Kansas Stories Podcast: Charles McKinzie

Pastor Charles McKinzie of Winfield shares why he supports Medicaid expansion in this new podcast from the Alliance. If you have a story about living in the coverage gap, contact Storybank Fellow Marissa Alcantar at marissa@expandkancare.com.

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Faith Leaders

Kansas Stories: David Larson

David Larson is from Wichita and living with his daughter’s family while providing care to his grandchildren. David has multiple health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, major depressive disorder and other mental health issues. After David’s wife passed away, he was unable to work. He lost the company benefits he relied on. He has […]

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Behavioral Health, Workforce Stories

Kansas Stories: Julio Garcia

Julio Garcia lives in Lawrence. He is a single adult residing at the Lawrence Community Shelter. He arrived in Kansas a few years ago, bringing with him an insurance plan that covered his health costs. He lost his insurance after arriving in Kansas, and he has been uninsured ever since. Julio recently finished his last […]

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Cancer Stories, Workforce Stories

Kansas Stories: Sierra

Sierra Shore is from Larned. She works part-time as a CNA but she is uninsured. She tried to get insurance through Medicaid, but as a single adult with no children, she doesn’t meet the requirements. When she found out she didn’t qualify, Sierra felt a lot of stress. Sierra suffers from Factor 5, a condition […]

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Medical Debt Stories, Workforce Stories

Kansas Stories Podcast: Shannon Spear

Shannon Spear, McPherson, has spent most of her adult life uninsured. It has impacted her in a number of harmful ways. Getting appointments with a doctor was difficult—and when she could get them, they cost her well over $100 each time. Without access to affordable care, her asthma went untreated, which affected her ability to […]

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Medical Debt Stories, Workforce Stories

Kansas Stories Podcast: Risse Zimmerman

This podcast from the Alliance for A Healthy Kansas covers Risse Zimmerman and the struggles she faced within the coverage gap in Kansas. Zimmerman retells her experience with multiple health conditions that affected her and her family for months. She discusses the financial burden of not qualifying for KanCare and explains the repeated disqualifications she […]

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Medical Debt Stories, Workforce Stories

Kansas Stories: Jessica

“I feel like every time we look at health care costs for me, it’s almost as much as our rent check and that’s not right.” Jessica is from Lawrence. She married her husband about three years ago, and they have a 2-year-old daughter together. Currently, she has no health insurance. Jessica suffers from depression and […]

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Behavioral Health, Medical Debt Stories

Kansas Stories: Risse Zimmerman

“You need to take care of your people in the gap. I think there needs to be something for them that they can afford. I mean that’s your middle class workers. Those are your single moms that are working their butt off trying to stay out of the system to take care of their families, […]