Local Members of Disability Community Who Use Medicaid
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Name:Michelle Lampson
Phone: 715 209 8006(cell) OR715 373 0377(Landline, only afterJuly 12th)
Residence: Washburn, Bayfield County
WHAT CUTS TO MEDICAID WOULD MEAN TO ME/MY FAMILY: I am a self-employed single mom caring for two kids (14 and 18) with special needs. Cuts to Medicaid could result in my adult intellectually challenged son losing the long term care supports he receives from IRIS. Those supports are critical to him being able to live as independently as possible. They also pay for me, his mother and guardian, to care for him in our home without worrying so much about money. Because of IRIS, I am able to pay my bills without the assistance of any welfare program except Medicaid. My son relies on Medicaid to cover the prescription medications that prevent seizures and control his ADHD and impulsivity issues. Without them, he'd have frequent seizures and be unable to focus on anything. His life would be a total wreck. With his meds, he's able to live far more independently.
Cuts to Medicaid may result in the state deciding to trim what Medicaid covers. This could dramatically affect my severely hearing impaired daughter. She has been wearing hearing aids since she was 6 months old. For the past 14 years, Medicaid has covered the cost of her annual audiologist exams, her ear molds, the hearing aids themselves, and even batteries. Her hearing aids retail for around $5000 each. If the state decides to trim Medicaid to match what Medicare provides (as an example), then she would lose all that coverage. There is no way I can afford $10,000 for her hearing aids. Yet she needs them to be independent and fully engaged in her community. She needs them to learn, to eventually get and keep a job, to do just about anything a normal person would do.
As for myself, I rely on Medicaid to cover my care for diabetes, high blood pressure, systemic inflammation and chronic pain. Without this care, I'd be unable to care for my kids or work.
I view Medicaid not as an entitlement, but as an investment in me and my kids. With Medicaid & IRIS, we all have a much greater chance of being productive and contributing members of society who don't need any other state supports. Without them, that chance declines quite sharply and our need for other state supports increases.
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