Life or Liberty?

The Medicaid program was established in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In its simplest form, Medicaid is health insurance for people with limited incomes. The proposed budget passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month would cut about 880 billion. If this program receives cuts or caps, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will die.

Matthew 22:39 NIV And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

This is not an overreaction. States cannot make up the funds if these cuts are in the final budget. If this program is limited in any way, America will unconsciously sponsor the genocide of its citizens over the next 10 years. I, for one, cannot get out of bed unless I have a caregiver who is paid by the state to help me get out of bed. Without them, I would die of a bed sore. No matter how much I move around. If an individual uses a feeding tube and no one is there to change the tube, they will die. To receive any adult services, such as attending a day program or any kind of supported employment, we must be eligible for Medicaid. Depending on how deep the cuts go, States will no longer be accepting new individuals, meaning folks will waste away in their homes. This will not save taxpayers money, it will cost them more. It has been proven that it is cheaper in the long run to have people live in the community instead of in an institutional setting.

I can attest to this. I recently remodeled my home to make it more accessible. I redid the bathroom and added a Hoyer lift system to my bedroom. It did cost over $50,000. However, this will ensure that I can stay in my home for the next 15 or 20 years. With these necessary accommodations, I can continue to do my advocacy work and be a part of my community. As of the release of this writing, I am on the way to attend the State of the Union as a guest of New Jersey’s Senator Andy Kim. My brother is out with his caregiver getting eggs and milk. We both have the same disability and we’re still living a full life.

Give me liberty or give me death!”

Patrick Henry- american Patriot

America can only thrive if everyone does their part. Supporting individuals with disabilities build local, state, and national economies. Disability is not a burden on society. It is a part of the human experience. I may have been born disabled but everyone else is only temporarily abled. People with disabilities are your neighbors, your family, and your friends. As we grow so does America. The Medicaid program is not a safety net, it is a lifeline. My fellow Americans, if you value life, then tell your elected officials in Washington, DC, no cuts to the Medicaid program. A disabled life is an American Life.