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Without health coverage, I worry about…

By Whit Sides

At Cover Alabama’s Advocacy Day in March 2026, we asked attendees what they worried about as they or their family and friends live without health coverage. Here are a few of their stories.

Solid green graphic with the following: "At Cover Alabama’s Advocacy Day in March, we asked attendees what they worried about as they or their family and friends live without health coverage." A photo of people sitting at round tables in a meeting room, with a speaker at a podium in the background. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“My future, my children’s future and my community’s future.”" A close-up photograph of a person sitting in a wheelchair. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“I worry about people with disabilities not getting all of the benefits they deserve.”" A photograph showing a woman and a man standing at the front of a legislative chamber, holding microphones. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“Not getting treatment until it’s too late.”" A close-up photograph of two young children—a toddler and a baby—lying side-by-side. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“My nephews’ health as they grow up.”" A photo taken from behind a group of people seated at round tables, looking toward a woman standing and speaking into a microphone. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“Choosing between my health and my future.”" A photo showing a healthcare worker's hands using a digital blood pressure monitor on a patient. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“People who cannot afford medical care. My neighbor died because she could not afford the treatment she needed.”" A photo of a community meeting room where attendees are seated at round tables. "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“Dying.”" A photograph showing two people holding hands over a hospital bed. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“As a Medicaid recipient, without coverage, I worry about the cost of my routine and emergent appointments to the doctor.”" A photo of a woman seated at a round table during a community meeting, looking toward the front of the room. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“Choosing between treatment or bills.”" A person in a plaid shirt sits at a wooden table with their head in their hands, appearing distressed. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“Going into medical debt.”" A wide shot of a community advocacy meeting where several people are seated around circular tables. Text reads: "Without health coverage, I worry about..." "“A family medical emergency we can’t afford to pay for.”"

About Alabama Arise and Cover Alabama

Whit Sides is the Cover Alabama storyteller for Alabama Arise, a statewide, member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty. Arise’s membership includes faith-based, community, nonprofit and civic groups, grassroots leaders and individuals from across Alabama. Email: whit@alarise.org.

Arise is a founding member of the Cover Alabama coalition. Cover Alabama is a nonpartisan alliance of advocacy groups, businesses, community organizations, consumer groups, health care providers and religious congregations advocating for Alabama to provide quality, affordable health coverage to its residents and implement a sustainable health care system.

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