This is Iris Gersh.

At the age of 63, Iris found herself living with fibromyalgia and without health care. In the fall of 2013, she discovered that New Mexico had expanded their Medicaid program, allowing herself and many other New Mexicans to apply for coverage for the first time. She applied. A few months later, Medicaid sent her a denial letter for full coverage, and instead presented her with Family Planning coverage.

At age 63, Iris clearly needs coverage beyond Family Planning. She decided not to give up. With limited knowledge of how she might be able to change her situation, she began researching online what those options may be. Within a few short weeks, Iris reached out to HANM and the NM Center on Law & Poverty for assistance on filing an appeal with the Income Support Division office that denied her full Medicaid coverage. She filed the appeal, and was successful in getting full coverage.

As of today, Iris is now receiving full coverage through Medicaid and is able to afford the medication she desperately needs to fight her chronic fibromyalgia.

There is a need for these stories.

Like Iris, there are thousands more stories in New Mexico of people who have been positively impacted by new health coverage options. But many of them haven’t had the opportunity or the platform to share their story. As advocates for change, how can we give a voice to those who are fighting to be heard? These storytellers are, or can become, huge catalysts for change within their communities. They can get their communities excited about the new health coverage options, and inspired to take action.

As community advocates we all need to make sure these consumer voices are heard. These stories are a compelling picture of what’s happening in New Mexico - not just a statistic. So grab your iPhones, your voice recorders, or your notebooks. Go out with open hearts & ears, and find the consumer voices that have carried the weight of this struggle for better health care in New Mexico. They are the voices that shine the light of hope as we move forward.