Stories

“I am incredibly passionate about South Carolina expanding Medicaid. I have personally lost two family members (my older sister in February 2024 and a cousin in November 2025) to suicide related to mental health concerns and substance use. Both separately were deemed a harm to themselves or others and went for a 72-hour hold and both took their own lives shortly after being released. Neither of them had health insurance and they would have qualified for help if South Carolina had expanded Medicaid. I directly blame this gap for the loss of two very important people in my life and I know there are so many more.”

— Abby, Greenville Resident

“As the owner of a small lawn care company, I know that it is important for my employees to see a doctor when they are ill.  Unfortunately, I am not able to provide health insurance to my workers. So, some of my employees can’t afford to go see a doctor when they should.  It would be great if South Carolina would follow the lead of North Carolina and expand Medicaid.  A third of my employees would qualify for this government health insurance program.  They would be healthier and more productive, which would also help my business.”

— Small business owner in Bennettsville, SC.

“It is very important to small businesses that employees be healthy and on the job.  One of my employees has bronchitis. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to have group health insurance to help her. This employee doesn’t earn enough to buy her own insurance, doesn’t qualify for Medicaid, and her income is to low for the Affordable Care Act subsidies.  So when her bronchitis flares up, she will be out for three days.  She loses income, so does my small business, and the state loses tax money.  The state can and should solve all three of these problems by expanding Medicaid.”

— Owner of a small cleaning business in Columbia, SC

“In my work as a physician I observed how people without health insurance often would not seek health care until they became too ill to work.  By that time, their illnesses were more severe, of longer duration, and more costly to treat.  Not only was the patient forced to leave the workforce (sometimes never to return), it also meant their caregiver(s) were unable to work at all or required a reduced schedule.  When this happens, their public assistance needs spiral upward, ultimately affecting us all.  It is in every South Carolinian’s best interest to close the healthcare gap.”

— Cynthia, Hilton Head Resident