The recent push by lawmakers in Michigan to impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients endangers essential health care for over 2 million residents, including my precious 3-year-old daughter, Lily.
Before Lily’s birth, we were shocked to discover that she had a serious heart condition; one of the four chambers of her heart was absent. This revelation came with no family history or prior warning. At just two days old, she underwent her first open-heart surgery, followed by another at five months. Tragically, at eight months, Lily suffered a cardiac arrest right in front of us, and it took 25 minutes for her heart to resume beating. This incident caused irreversible damage to both her heart and brain, taking away her developmental milestones, including her vision. For two months, she was in severe heart failure, ultimately leading to a third surgery that was insufficient to save her heart. Our family faced a heart-wrenching decision: pursue comfort care or list her for a transplant. Fortunately, four months later, we found a suitable donor heart, which has been a tremendous blessing.
Lily’s ongoing care requires a strict regimen of medication, administered every six to twelve hours, and assistance for daily activities like sitting and standing. She relies on a feeding tube for the majority of her nutrition, needing five feedings a day, along with extra hydration to support her compromised kidney function. The skills most children develop naturally—like eating—have been a challenge for her due to her medical history.
Medicaid has been a lifeline for our family, filling the gaps left by our insurance, especially when it comes to covering her rehabilitation therapies. Without Medicaid, Lily would not have access to crucial therapy sessions that are vital for her recovery and development. The burden of medical debt would be overwhelming without this support, especially given the frequent emergency room visits and specialty consultations necessitated by her complex condition.
Medicaid has enabled us to obtain necessary medications that our private insurance has denied, proving essential to Lily’s survival. A simple cold can lead to hospitalization lasting days or weeks, a reality we know all too well. Medicaid has allowed her to receive timely care, preventing situations from becoming critical.
Lily is a vibrant child who loves dressing up and playing outside. She enjoys music and thrives in her school’s music classes. She deserves the same chances at life and joy as any other child.
The proposed work requirements for Medicaid recipients are devastating. As her mother, I’ve had to take significant time off work to support Lily through her recovery and hospitalizations. Lawmakers pushing these requirements often fail to understand the daily struggles that families like ours endure. If these policies are enacted, over 100,000 Michiganders could lose their health coverage, leading to dire consequences for many families. These changes would not only endanger lives but also cost the state millions annually to manage the fallout.
This potential policy shift would reflect poorly on Michigan’s governance, showcasing a lack of empathy and understanding from our leaders. We deserve better representation, and I urge everyone to join me in advocating against these harmful changes.
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In summary, the proposed Medicaid work requirements pose a serious threat to my daughter’s health care and the well-being of many families in Michigan. With the assistance of Medicaid, we have been able to provide Lily with the medical care she needs to thrive after her heart transplant. The potential loss of this coverage would be devastating, not only for our family but for thousands of others facing similar challenges.