As a child, my mother was always a public servant, which meant that I never had to worry about health care. I thought of it in terms of my glasses—relatively expensive but not always necessary. It was a manageable and essential cost, but I never feared being unable to afford it. Although I grew up in a low-income household, I always knew there was a safety net to care for my health care needs. I assumed the safety net would remain when I moved to Texas for college.
When you enroll in college, you must also sign up for insurance, so I assumed I was covered. I believed that if I ever needed medical care, my insurance would be there, just as it had been when I was younger. Unfortunately, I was mistaken.
During my first semester of college, I visited a doctor because I wasn’t feeling well. They recommended some tests, which were conducted, and I provided my Aetna insurance information. Months passed, and I assumed everything had been taken care of. However, in December, I received an unexpected text message billing me over $1,000 for testing fees.
I immediately panicked, texting my mother at midnight to see if she knew what was happening. She did not. I felt utterly alone, unable to comprehend how this had happened. Neither my mother nor I could pay a $1,000 bill. I had believed my school’s insurance would protect me, but instead, I was left frightened and in debt simply for seeking medical care.
Throughout my academic journey, I worked hard to earn a full-ride scholarship to college. I was always told that working hard in school would lead to success and ensure my needs were met. At no point was I informed that I would also need to secure an affordable health care plan, find a job to cover unexpected $1,000 medical bills, and still maintain high grades and participate fully in campus life.
The state of health care coverage in Texas put me in a precarious position. If Medicaid were expanded in Texas, I and millions of other students wouldn’t have to scramble to cover medical expenses. Now, all I can do is hope I don’t get sick because I simply cannot afford the cost of that “mistake.”
Health care is a necessity. Not having access to it or being afraid to seek it out could have devastating consequences. Every Texan deserves health care. Every family, employee, child, and student deserves the ability to care for themselves without fearing financial ruin. Expanding Medicaid would make that a reality, and it’s time for our elected officials to fight for a healthier Texas.