LTE: Kids, Families Hurt Most if Medicaid Expansion Axed
I work as a therapist in two Bozeman public schools, serving children with mental health diagnoses and their families. As a therapist, I help students address their emotional and behavioral needs so that they can focus more readily on school work, spending quality time with friends, and improving their relationships with their families. Many of the children and families that I work with will be negatively impacted if our legislators do not continue Medicaid expansion.
Medicaid expansion currently provides health care for one in 10 Montanans. These are my neighbors, families, and children that I have worked with every day for the past two years. The vast majority of my clients have their health coverage through Medicaid because their working family members have low income jobs. I’ve seen first-hand how important health care is for these families.
We need to protect Medicaid expansion to make sure that all Montanans, regardless of income, have health coverage. Harmful proposals to restrict eligibility for Medicaid will take away coverage from thousands of Montanans. Children will be hurt the most, because I know that when parents lose access to health care and their physical and mental health needs go untreated, kids are worse off.
Let’s do the right thing for families and kids in our state. Legislators must continue Medicaid expansion – not make changes that would kick people off their health care when they need it the most.