FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 25, 2025
CONTACT: Daniela Perez, [email protected]
Mom and NDWA Member Leslie Bernedo Shares Story Ahead of House Vote To Pay for Tax Breaks for Billionaires with Medicaid Cuts
Leslie: “Medicaid is not simply a health care program—it is a lifeline for families like mine. For my nine-year-old daughter, who is my entire world, Medicaid has been critical.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at a press conference ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives planned vote to advance a budget resolution that would require massive cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the billionaires, the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) joined lawmakers to speak out and share the story of member Leslie Bernedo, a domestic worker and primary caregiver for her nine-year-old daughter Alejandra, who relies on Medicaid for her own health care.
The National Domestic Workers Alliance has and will continue to forcefully oppose any attempts to pay for massive tax breaks for billionaires through major cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of families and workers, seniors, and people with disabilities, including domestic workers like Leslie who provide vital care to our nation’s families. Without Medicaid, millions of Americans would lose their health care altogether and become uninsured:
- Medicaid provides essential care for over 10 million adults with disabilities.
- Medicaid is the only source of health care coverage for millions of children with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
- Medicaid provides health care to almost half of all children in America, helping over 30 million children get the health care they need.
- Over 8 million lower-income seniors rely on Medicaid for affordable and accessible health care.
- Medicaid provides essential home care services that allow elderly people and people with disabilities to stay in their homes and communities while reducing burdens on families.
Read Leslie’s story below.
Medicaid is not simply a health care program—it is a lifeline for families like mine. For my nine-year-old daughter, who is my entire world, Medicaid has been critical. She’s autistic and Medicaid has ensured she receives comprehensive care through homecare services and therapies such as occupational, speech, and behavioral support. These services are not optional extras; they are essential to her development and quality of life.
For the past four years, I have also depended on Medicaid for my own healthcare, especially after being diagnosed with arthritis and other chronic conditions. As the primary caregiver for Alejandra, I am currently unable to find full-time work, so Medicaid allows me to manage my own health while doing the essential caregiving work my daughter needs. This support is vital and enables us to navigate the challenges of daily life without the constant threat of financial ruin or inadequate medical care.
Recently, I received notice that my Medicaid benefits would be canceled effective February 28, three days from now, with no clear explanation. I now face the harsh reality of being uninsured and questioning how I will access the care I need so that I may care for her.
Medicaid is a critical safety net that protects families from having to make impossible choices. Without it, families like mine would be forced to choose between necessary medical treatments and other basic needs, like food, housing, and care services for our loved ones that enable us to work. And for domestic workers like me – the nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers who care for America’s families but are not guaranteed health care through our employment – access to Medicaid is critical for our survival. Cuts to Medicaid do not just impact budgets; they threaten the health, stability, and dignity of our communities.
Our families deserve security, clarity, and access to care—especially in times of crisis. I urge policymakers to reconsider any actions that would jeopardize the health of so many families like mine.
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National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) is the leading voice for dignity and fairness for millions of domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007, NDWA works for respect, recognition and inclusion in labor protections for domestic workers, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color. NDWA is powered by over 70 affiliate organizations and local chapters and by a growing membership base of nannies, house cleaners and care workers in over 20 states. Learn more at
www.domesticworkers.org. NDWA is a non-partisan non-profit organization that does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidates for public office.
