Better and Healthier: Willa’s Story

By: Willa Pearls

A few weeks ago, I ended up in the hospital. I survived because of Medicaid and Medicare. These programs allow me to do the things that keep me alive and allow me to live a productive life.

I have needed health care my whole life, like every person in this country. But in my 40s, after physical and stress-related health problems, I found myself disabled and unable to work. I have diabetes, a mild anxiety disorder, and other health issues that limit my ability to work, move around, and get what I need.

I’m lucky to have children who are wonderful and help me in my life. I’m lucky to have people in my community who help me and whom I can help. I like my life, and I would not be able to have the life I have without programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Having affordable health care gave me the chance to get my master’s degree and complete PhD courses. Having affordable health care gave me the ability to substitute teach in the Minneapolis School District.

I currently tutor in my community. I love helping people get their high school degrees, and I have also helped people be successful in college. Without the health care that I have now, I would not be able to do that. I’m also happy to teach occasionally in the Third Age University, a program at the Whitney Senior Center, and I recently served in the St. Cloud Human Rights Commission. And my poem, “Democracy Rising,” was published along with poems by seven other Minnesota Women as bookmarks for the United Nations Decade for Women conference in Beijing.

My health care is important, and I am glad it enables me to give back to my community, country, and world.

I love teaching, but I can’t work even as a teaching assistant because I would make too much money and I could be kicked off my health care. If I get a job at all, I could lose the care that keeps me alive.

I want people to realize that life happened to me, and what happened to me can happen to anyone.

Affordable health care has allowed me to stay alive and give back to my community. It has allowed me to get my master’s degree, provide education for many people in my community, and have an enjoyable life. Everyone should have access to the health care they need because everyone deserves to live and to live in good health.

I want people to know that people with disabilities contribute to our communities, and how life-giving programs like Medicaid and Medicare are. Not just for me. But for our entire communities.

I like to use my voice and my story to advocate for others. I want a future where all Minnesotans have adequate health insurance. If we did, we would be a better and healthier state.  

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We all have a health care story, because health care is a basic, fundamental need. This is part of a weekly series during Minnesota’s legislative session where we share the health care stories of Minnesotans like you. Share your story here.