Medicaid is a vital program for Arkansans like Chloe, a mother of a 2-year-old with dwarfism. She receives health insurance through the Parent/Caretaker Medicaid program that provides benefits for eligible children under 19 who are considered medically needy and their caregivers.  

Chloe and her son both have dwarfism, and Medicaid has helped significantly with medical expenses, life-saving equipment, doctor visits, prescriptions, and surgeries. In addition to the crucial medical care that Medicaid provides for her family, Chloe says Medicaid has changed their lives for the better. Medicaid coverage lets Chloe be her son’s full-time caregiver and spares her the cost of hiring someone. Because of Medicaid, Chloe can provide round-the-clock care for her son, who needs full-time medical assistance. 

Chloe’s son will need additional surgeries as he grows, and Chloe is thankful for the support Medicaid will provide when those needs arise. For Chloe, as a parent of a medically complex child, Medicaid is lifechanging. It offers critical health care that many Arkansas families would not be able to afford otherwise. “It is taking the burden off working families and providing health care for those that need it the most,” she said. Without Medicaid, she said, full-time caregivers would struggle to find care for their sick children or take time off from a 9-5 job to attend medical appointments. 

The impact of Medicaid in Arkansas communities goes far beyond being able to see a doctor when you’re sick. For Chloe, Medicaid provides the needed support to care for a medically needy child and ensures that her son has access to the quality care he needs to thrive.  

Medicaid makes access to affordable health care a reality for Arkansans like Chloe.