“The cuts could jeopardize health care coverage for thousands of Alaskans and put rural hospitals at risk of reducing services – or closures.
Standing in a crowd of protesters, Tammalivis Salanoa said Medicaid cuts could be devastating for her family.
‘If these cuts happen, I will have to start planning funerals,’ she said.
Her mom has stage four kidney failure and her dad has Parkinson’s disease. She’s been taking care of both since she was in high school. She said Medicaid is a lifeline for her family.
‘I will have to start either working more than two jobs I already do. I will have to figure out something else,’ she said. ‘If I’m not able to provide for them, if there’s no other way, then it’s gonna be the final nail in their coffin.’”