Jennifer

Jennifer is a mother from metro Atlanta living with chronic disease who lost her job and, with it, her access to health insurance  

Jennifer is a mother of two from metro Atlanta. She has a young adult son with a developmental disorder and a teenage daughter. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer lost her job of 26 years and, with that, her health insurance. “I have been working part-time, but unfortunately, I don't have insurance because it's part-time,” she notes. “I'm trying to find full-time employment. I haven't been able to. 

My hope is that we receive quality health care and that we can have access to quality health care, so we can have the medications we need. I don't like being dependent on medication. However, when you do have mental illness or diabetes, you have to have access to quality health care. It can be a life-or-death situation.” 

Administrative Hurdles in Applying for Medicaid 

“I have applied for health care through the government. I was denied health care. I've tried to reapply, but it has been very difficult. I haven't been able to get anyone on the phone or get an appointment with anyone. I did get a message back a few weeks ago, and they said that they received my application, but that it would take another month to get an appointment. Well, I get a letter in the mail the day of my appointment. But, of course, by the time I got the mail, I had missed the appointment. I tried to call and reschedule, but it just goes to voicemail, and then they say the voicemail box is full. So it's just like I'm running into one challenge after another. 

I called the number that came on the letter. And the letter says, ‘If I don't get back to you, call my supervisor.’ So I've tried both methods, and still: no solution, no resolution. Or they'll call when I'm at work or something, and you don't answer the phone. They'll just put you as no answer. But if you call people during the day, it's kind of difficult to answer the phone all the time when you're at work. 

I'll travel to go to wherever I need to receive health care. I even went to the Division of Family and Children Services office and filled out the form there. I moved last January and updated my address, and they just keep saying that they have the wrong address, or the mail was returned. So I went into the office, and it looked like they left off my apartment number. So I went into the office and manually filled everything out. That's when I requested the health care again. You got to run around. You don't even really get to speak to anyone. By the time they send you an appointment, they send it in the mail, and you've even missed the appointment. Or they send it, and you get it the day of the appointment where you can't really move your schedule around to make the appointment. It comes too late. That's the problem.” 

Being Uninsured with a Chronic Health Condition 

“Not having insurance has affected me being able to work. I'm diabetic, so me not having access to medication, I had a really horrible diabetic episode and was in the hospital for five days in March 2023. I had to go to the ER. They admitted me, kept me for five days. And now I have all these outrageous doctor bills because I went with no insurance. Of course, I missed work, and of course that put a financial strain on me because I'm already part time. 

It’s a bit stressful, you know. That's mainly it. You stress over doctor bills. In the hospital, you don't want to stress, and you're trying to get better. But then, at the same time, I was like, ‘I got to get out of here because these doctor bills are going to be outrageous.’ You try to stay healthy because you know you really can't afford to go to the doctor. 

Going to the doctor is the last, last resort. That's why I ended up in the hospital—because I'm trying to control my diabetes with diet, not with medication. Now, when I went to the emergency room, they prescribed insulin for me, and the doctor even said, ‘I'm going to give you the cheapest medication.’ And you don't necessarily want the cheapest medication. You want good medication. But he knew my situation—that I was uninsured. 

Caretaking for Children Who Lack Insurance  

I’m a mom of two. I have a 24-year-old on the autism spectrum, and I have a 16-year-old daughter. Of course, my son needs access to insurance as well. It would help him. My son has been uninsured since 2021. That was last time I took him to the doctor, and he even asked, ‘Mom, I need to get some medication.’ I did take him to the doctor, and it was just so expensive. They wanted to charge me $85 to talk on the phone. As a mom of a child with a mental disability, it’s very stressful because we are not able to provide him with access to therapists he needs and medication he's been on in the past. 

That's the primarily that's what has affected me. My son doesn't have coverage. I'm going to still try to get him some Medicare or Medicaid. His dad has been trying to get it for him as well because he's aged out of where he can be covered on his dad's insurance.  

My daughter does have coverage. But even the coverage she has, it's still a challenge because so many people didn't even accept governmental insurance. So that's mainly it: my lack of insurance. That's probably the extent to what I will let it allow it to stress me or worry me because you just can't worry or stress too much or you get sicker. 

I don't know why it's so difficult to access the healthcare that's supposed to be in place for people like me who are transitioning or trying to find a job or for whatever reason. I thought it was primarily in place for people like me, and it's very challenging to access it.” 

Jennifer is a pseudonym for our storyteller who has requested to remain anonymous.