Amanda Miller: Hello, I'm Amanda and I'm from Kanawha County. Over the years, I have been covered by several different types of insurances, private, Medicaid, and also funds from a federal rural health clinic program. Personally, my biggest issue with accessing care has been trying to get it scheduled conveniently for me. Because I have other issues to deal with as far as children and jobs, and sometimes just getting there within the hours everybody is available is hard. The first time I was diagnosed with an STI I didn't have any insurance. I had to go through the Kanawha Charleston Health Department. The staff there made it an easier experience. I won't say enjoyable. But it wasn't as scary and nerve-wracking as what I anticipated, especially since I was there weekly for treatments. I consider myself lucky. Healthcare is very accessible to me in my area. We have public transportation. I can walk, and I can also drive myself, but that isn't as easy for everybody in the state.
Amanda Miller: Again, I feel very lucky with the accessibility I have to healthcare here in Kanawha County. However, I do know it is a challenge for some people, and I've had several family members that struggled either with finances to pay or the ability to get to appointments. And it is something that we need to work on better here in West Virginia.
