Michelle Maslanka: Medicaid more than a safety net for NH families

To The Daily Sun,

My life changed in 2014, after a devastating accident left me with a spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. Overnight, I lost the ability to do basic tasks like bathing, dressing, cooking or using the bathroom without full-time help. The physical and emotional toll on my family was overwhelming, but Medicaid made independence possible.

I live with my husband and daughter, but the care I need goes far beyond what they can provide. I first enrolled in Medicaid in 2007, and after my injury, a local nonprofit helped me apply for a Medicaid waiver. That waiver now provides critical personal care assistance, allowing me to remain at home. Without it, my husband would have to stop working to care for me, putting our financial stability at risk.

My daughter also depends on Medicaid. It covers her regular therapy, doctor and allergist visits, and her EpiPen prescription. Therapy alone costs us $700 to $800 a month, and without Medicaid, our prescriptions would add up to hundreds of dollars each week. There’s no way our family could afford that care on our own.

We were lucky to be connected to these services through the Granite State Independent Living Center, but I worry that others in similar situations may not receive the same support.

For my family, Medicaid is not just a safety net. It is the foundation that allows us to live with dignity and access essential care. I am deeply grateful to Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan for working to protect Medicaid and the critical programs families like mine rely on.

Michelle Maslanka

Laconia