Please tell us how you, your family or your community has benefited from Medicaid coverage for dental care, vision care, and transportation assistance: I am 56 years old, divorced with no alimony/child support at this time. I had to retire from Walmart due to badly arthritic knees which will need replacement soon. I am disabled although I am having trouble getting disability benefits on my own and cannot afford a lawyer. I am a college student at Eastern KY University studying Psychology. I live with my 24 year old daughter, my 20 year old daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter. Both daughters are enrolled full time in college. One has work study at Berea College and one has a part time job at a hotel. We are all on Medicaid and rely on it for healthcare. We cannot possibly pay out of pocket for healthcare, dental, or vision. We will just have to go without if these benefits are cut.

Please tell us how eliminating these benefits would affect you, your family, or your community: Losing dental care has already affected me. I badly need several fillings and 6 teeth pulled. I had seen a dentist and an oral surgeon and was evaluated, but my appointments to get the work done was for this week and next. I went to my dentist Tuesday, July 3 for fillings. I was told I have no coverage and unless I could pay for my fillings I would not be able to get them. I have been in pain for weeks and have been taking several Motrin tablets every day just to make it until my appointments. I left the dentist in tears and had to cancel future appointments and also cancel the oral surgeon appointment for next week. I have no current income and am trying to find part-time work. However, that would only help me to pay bills and would not be enough for dental or vision care. I was supposed to have a vision screening soon because pressure was found on my eyes during the last visit and I need to be checked periodically to see if it becomes worse. Again, no vision care means I cannot be checked for pressure problems which unchecked can lead to glaucoma. One of my daughters needs dental care soon.