That’s Medicaid
Health insurance coverage provides people with access to the care they need—when they need it. That’s Medicaid shares stories of people helped by Medicaid at critical points in their lives.

When You Can Live as a Family

A Lifeline

Maria O. / Wilmington, Delaware

Her story in four photos

“With Medicaid we are free to just be mommy and daddy and we never take that for granted.”

Maria and her husband have both worked full-time jobs with benefits in the 12 years since their daughter Franki's birth. Franki, who has Down syndrome, was born with multiple medical conditions, and Maria is grateful for the coverage the Medicaid program has provided so she and her husband could focus on what was most important: loving Franki.

Franki has already gone through 23 surgeries in her lifetime. “There is no way we would be able to do what we do with Franki if we had to pay for it out-of-pocket,” Maria says. “With Medicaid we are free to just be mommy and daddy and we never take that for granted.”

Franki receives her food, hydration, and medicines all through a feeding tube, and she is prescribed private duty nursing to care for her medical needs, assist with daily living, and accompany her to school. These nursing services, in addition to critical therapy services and durable medical equipment and supplies, are all covered by Medicaid.

“It is nice not to have that additional financial stress on us,” Maria says. “Life is hard enough in today's world, and life is really challenging with a child with special needs and chronic medical issues.”

Video: Hear Maria's Story in Her Own Words