I'm living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), a chronic and debilitating illness that drains me of energy and health daily. Like many suffering from ME, I'm unable to work due to the severe symptoms that include overwhelming fatigue, pain, and cognitive impairments. Alongside countless others enduring the long-term impacts of Long Covid, we face an urgent threat to our livelihoods: the requirement to work 80 hours per month to maintain Medicaid benefits.

For individuals like us, this work requirement is not just unrealistic; it’s impossible. Medicaid is a lifeline for those with severe chronic illnesses, ensuring access to necessary medical services and treatments that most individuals with ME and Long Covid otherwise couldn't afford. Without these crucial benefits, our health would drastically decline, amplifying our suffering and potentially leading to life-threatening situations.

ME, commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, affects up to 2.5 million Americans. Long Covid is affecting millions more globally, many of whom were otherwise healthy before their Covid-19 infections. Both conditions are characterized by extreme fatigue that worsens with physical or mental activity and doesn’t improve with rest. These are not "invisible illnesses" that magically disappear if we ignore them, work harder, or try alternative therapies.

It is vital that lawmakers understand the gravity of these conditions and recognize them as valid reasons for exemption from Medicaid work requirements. By acknowledging ME and Long Covid as conditions that qualify for the "medically frail" exemption, policymakers can protect the health and dignity of vulnerable individuals who depend on Medicaid.

The addition of these conditions to the exemption list is not only a matter of fairness but a necessary step to prevent further marginalization of those already enduring immense struggles. We call on Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, to take immediate action so that patients' rights and well-being are safeguarded.

Support this petition to urge RFK Jr and other decision-makers to add ME and Long Covid to the list of medically frail exemptions from Medicaid work requirements. Our health, lives, and futures depend on compassionate and informed policy decisions. Sign the petition now to stand with us in this crucial fight for justice and health equity.