INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS — As the nation watches the results roll in and waits to find out who will be president, healthcare is on the mind of many Hoosiers. The outcome of this election could impact health care moving forward.
“I voted to save my life,” said Shamekia Hunt.
Hunt has cancer. "I am really concerned about my insurance being taken away because I am on Medicare and Medicaid and that pays for all of my treatments. Hunt was 29 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she keeps fighting, but at 39, the cancer came back for a third time and has spread.
“I understand senior citizens are on Medicaid, Medicare, disability and all of that is true but there’s younger people like myself who are sick and on those same things."
The uncertainty scares her. Joe Biden claims he'd allow people to enroll in Medicare at age 60 and would also try to create a new federal health program similar to Medicare, which he calls a public option.
If the Trump administration continues, there's a budget in mind that slashes billions of dollars from Medicaid food stamps and other safety net programs. She takes a lot of medication but right now there are at least four she can't do without, including her chemotherapy pills.
“Those four medications a month could be $50,000 and $60,000 a month for me. I can't afford to pay that every month if it is taken from me,” said Hunt.
Right now, she's on disability and can't work. As the presidential race heats up, she's on pins and needles.
We reached out to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare services to get their thoughts on the possible changes. They tell us they can't comment on anything that isn't yet official.