Tara Guion is a mother of three from Iowa and an advocate for families affected by Medicaid policy, sharing her story to highlight the real impact of proposed cuts on Iowa children and families.
As I stood in line at the Iowa State Fair, waiting to meet Senator Joni Ernst, I couldn’t help but think about my child, Luca, and the struggles we’ve faced as a family. My experience is a testament to the importance of Medicaid, a lifeline for many families like mine.
As a pregnant mother of two (soon to be three) boys, I’ve had my fair share of challenges, but it’s the memory of Luca’s four-and-a-half-month stay in the NICU that drives my advocacy. Born at just 25 weeks in March 2021, Luca’s prematurity and subsequent medical complications led to $1.7 million in medical costs, a burden that would have been insurmountable without Medicaid.
The care he has received, including occupational and physical therapy, as well as nutritional services, was crucial to his development. Today, at four and a half, he’s a thriving child, defying the odds, and he started school this fall.
The anxiety and uncertainty that gripped our family during those early days were overwhelming. My husband and I did everything right—we were working, had private insurance—but Luca’s needs blew our budget. We would have sat on waiting lists for years to get in-home care. We couldn’t wait, so I quit my job to care for my son. Medicaid helped us navigate this challenging period, covering the costs of Luca’s care and allowing us to focus on his growth.
Now, I fear all Iowans are on a perpetual waiting list. Full of need, but no leadership. No action. We can’t even talk to our legislators about the issues we’re so concerned about. U.S. Representative Zach Nunn still refuses to hold a town hall, and Ernst (who is retiring next year) ran from me, referring me to her staff who still didn’t answer my questions.
Many have witnessed my experience this summer.
When calling Senator Ernst’s office to oppose the GOP tax and budget reconciliation law, I kept hitting dead ends; a staff member even hung up on my call. So I used her Iowa State Fair visit as an opportunity to get answers. That’s the least Iowans and families deserve. Every Iowan who voted to gut Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the rich owes their constituents an explanation.
When I finally met Senator Ernst, she seemed enthusiastic to talk. But as soon as I mentioned how Medicaid cuts would hurt families like mine, she dismissed my concerns and passed me off to a staffer. She didn’t even listen. Here’s the video:
This is not just Ernst. Our legislators are not listening to Iowans. Instead, they are rubber stamping President Donald Trump’s policies, which are projected to kick 68,000 Iowans off Medicaid and raise premiums for 110,000 Iowans who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. All while passing massive, permanent tax breaks for billionaires.
Ernst’s response to Luca’s NICU stay was jarring—”That’s wonderful”—a stark contrast to the nightmare we endured. Every Iowa member of Congress voted for the budget reconciliation bill. None of them understand the struggles of families who rely on Medicaid. Now I wonder if they even care. My one-pound baby fought for his life in the NICU, undergoing experimental treatments and heart surgery—anything to help him survive. It wasn’t wonderful.
For families like mine, Medicaid is priceless. Medicaid keeps NICU babies healthy. It ensures children have learning support at school. And so many Iowans are able to hold down a job thanks to Medicaid. If legislators aren’t listening to us, who is telling them to slash billions from a program that helps families, only to funnel more of our tax dollars to billionaires?
My story is not unique; it’s a testament to the countless families who have found life-saving care from Medicaid. And it’s reality for most Iowans, as we’re ignored by the Republicans voting like puppets for Trump’s billionaire agenda.
Iowans deserve better. We need leaders who will fight for Medicaid and protect safety nets for those in need. We must hold our elected officials accountable for their actions, demanding that they prioritize the needs of their constituents over the interests of the wealthy and powerful.
Top photo was provided by Tara Guion and published with permission.