As a child, my family’s nickname for me was “The ER Child.” I suffered several concussions, swallowed a bottle of vitamin C, dislocated my arms multiple times, battled numerous infections, endured a case of scarlet fever, and faced many other ailments growing up. Most of these were my own doing, resulting from my adventurous and often reckless approach to life. I climbed trees, played in the mud, and fenced with my siblings using sticks—just a few examples of my daily activities. Throughout all of this, I took health care coverage for granted. I assumed doctor’s appointments were free and that my parents’ only concern regarding my health was whether I would heal—not how they would afford it.
Why would I think any differently? My public school education never covered the crucial topic of health care coverage. When I aged out of my parents’ insurance, I suddenly found myself scrambling to learn how to navigate the system while balancing graduate school and work. It wasn’t until I participated in the Young Advocates Program through Young Invincibles that I received my first comprehensive look at navigating health care. After a year without coverage, I could finally enroll in Medicaid. Without this government-subsidized health care, I wouldn’t have been able to afford insurance at all. Even now, I live in constant fear of an accident that could upend my life—not just physically, but financially as well.
I am far from the little kid who fell out of trees because I can no longer afford the cost of a physically adventurous life. Driving feels precarious considering what an accident would cost compared to my income. No one should have to live in fear of the financial consequences of seeking medical care. That is why I am calling on my representatives to fight to protect Medicaid and advocate for health care literacy education in public schools. Every person deserves to understand their health care options and have access to the coverage they need.