More than 1.2 million hardworking Floridians would be eligible to gain access to quality healthcare if Medicaid were expanded. In Palm Beach County, 156,007 residents could benefit. Here is one of those stories. Courtney Larkin - Server, The Inn and Nursing Center at La Posada– Palm Beach



Courtney Larkin is 26 and lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her grandparents. Both of her parents are deceased. She works two part-time jobs and neither offer health insurance for part-time workers. One of her jobs is working as a food server at The Inn and Nursing Center at La Posada. She can’t afford regular insurance.



Both of her grandparents are in their mid-70s and have Medicare. Her grandfather had a quadruple by-pass. Her grandmother is very healthy, but her grandfather takes numerous medications. Right now her grandmother is in good enough health to take care of her husband on her own. Courtney helps her grandparents deal with insurance companies because “I used to be a referral coordinator and I was also an administrative assistant. I’ve worked for orthopedic practice so I know what it’s like to deal with them. It’s very tough.”



Being uninsured as a healthcare worker is very disappointing and sad. “Ever since I’ve been able to work I’ve been in healthcare field,” she said.



“I can’t afford to get sick. I run away if people around me are sick. I work for a chiropractor and an assisted living facility seven days a week. I am around a lot of people every day and I worry all the time about getting sick.



A year ago, I had strep throat. I waited three or four days to get medical care because I knew I was going to have to pay out of pocket. I didn’t have doctor, and I didn’t go to the hospital because it would have been so expensive. So I decided I had to go to urgent care and I paid close to $200.”



She adds, “With the way the economy is, not only do people need Medicaid for physical health reasons. The economy puts emotional stress on people. So many people are in such a state of depression. The suicide rate has gone up. It’s scary to hear about husbands killing wives and children because they cannot provide for them. People are probably spending so much for health insurance to keep their families healthy. Medicaid could take the burden off people.”