I remember turning 26 and suddenly losing my health insurance. I know what it’s like to go years without coverage, forcing myself to ignore pain and push through illnesses because the alternative—a single medical bill—could leave me in crippling debt for the rest of my life. My parents weren’t health literate, and navigating the system alone was, and still is, daunting and confusing. No one should have to face that fear. I want better for the people who come after me.
We live in a country with some of the most advanced medical technology in the world, filled with brilliant innovators. Yet, millions of people can’t access basic health care because of how fractured, inaccessible, and cruel our system has become. Beyond the financial burden, we must recognize the systemic inequities determining who receives care and who gets left behind. Insurance companies, driven by profit, do not care and routinely deny coverage, even when doctors advocate for their patients. Accessing care is intentionally difficult, requiring people to navigate endless paperwork, long wait times, and hours spent on the phone just to dispute a denied claim. And that’s for those who even have insurance.
For those who don’t? The barriers are even higher. Many people, especially in the gig economy, work full-time but don’t receive employer-sponsored health benefits, and they’re priced out of an exorbitant insurance market. In a system where health care is tied to employment, millions fall through the cracks, not because they don’t work hard but because the system was never built to support them.
And now, instead of fixing these problems, we’re talking about cutting Medicaid even further, making it even harder for low-income individuals to qualify for care. This is not just a policy issue; it is a moral failure. It is a travesty. It punishes the most vulnerable among us: citizens, non-citizens, working people, and those struggling to find work. It fails us all.
We can do better. We must do better. I urge you to support legislation that expands Medicaid and increases access to comprehensive health care. We must allocate resources to support community-based health care initiatives, ensuring that no one has to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor. Health care should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it; it should be a fundamental part of a just and thriving society.
Invest in us so that we can reinvest in our communities. Prioritize the well-being of the people you serve. Support policies that give people the dignity of accessible, affordable health care. Our future depends on it.