When I was eligible for the Affordable Care Act, I “made too much money” since child support is added in for income for DE Healthy Choice Option through Medicaid. Therefore, I was informed that it would be at least $1600
Read moreBy State
Samsynn, Age 1
![Samsynn, Age 1](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/01/20181214_160710-e1547046747524.jpg)
I got pregnant while I was in high school and never finished. I was alone in my pregnancy and until he was 3 months old. I don’t make a lot for my two jobs and I have another son. He
Read moreMaren, Age 6
![Maren, Age 6](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/01/IMG_5433-e1547046900388.jpg)
What would having had coverage for medical nutrition meant to me/my family? It feels like an insurmountable task to even try to answer this question. Looking back, it would have meant what felt like everything. It would have meant not
Read moreLisa, Age 6
![Lisa, Age 6](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/10/IMG_0782.jpg)
We adopted Lisa last year. Prior to that she was in Florida. Due to the low amount covered in Florida Lisa was on a very limited diet. Once we brought Lisa home to Indiana we had no coverage for food.
Read moreLeo, Age 2
![Leo, Age 2](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/10/D3BEDA2C-E065-4CAB-9880-D11F62AFD1DF.jpeg)
My son began drinking Neocate junior at 12 months. It was not covered by our insurance. All formula is excluded from out plan because it is technically an over the counter product. He became tube fed at 16 months and
Read moreGarrett, Age 9
![Garrett, Age 9](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/10/IMG_0217.jpg)
When Garrett was born at 9 lbs 4 oz, we could not have been more thrilled to have a such a fat, happy baby! When we received the call two weeks later that he tested positive for PKU, we were
Read moreLucy and Lucas, Ages 6 and 3
![Lucy and Lucas, Ages 6 and 3](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/10/franciskids.png)
I have three children, my six-year-old twin daughters Lucy and Lily and my three-year-old son Lucas. Lucy and Lucas were diagnosed at birth with PKU, a rare, inherited metabolic disorder for which there is currently no cure. Their livers are
Read moreTyson, Age 7
![Tyson, Age 7](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/CE1F9951-F13D-421D-B5F0-CFB009C3B661-e1538145799765.jpeg)
It’s very important having coverage for medical nutrition. We could not afford to pay out of pocket and have no private insurance. If, We didn’t have the state of Louisiana and Medicaid our child would be severely permanently brain damaged
Read moreAndrew, Age 18
![Andrew, Age 18](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/CA663CF7-BF1B-40F4-8224-CCD3BB01BF4B-e1538145929271.jpeg)
My mother has worked as many as 5 jobs concurrently to maintain employer-provided insurance and has CONSTANTLY fought to keep me on a Medicaid waiver program, as they try to kick me off the program frequently. All of this and
Read moreWill, Age 12
![Will, Age 12](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/0AD99394-3EFD-4976-802E-44060481A836-e1538146255437.jpeg)
This coverage would take away added stress on our family and thousands of others. I have the means to afford insurance, but it does not help with procuring formula. Why do we pay so much for so little?? Why have
Read moreSasha, Age 11
![Sasha, Age 11](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/1C0453E0-DAC3-4A2F-BDF2-E14C237E5D1B.jpeg)
My daughter was diagnosed with a genetic inborn error of protein metabolism at 15 months of age. Since that time, our daily life has been dominated by an acute awareness of the critical importance of Sasha’s nutrition (and the incredibly
Read moreKelsey, Age 25
![Kelsey, Age 25](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/BU-Grad-e1538146666602.png)
I have a medical condition called Phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU is an inherited metabolic disorder where my body cannot break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein. Therefore I live on a very restricted low protein diet consisting of mainly
Read moreAdysen, Age 11
![Adysen, Age 11](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/E6EEC1A0-0B83-4BD8-ACAA-60D00E08DBB7.jpeg)
Medical coverage for our family will mean less time fighting the insurance for coverage. They decide when and how they are going to cover it on a month by month basis. She is on one required medical food but uses two
Read moreEzra, Age 3
The formula is very expensive!…My Grand-daughter and her husband both work and with all the bills cannot afford the formula (which is relevant in this disease)
Read moreElliot, Age 2
![Elliot, Age 2](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/IMG_20180807_110410a-e1538147756844.jpg)
Elliot was diagnosed with PKU at 6 days old. He is a happy, energetic and loving 2 year old. We are fortunate enough to have formula currently provided to us by the state, although this is not guaranteed to continue
Read moreMason, Age 2
![Mason, Age 2](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/CAD585D1-8227-465A-9397-354B8881EF43.jpeg)
Mason is our second child and our only with PKU. Like many others we had never heard of PKU until our son was diagnosed through the newborn screening. We are so grateful for the early detection that will allow Mason
Read moreMarisa, Age 10
![Marisa, Age 10](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/20180719_113125-e1538148347368.jpg)
Our 10 year old daughter Marisa has Phenylketonuria (PKU). She is only able to have 5 grams of protein a day from regular foods. She gets 40 grams of equivalent protein from her medical formula a day. She does not
Read moreMark, Age 61
So far Mark’s medical nutrition has been covered after the out of pocket maximum is met (this year it is $7,450). But we never know year after year if it will be or not and January is always stressful not knowing if will be or not.
Read moreLyndsee, Age 13
![Lyndsee, Age 13](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/08/L-and-Neocate.jpg)
My daughter, Lyndsee, was diagnosed in January 2016 with a rare disease, eosinophilic esophagitis. Therefore, she has to live on a prescription formula, Neocate Splash. This is what keeps her alive. She currently has no other safe foods. Her formula
Read moreEmily, Age 18
![Emily, Age 18](https://nutritionequity.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/08/Snapchat-1434178192-e1534781938742.jpg)
My name is Emily and I am 18 years old with Phenylketonuria. I would have to admit that sticking to a strict diet of 256 Phe a day is not the easiest thing to do. There are so many foods
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