Making the Case for Medicaid Expansion in Florida: Uninsured Father of Four and Nursing Home Caregiver is ‘Tired of Suffering’

January 1, 1970

More than 1.2 million hardworking Floridians would be eligible to gain access to quality healthcare if Medicaid were expanded. In Pinellas County, 95,064 residents could benefit. Here is one of those stories. John Reddick, South Heritage Health & Rehab, St. Petersburg



John has worked as a dietary aid at his nursing home for eight years. He earns $14,000 a year working full time and supports four children and his partner, who works part-time at Staples. No one in his household has health coverage.



Recently, John got stomach pains checked out at a community clinic, which cost $100 out of pocket. “It was a sacrifice to go to the doctor and then pay for my medications. I still have pain. It’s not worth it when I have kids and bills to pay. I’m tired of suffering.”



John enjoys working at his job because “I like interacting with older people putting a smile on their face when I feed them.” However, he believes being a caregiver and not having affordable healthcare “is just wrong. All of it is wrong.”