As a hospital doctor, I see older patients too frail to live alone unable to afford a nursing home.

In the ER, I saw parents working two or three jobs unable to afford health insurance for their kid.

In the ICU, I treat diabetics with completely preventable emergencies because they were trying to stretch their insulin.

With Medicaid expansion, these can change for thousands in Stanly County.

It will help people be productive, with fewer sick days. Now a checkup can catch their high blood pressure before they have a stroke. The vast majority of those who will qualify already work; their employers just can’t afford to give them health insurance.

Why should healthcare depend on your place of employment?

It limits job flexibility, but also costs more, and unpaid hospital costs get spread to all of us.

I’m so grateful the federal tax dollars I already pay for Medicaid expansion will start to show up locally. I commend Rep. Wayne Sasser and others who have helped us take this needed step to improve the health care of Stanly County.

Jenny Hinson
Albemarle