By skyforbes 
This post is the second in BeneStream’s “I Am Medicaid Expansion” blog series featuring stories of people whose lives were improved by Medicaid expansion.
Home health aides devote themselves to others, taking vital measurements, administering medicines, and preparing meals for their patients. But as one aide discovered, even the strongest are just a few steps from struggle when it comes to medical bills.
Amy’s Story
Amy and her two children live on a modest income in New Jersey. But while Amy takes great care of her kids, she couldn’t stop her son from taking a tumble off the school’s jungle gym. Nor can she prevent her daughter’s recurring ear infections and febrile seizures. And although she was enrolled in her company’s health insurance, high deductibles meant she struggled to cover her medical bills — and, eventually, her family’s necessities.
Sensing Amy’s rising stress, her children played less, worried about their impact on the family’s finances. Amy put in longer hours, cancelled the family’s weekly dinner outing, and even pulled her son out of soccer. Dreading debt collectors’ calls, she began tensing each time her phone rang.
BeneStream Gave Her Peace of Mind
But since last fall, Amy has begun to breathe easier. Her employer’s human resources department put her in contact with BeneStream which helped her transition from her company’s insurance plan (which took money out of every paycheck) to free, government-backed Medicaid insurance, for which she was eligible after New Jersey expanded Medicaid in 2014. Thanks to Medicaid, her kids receive comprehensive coverage, too, at no additional cost. And in addition to saving money on health insurance premiums, Amy receives $230 in monthly food aid via Food Stamps (SNAP) and free lifeline phone service through Assurance Wireless.
Like the 7 million Americans who have enrolled in Medicaid under the ACA, Amy’s family has gained back both health and financial stability. Now, thanks to Medicaid, Amy is no longer part of the 20 percent of working Americans struggling with Medical bills, 42 percent of which are forced to take on extra work. Medicaid, as she’s learned, keeps millions of Americans out of poverty annually and reduces enrollees’ out-of-pocket medical spending by between $376 and $871 per beneficiary per year.
For kids like Amy’s, this help is especially crucial: Children from low-income backgrounds who are covered by Medicaid reap long-term health rewards and improved upward economic mobility.
Every Day is #RedNoseDay at BeneStream
Red Nose Day is a day to support families like Amy’s.
Amy’s reality — and that of millions of other Americans — is highlighted each year by Red Nose Day, an annual “fun-raiser” that uses celebrities and comic relief to spotlight childhood poverty. The event has raised more than $1 billion over the past 25 years, producing brighter life outcomes for children around the world.
Following NBC’s Red Nose Day Special at 8 p.m. CST this Thursday, half of the raised funds will support health, safety, and education initiatives for U.S. children, while the other half will fulfill similar missions in poor communities across the globe. The nonprofit group raised $23 million in 2015 alone.
At BeneStream, every day is Red Nose Day, as we help families like Amy’s obtain affordable health care coverage and overcome medical debt. Contact us to learn more about how we ease working families’ burdens, shore up financial vulnerabilities, and set them on the path toward more prosperous futures.
