In My Fight Against Rheumatoid Arthritis, Access to Coverage and Care is Half the Battle

Crystal lives in Lake City, Florida with her husband, fighting every day against the pain and limitations of rheumatoid arthritis. Crystal enjoys the life she has built in Lake City, but local hospital and clinic closures have made access to healthcare increasingly difficult. The closest available rheumatologist is in Gainesville, nearly an hour’s drive away. She isn't the only one who has to travel long distances for care. The husband of a close friend of Crystal's recently suffered a stroke. With the local hospital in Lake City now closed, he had to be transferred to Gainesville. Now, every day, her friend makes a 2.5 hour round trip just to see him—exhausted and unable to afford a hotel near the hospital. 

Once strong enough to handle full-time warehouse work, Crystal's illness has limited her capacity significantly. She is grateful to have found a housekeeping job at Target that allows her to continue earning and maintaining independence. Because her work hours are limited, Crystal doesn’t receive employer health benefits. Instead, she purchases health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. “It’s not the best,” she admits of her Ambetter plan, “but at least it’s better than nothing.” With the help of enhanced tax credits, Crystal has been able to afford the many treatments, tests, and prescriptions that help her manage her rheumatoid arthritis. Now, those enhanced tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025, and Crystal's future feels uncertain. Without those subsidies, she and her husband may not be able to afford coverage at all. She worries constantly about what will happen if she can’t afford her medications. “If I can’t afford my RA medicine, my RA will get out of control and I won’t even be able to work part time. Then I won’t be contributing to the economy. How does Florida think an elderly person can survive? Why is the state not helping seniors?” 

Crystal’s story reflects a much larger crisis. Florida leads the nation in ACA enrollment, with nearly 4.7 million people depending on it. If Congress fails to extend the tax credits, 2.2 million Floridians—hardworking people like Crystal--stand to lose coverage. Business leaders warn the impact could be devastating, not just for families, but for the state’s economy.

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