Seniors in Faribault & Martin Counties depend on Medicaid funding.

In December of 2020, Linda and her family received news that no one wants to hear. She had breast cancer. The cancer spread quickly throughout her body. Linda was already dealing with several other health issues, including epilepsy and high blood pressure. Linda lived alone on a very limited income supported by her social security payments. She has one child, a daughter, who is her primary source of support.

With the devastating cancer diagnosis and already limited financial means, Linda and her daughter reached out to Human Services for help. Staff guided Linda through the application process for Medicaid and Minnesota Senior Health Options. Once enrolled, her Care Coordinator was able to work with her medical team to coordinate her cancer treatment and ancillary health services. As she progressed through treatment, she encountered several critical health issues which required her to be admitted to intensive care in Rochester at Mayo Clinic Health System. Upon discharge, she was moved to a nursing facility to support rehabilitation.

After her rehabilitation in the nursing home, Linda and her family received the news that her chemotherapy was successful in shrinking her cancer to allow for removal with surgery and subsequent radiation treatments. Everything was completed successfully and was moving in a positive direction until testing revealed the cancer had returned as stage 4 and had moved from her breast into lungs. This required a new treatment plan and changes to her living arrangements, moving from her home to an assisted living facility where she can receive 24/7 care.

"With everything this woman has been through I honestly do not know where she would be or if she would even still be with us had she not got the help that she did with Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and the Minnesota Senior Health Options services. Her being covered by this program allowed her to receive proper medical care & treatments, allows her to live in a place where she has the care she needs and doesn't live alone." – Linda's daughter

Permission to share received from Linda and her daughter.

Barbara* has lived in her home in Sherburn since 2004. She's widowed, has no children, and finds comfort in her cat. Life changed for her in 2014 when she lost her younger brother. His unexpected death left her heartbroken, and soon, she fell into a deep depression. Doctors prescribed a medication that helped, but it was incredibly expensive—over $1,100 each month.

Barbara had worked hard her entire life in administrative jobs, but in retirement, her Social Security and pension weren't enough to cover her medication along with her daily expenses. She applied for Medicaid, hoping it would help, but was denied because her income was just above the limit. With no other choice, Barbara took out five credit cards just to afford her medication. Before long, she maxed them all out and struggled even more.

As time passed, her physical health started to decline. By 2020, she realized she needed more help—she could no longer manage household tasks on her own. She applied for Medicaid again, and this time, she was approved for the Elderly Waiver program. This changed everything.

Now, Barbara has nurse visits to help her keep track of her medications and monitor her health. She has a home health aide for personal care, housekeeping services, and meals delivered to her door. There's even an emergency call system in place to make sure she's safe. All of these services cost about $2,200 a month, but they allow Barbara to stay in the home she loves instead of moving into a nursing facility. Since she still earns more than Medicaid's income limit, she pays a portion of her care costs each month through a spenddown—helping keep the program fair for everyone who needs it.

"The help I receive from Medicaid means so much to me. It means so much to be able to live in my own home. I receive help to keep it clean and remain safe so I can stay here. It also helps to be able to have the things I need, like food, all my medical supplies, and medications. I thank God every night as I go to bed." – Barbara

Thanks to these services, Barbara can remain independent, safe, and cared for in her own home, living the life she chooses. Without Medicaid, she might not have had that chance.

Permission to share story received by client. *Name has been changed to protect client identity.