“Medicaid has been a lifeline for me. I have heart failure and Medicaid has allowed me to be able to have my heart doctor and the medication I need. I don’t know where I’d be today if I didn’t have Medicaid.” – Kristina, Medicaid Member

I was unable to get adequate coverage — I was denied for a preexisting condition. I think I still may have my denial letters. I was able to finally obtain insurance when the ACA went into effect. At the time, I was starting a small business and trying to get myself insured in the individual market. I would NOT have been able to start my business without ACA.

This year will be my first year getting health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. I am excited to start my new health coverage insurance and start going to doctors.

I have had to maintain health insurance due to ongoing health issues. As long as I didn’t have a break in coverage, my pre-existing conditions were always covered. Coming off ICHIP coverage and being able to get health insurance through Marketplace was a financial blessing for me in 2014 and 2015.

Both my husband and I are entrepreneurs, and we both get our health insurance off the Marketplace. Before the ACA, he was able to get health insurance, but I was not because of a pre-existing condition. Without the Marketplace, one of us would have to give up our business in order to get insurance through an employer, so we are thankful that the ACA exists.

My ACA plan was the first insurance I could purchase as an adult, outside of fulltime employment. Before the ACA, I had always been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition — now I’m eligible.