Tiara Kelly is not one to let obstacles get in her way.

She has struggled all her life to succeed on her own terms, despite being born with a cleft arm due to a rare genetic disorder.

Tiara became a hairdresser, a profession she loves, even though she has limited mobility in the fingers of one hand and one arm is shorter than the other. As a child she applied for federal disability to try to get healthcare but never qualified.

Tiara built up a successful clientele for her home-based business. The onset of Covid-19 caused financial setbacks and slashed her income. She vows to build it back but in the meantime, she needs help.

If Florida had expanded Medicaid, she could access the safety net health system in her time of greatest need. Under current rules, however, Tiara doesn’t qualify. She also doesn’t have enough income at the moment to qualify for subsidized monthly premiums under the Affordable Care Act. She is caught in the “coverage gap” and it could have deadly consequences.

“I’ve never qualified for disability or any other help so I’ve carried on supporting myself all my life the best I could”

Tiara suffers from non-malignant cysts in her breasts and was advised she needs to monitor these to make sure she doesn’t develop breast cancer. If she gets sick, she goes to an Urgent Care Center as a last resort. She has no primary health practitioner.

If Tiara had access to health care, she could see a specialist, monitor her breast condition and seek other preventive care. She might even be able to have a specialist treat her genetic condition and improve mobility in her hand.

“I’ve never qualified for disability or any other help so I’ve carried on supporting myself all my life the best I could,” Tiara said. “But I need help now with healthcare and I don’t know where to turn anymore.”