Stories From the Coverage Gap

There are thousands of Kansans who live everyday in the health insurance coverage gap. They don’t have access to affordable health insurance, and this affects their lives every day. These are the faces of Kansans living in the coverage gap.

Kansas Stories: Shelley

April 2025

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Behavioral Health, Disability Stories, Families, Medicaid

Shelley lives in Lawrence and grew up in South Central Kansas. After her three children left home, she and her husband, Kirk, moved to Lawrence in 2011 to enjoy their golden years. In 2014, Shelley noticed Kirk was having significant issues with confusion and memory. Over time, his condition worsened. Shelley realized she could not safely care for him in their home anymore, so she made the difficult decision to place him in a memory care home. With looming cuts to Medicaid in Washington, DC, Shelley is concerned about being able to afford to stay in her home while also paying for Kirk's care.

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Behavioral Health, Disability Stories, Workforce Stories

Rebecca is a mother and grandmother in Wichita who, like thousands of others, faces the harsh realities of the health care coverage gap. While she waited for a decision on her disability case, Rebecca was able to qualify for MediKan, a state-funded program that allows those applying for Disability to be covered by Medicaid. However, this coverage is only available for one year, despite the fact that many people seeking disability wait years for a decision to be made in their case, and often have to apply more than once before being accepted. Rebecca needs a colonoscopy due to a family history of colon cancer and concerning results from a previous test. But without insurance and the inability to pay out-of-pocket, these essential tests remain out of reach.

Topics: All Consumer Stories, Workforce Stories

Melinda, an interior designer, contractor, and musician, moved from Texas to Wichita in 2013. Last April, Melinda left her job on the maintenance crew of a local health care facility after suffering an overuse injury in her arm. Melinda's injury led to significant financial difficulties. She exhausted her savings and relied on the support of friends, family, and rent assistance from agencies to make ends meet.

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