Patient Voices Blog

There were many people, including patients and the elderly, who needed help, advice, even just a phone call to see how they are doing and to give reassurance to those living alone. I spent time on the phone arranging meals to be delivered, groceries and pet food to those who could not go out at the beginning of the pandemic. Helping folks understand how to do a zoom call/video call with their doctor gave them much needed comfort.  These challenges forced me to update my advocacy skills so that I could better connect to the heart of my community.

In the beginning of the pandemic, all of us in my community—much like everywhere else—we did not know what to expect. A lot of people lost their jobs and their businesses. That in turn meant losing income, losing insurance, not having enough food. At that time, I was unemployed going through the state unemployment appeals process. It was because of that process that I gained enough knowledge to help others in the area. I got on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media reaching out to the community and even assisted in other states. I was grateful when the people I assisted received the large retroactive pay so that they could pay back rent, mortgage, and bills.

Had Maryland opted-out of offering their residents a Marketplace option, I could have been uninsured: my income was too high to qualify for Medicaid and I couldn’t afford private insurance. Simply put, I would not have had access to healthcare, necessary screenings and essential treatments. Not having health insurance could have set my health back years and, with that, I could have suffered lifelong consequences. I was young, but youth is not a guarantee for absolute health. 

 Patient Congress was held on September 23-25, bringing together nearly 100 volunteers, advocacy partners and stakeholders virtually with Patient Advocate Foundation and NPAF staff for a range of interactive sessions focused on community advocacy and engagement