Kansas Stories: Shelley

Shelley lives in Lawrence and grew up in South Central Kansas. After her three children left home, she and her husband, Kirk, moved to Lawrence in 2011 to enjoy their golden years. In 2014, Shelley noticed Kirk was having significant issues with confusion and memory. Over time, his condition worsened. Shelley realized she could not safely care for him in their home anymore, so she made the difficult decision to place him in a memory care home. With looming cuts to Medicaid in Washington, DC, She

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Behavioral Health, Disability Stories, Families, Medicaid

Kansas Stories: Tiffany

Tiffany is a single mother of four who lives in Chanute, Kansas. Her days are filled with the challenges and joys of raising her children, all of whom have disabilities. Tiffany herself also faces significant health issues. For Tiffany, Medicaid isn't just an insurance program; it's a lifeline.

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Disability Stories, Families, Medicaid

Kansas Stories: Isobeau

Isobeau, who is a Chinese medicine practitioner and acupuncturist, moved back to Haysville from Brooklyn in 2022 due to COVID-19 and to care for her elderly mother. She has a son who is currently a senior in college. Over the past two years she's been working part-time to build her practice while also providing care for her mother. These responsibilities have limited her income. Isobeau prefers a balanced approach to health care, using natural healing methods whenever possible. She budgets for r

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Kansas Stories: Chance

At 27 years old, Chance has always been a hard worker. Employed at a local fast-food restaurant in Wichita, Chance takes pride in their job, serving customers with a smile and ensuring every order is just right. However, the past year has been particularly challenging. After turning 27, Chance automatically rolled off their parent's insurance. So for the first time in their life, Chance found themselves without health insurance.

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Kansas Stories: Valerie

Valerie is a wife and mother from Wichita who is working toward a degree in the social sciences. She spends her free time doing whatever she can to help those around her, including advocating for the unhoused population in Wichita. Her husband and son are covered by Medicaid, but Valerie does not qualify. She is grateful that her husband and son have Medicaid coverage, but as a primary caretaker for her husband, son, and aging father, she worries about who would care for them if something happen

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Kansas stories: Stephen

Stephen is a father of two from Buhler, Kansas. He is trying to make his life better for his family. After working as a server for awhile, he decided to enroll in a computer program coding bootcamp could help him find a higher paid position -- and hopefully one with health insurance. He took time away from his newborn baby to attend this bootcamp with the hopes that it would propel his career forward.

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Kansas stories: Doug & Jake

Doug opened his heart and his home to a child in need and adopted Jake out of foster care. Like all other kids adopted out of foster care, Jake was covered under Medicaid until he turned 18. But once the public health emergency ended and redeterminations began again, Jake lost his health insurance. Because Kansas has not expanded Medicaid, he is uninsured and in the coverage gap.

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Kansas stories: Julie Jenesta

Julie Jenesta is a social worker at the Salvation Army. She spends her time working with low-income families in northeast Kansas. Many of Julie's clients are single parents who are struggling to take care of themselves, especially when it comes to their health.