coverage, has an affordable health plan through Pennsylvania’s state-based marketplace, Pennie.
Since she was 17, Sam Gwesinie has relied on Medicaid to survive. Now 27, she’s a mother of two in Minnesota, managing multiple chronic health conditions while raising a young son with autism. Medicaid, she says, is what keeps her family afloat. “Medicaid is the heartbeat of my family,” Sam said. “Without it, we wouldn’t have food, we wouldn’t have housing, my baby wouldn’t be fed.”
Sara Emerle knows firsthand what Medicaid means for families in crisis. In March 2022, her mother was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Everything her mother needed—tube feedings, specialized nutrition, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, dietitian support, and appointments with specialists—was paid for through Medicaid.
Christine Meehan, 51, has worked as a hairstylist in Pennsylvania for over three decades. Because she does not receive insurance through her employer, she relies on coverage through Pennie, the state’s health insurance Marketplace, and premium tax credits that help her afford that coverage. Her silver-level plan, even with a subsidy, remains expensive and limited.