11/🧵 ...I have planned? Maybe I'm not famous, but my work *is* beautiful and appreciated. Someday I'll find my audience. Meanwhile, my ex works for a biotech in the Boston area, one that specializes in mRNA vaccines. His work is important. Medicaid made recovery possible. #86theB💩B!!!

10/🧵 The surgery delayed his new job start, but at least he was able to have the care he needed. I was able to have the CT scans and MRIs I needed. We didn't starve in the meantime. If this happened now, it wouldn't be. And if I have a relapse? I'd get to die? Before finishing all the paintings...

9/🧵 Luckily, the social workers at the hospital were able to push through his Medicaid/Mass health application, thanks to the expansion under Pres. Biden. Everything got covered. If that had not happened, we would have been bankrupted. I got added onto it too, so my cancer follow-ups were covered.

8/🧵 Yep, he came down sideways on his leg. SHATTERED his ankle, fractured fibia AND shin in two places. Repairing that took a really complicated surgery. Guess what? He was between jobs, hadn't started the new one, AND HAD NO INSURANCE. No, he did not have Medicare, he's younger than me.

7/🧵 ...he put his ice grippers on his boots before walking our 65-lb Groenendael. NOPE, Pennsy said he could manage. 10 minutes later, I hear wild barking and a scream. Groenies boy had tried to take off at a run, pulling my ex off-balance and AIRBORNE. Want to guess what happened next?

6/🧵 So back in 2022, my then-spouse and I moved into a new place right after the New Year. We had 2 dogs, & shared walking duties. There's been an ice storm a few nights before, the walking areas weren't properly cleared, and there was a solid inch of ice everywhere. I strongly suggested that...

5/🧵 That $300 was my food budget!!! PFT wasn't a luxury, it was necessary for continence issues remaining from pelvic radiation treatment for cancer. Meanwhile, prescription copays went up by a lot, so this has been just the spring from Hell. And I've got another story about this for you, too.

4/🧵 The MA cost of living is going to eat me alive, and I hope to Goddess I can get back on SNAP, maybe even Medicaid/Mass Health. I have Medicare Advantage for dental/vision, but when I needed pelvic floor therapy, my copay was a whopping $75 per visit. It blew a $300/month hole in my budget.

3/🧵 ...buy the really big air purifier for La Bella Casita in Las Cruces that I really need for my health. Just too damned expensive. My soon-to-be ex is still a friend, is helping with the move back. I decided to when I woke up wheezing. I have a nebulizer, but can't afford the med to put into it.

2/🧵
I'm in the midst of a divorce. I'm on disability. I ought to be on SNAP, like I was back east. The constant haboobs this spring made me so sick, I could barely paint (not that anyone has the $$$ to buy art these days). So yeah, grocery inflation has hurt my very slender budget, so I couldn't...

I worry about this happening, too.