Kansas Stories: Tiffany

April 2025

Tiffany is a single mother of four who lives in Chanute, Kansas. Originally from the East Coast, she finds Kansas a world away from the bustling life she once knew. Her days are filled with the challenges and joys of raising her children, all of whom have disabilities. Tiffany herself also faces significant health issues.

For Tiffany, Medicaid isn’t just an insurance program; it’s a lifeline.

“If I didn’t have Medicaid, I would probably die,” she said.

Pulmonary hypertension, severe asthma, and Crohn’s disease are among the serious conditions she battles daily. Without Medicaid, she wouldn’t be able to afford the medication and treatment she needs to manage these illnesses and simply survive.

Beyond her own health, Tiffany worries deeply about her children. Her children face their own challenges: one with bipolar disorder, another with autism, and another with ADHD and possible early-onset schizophrenia. Medicaid helps them receive the support they need by providing access to essential services, including regular doctor visits, mental health care, case management, and attendant care.

Tiffany’s biggest fear is losing Medicaid coverage. Leaders in Congress have proposed cuts to Medicaid of $880 billion. Cuts of that size will terminate health care for millions of Americans like Tiffany and her children who get care through Medicaid.

“My kids would have to go to foster care because I won’t be able to take care of them,” she said.

The thought of her family being torn apart is a constant weight on her mind.

Tiffany is a mother and full-time caregiver. Both of these roles are full-time jobs without many breaks or any paid time off. Raising children with disabilities is demanding, and she does it without the support many others have. Medicaid helps pay for attendant care to support Tiffany with caregiving needs.

Despite her struggles, Tiffany is a fighter. She advocates for herself and others by calling legislators and demanding change. In addition to her advocacy to protect Medicaid from cuts, she also believes Medicaid should be expanded in Kansas where the income limits for adults are, in her words, “ridiculously low.” She wants lawmakers to understand the critical role Medicaid plays in the lives of so many Kansans.

Tiffany’s story is one of resilience, love, and the vital importance of Medicaid. It highlights the human cost of inadequate health care and the urgent need for advocacy in Washington, DC, and change in Kansas.