Each morning, it became harder to lift myself out of bed. I propped pillows under my neck and shoulders, just to sit up. Once seated, I could swing my legs off the edge, but getting to my feet felt like an impossible task. The thought of going to work seemed absurd.
“You’ll push through this,” I told myself. There had to be an explanation: Maybe I’d overdone it at karaoke, singing too loudly. Maybe one too many shots had caught up with me. My pounding head convinced me more rest was the answer. Still, I ignored my body’s limits, stubbornly trying to power through.
At that time, I had no health insurance.
One frigid morning, during my 15-minute walk to work, the agony became unbearable. I had been dragging myself through this misery for days, and I couldn’t pretend it was something I could just sleep off any longer. I showed up 20 minutes late, but within two hours, I could barely stand.
I told my manager I wasn’t feeling well. He took one look at me and insisted I go home. I didn’t have an Uber app on my phone at the time. So, I trudged home on foot, though I can barely remember the walk. What I do remember is collapsing in the snow, sobbing uncontrollably.
I somehow made it back home, but when I tried to lie down, I couldn’t even lift my head. It took every ounce of energy to roll over and grab my phone. I called my mom, knowing she was the only one who could help. She saved my life. I could barely walk, but she rushed to my side, put me in the car, and took me to the hospital.
The next thing I remember was waking up nearly a week later in my mother’s bed, confused and disoriented. My family explained that I’d had untreated strep throat, which had led to sepsis—a life-threatening infection that had spread through my bloodstream. I was just hours away from death because I had delayed seeking medical help.
Thankfully, Medicaid stepped in and provided the care I desperately needed.
Instead of feeling grateful for my recovery, I was overwhelmed with frustration. Living paycheck to paycheck, missing a week of work without paid sick leave or insurance, meant I was now facing medical bills I couldn’t possibly afford. I feared I’d lose my home. My phone had been shut off during my feverish week of suffering.
That’s when my mom helped me apply for Medicaid. That moment was truly lifesaving. Once approved, Medicaid covered my medical bills retroactively, providing relief I hadn’t even dared to hope for. The program also gave me access to preventive care, like annual check-ups, and the medication I needed—birth control included. If I get sick, I can now access the care I need without worrying about the cost.
Medicaid isn’t just a lifeline—it’s the reason I’m alive today.
But now, the future of Medicaid is in jeopardy. President Donald Trump’s tax proposal, which is currently under discussion in Congress, could cut Medicaid funding by $625 billion. In February, the U.S. House passed a budget bill that could slash Medicaid by $880 billion. These cuts would devastate Iowans, potentially costing the state more than $8 billion. The proposed changes would drastically reduce federal funds, forcing states to cut coverage and eliminate critical benefits. Medicaid is a vital resource for 72 million Americans, including more than 650,000 people in Iowa alone. We can’t afford to lose it.