Your Story Could Help Change Postpartum Care in Arkansas

The months surrounding pregnancy and birth can be some of the most important — and vulnerable — times in a person’s life.

And health care doesn’t stop being important 60 days after pregnancy.

Yet in Arkansas, in many cases, Medicaid coverage for pregnant moms ends just two months after pregnancy ends. As a result, moms may lose access to the care they need during this critical postpartum period while recovering from pregnancy, managing ongoing health needs or pregnancy-related complications, and caring for a new baby.

Arkansas remains the only state in the nation that has not extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months.

Arkansas moms deserve better, and we want state lawmakers to understand what that coverage gap actually means for Arkansas families. That’s where your voice can make a difference.

We want to hear from you!

Perhaps you:

• Experienced a pregnancy complication and then struggled to maintain access to care.
• Lost coverage before you felt fully recovered.
• Faced financial hardship for your family because your coverage expired.
• Navigated a difficult pregnancy or pregnancy loss without the coverage you needed.
• Welcomed a baby and suddenly worried about how you would continue receiving care for yourself while caring for your child.

Whatever your experience, your story matters.

You don’t have to have the “perfect” story, and you don’t need to know anything about Medicaid policy. We understand these experiences can be personal, so please only share what feels right for you.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by Arkansas’ two-month postpartum Medicaid limit, we would be honored to hear your story. If there’s an opportunity to elevate your story, we will reach out to you first.

Thank you for being part of the movement to build a healthier Arkansas.