Medicaid Empowered Ellen, a College Student, Through Pregnancy and the NICU Experience

I was 19 when I found out I was pregnant and only a sophomore in college. I didn’t have anyone to lean on as I was unwelcome by my family members. I had no idea how I was going to afford to have my baby as a poor college student. My OB/GYN told me to meet with financial aid during my first appointment and I am so grateful for her to this day. The financial team at Sanford sat me down, talked me through the process for applying for Medicaid and the benefits of it.

I had a rough pregnancy with lots of illness that resulted in an emergency c-section with my son needing to stay a week in the NICU after birth. This would have been a massive financial debt I would probably still be working my way out of for the life of my child. My son was born with different health conditions that require specialists still to this day but without Medicaid, I wouldn’t have been able to get him the help he needed, most likely making his conditions worse over time.

Without Medicaid, I wouldn’t have been able to get him the help he needed, most likely making his conditions worse over time. 

I graduated college early and am in a professional career that has allowed me to not rely on Medicaid. I am so grateful for the support Medicaid provided to me and my son and work to share the importance of Medicaid and also how to apply. This is not a permanent solution in my eyes, but the biggest help when it is needed most so people can succeed in the future.

I was fortunate to be able to work the entirety of my pregnancy, and still qualified. I was in and working on leaving an abusive relationship which is more difficult than it seems, especially with limited financial resources.