Health
No one should have to go without the medical care they need simply because they can’t afford it. Investments in Medicaid, ALL Kids, mental health care and other health services help Alabamians stay healthy and productive, and they lay the foundation for a future where all of our residents have a chance to thrive, regardless of their income or background.
Arise works to identify and eliminate the structural barriers that prevent many of our friends and neighbors across the state from accessing the health care they need. We examine how a variety of policy solutions, including Medicaid expansion, would help break down those walls and strengthen the health care infrastructure on which all Alabamians rely.
Featured Resources
Resources
Alabama Arise toolkit on the Medicaid ‘unwinding’ period
Alabamians at every income level should be able to get the health care they need to survive and thrive. Medicaid plays a vital role toward meeting that goal, providing health coverage for more than 1 million Alabamians with low incomes. But tens of thousands of Alabamians may lose their Medicaid coverage by June 2024 in a process called “unwinding.”
Personal Stories
See the Gap: ‘Medicaid expansion would end up creating more revenue for the business’
Personal Stories
See the Gap: ‘I needed help but couldn’t afford it’
The smiles in Eryn Mullins’ photos jump off the screen. But she’ll be the first to tell you it wasn’t always this way. “I was on my dad’s insurance, and then suddenly, I wasn’t. I was uninsured for three years after that,” Eryn said.
Newsletter
June 2023 newsletter
The June 2023 newsletter features a recap of the 2023 Alabama legislative session as well as coverage from our Legislative Day.
Fact Sheet
It’s time to expand Medicaid and close Alabama’s coverage gap
Personal Stories
Cover Alabama Lobby Day 2023
Report
PARCA presentation on Medicaid expansion in Brewton
Personal Stories
Brewton community event on Medicaid expansion in Alabama
Fact Sheet
Expand Medicaid and close Alabama’s health coverage gap
Personal Stories
See The Gap: ‘Possibilities that we just can’t afford’
Kayla is a talented, young hairstylist who has built up a successful clientele in one of Birmingham’s hippest salons. She’s been a stylist for 12 years and said she loves the independence it gives her. She sees dozens of clients every week and takes great pride in her work.
“It’s a great industry, but it’s not taken as seriously as it needs to be,” Kayla said. “Especially relative to the number of people that come through our doors to get their hair done.
Kayla grew up in a small town in Walker County but started her career in an “Over the Mountain” suburb south of Birmingham. The salon served a wealthier clientele, but it didn’t offer many benefits to stylists. Among the benefits she didn’t have: employer-provided health insurance.
