Speaker: Shawanda Elliott
Please introduce yourself.
Shawanda Elliott : Hello, my name is Shawanda Elliott. I'm 34 years old and I live in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
How was your experience applying for Medicaid in North Carolina?
Shawanda Elliott : My experience when I signed up for Medicaid was pretty simple and easy. I didn't have no problems with it. Everything was good.
How has Medicaid made a difference to you and your family?
Shawanda Elliott : Medicaid made a difference in my life because we are able to get the care that we need um without paying any money other than copay. We are able to go to the doctor, we are able to go to the dentist, and whatever service we need to we need. So I'm very thankful for that. It really changed my life with because without Medicaid, I won't be able to make it. I won't be able to pay for health insurance and dental insurance because it's so expensive out here for them benefits. It's so expensive. So I'm thankful for that, that I get the kind of that I get the get them services.
What challenges have you faced with Medicaid in North Carolina?
Shawanda Elliott : The big challenge I face with Medicaid in North Carolina is dental. In certain dental services they don't pay for like root canals and crowns, they do not pay for that. You have to pay that out of pocket and it's very expensive. If you pay it out of pocket, it's like $2,000 to $3000. And people don't got that kind of money. I don't got that kind of money. So I think I feel like they should change that, change that rule. And another thing is Medicaid, I mean, medication, they don't pay for certain medication. You would have to pay out of pocket for that because certain medications they don't pay for. So that's one of the big challenge I face with Medicaid. Because I feel like your dental, and your health, is very important and I feel like they should pay you for anything you need, you need done.
