A Colorado family is struggling with the impact of unexpected Medicaid loss, highlighting the challenges faced by families navigating the complexities of healthcare coverage.
AURORA, Colo. — Isabella Quintana’s first birthday came with an unwelcome gift this summer: She abruptly lost her health insurance weeks later. The little girl, who has a heart murmur and complications after a bad bout of bronchitis, had been covered by Medicaid , the government program insuring low-income and disabled Americans. But over the summer, she was dropped from the program due to what her parents believe is a paperwork issue.
‘It’s hard for us because we are always thinking, ‘When she’s going to get sick?’ That’s something that we don’t have control over,’ said her father, Gorman Quintana. In the months since, one of Isabella’s bronchitis follow-up appointments cost about $1,100 — a big chunk of the roughly $35,000 the Colorado family makes per year. When she later spiked a 100.4-degree fever, her parents waited longer than they otherwise would have to take her to the emergency room, hoping it would go down on its own. ‘It’s tough, because you want them to be healthy right away, you know? You don’t want to wait until something else happens, you know?’ Quintana said. It’s been five months, and Isabella's parents say she still hasn’t gotten her Medicaid back even though her brother — same family, same income — never lost his. ‘It doesn’t make any sense,’ said Dr. Laura Luzietti, the executive director of Every Child Pediatrics, where Isabella receives primary care. ‘It says that something didn’t go the way that it’s supposed to go.’ The Quintanas’ experience with Medicaid isn’t uncommon, Luzietti said. ‘We have a lot of families who have the exact same story, and when they ask the enrollment specialists, they’re told that, ‘You’re right. This doesn’t make sense. She should have her Medicaid restored. It’s just going to be a few months.’ But a few months without coverage is a huge deal to these young kids. Isabella appears to have been caught up in the rocky aftermath of one of the biggest shake-ups in Medicaid’s 60-year histor
Medicaid Health Insurance Uninsured Children's Health Healthcare Costs
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ohio again asks feds, this time under Trump, to impose Medicaid work requirementsThe Ohio Department of Medicaid once again seeks to impose a work requirement on Medicaid recipients.
Read more »
Tears at How Little Girl Who Lost Dad Shops for Mom's Christmas PresentMira Simone told Newsweek of her admiration for her daughter's ability to shoulder the weight of loss at such a young age.
Read more »
Texas agency to ask for $300M to fix ‘neglect' in Medicaid enrollment systemA plan to improve the Texas HHSC's complicated Medicaid application process has thrilled the state’s nonprofit policy groups.
Read more »
Texas agency to ask for $300M for Medicaid enrollment fixThe request, which includes hiring more staff and updating the online application system, comes as applicants must wait for months to receive approval for benefits.
Read more »
What Does Future Hold For Affordable Care Act And Medicaid Under Trump?There may now be an even greater sense of urgency to work to slash what allies of the President-elect perceive to be as wasteful expenditures in the ACA and Medicaid.
Read more »
State agency to ask lawmakers for $300M to fix 'significant neglect' in Texas’ Medicaid enrollment systemThe request, which includes hiring more staff and updating the online application system, comes as applicants must wait for months to receive approval for benefits.
Read more »