Demaine appeared at our Legal Clinic and presented a Medicaid issue. Demaine is an Illinois transplant and a student at Phillips County Community College of the University of Arkansas. He applied for Medicaid in Arkansas months ago and stated that he had not received a card. He was apprehensive about contacting the local human services office because when he went to apply for food stamps, he got into an argument with one of the workers. This incident has made it difficult for him to communicate with DHS workers. 

Demaine said he had been to the doctor and did not have to pay. Evidently, he had some type of Medicaid. Luckily for Demaine one of Legal Aid’s staff attorneys was able to make a call to human services and it was noted that Demaine was approved for Medicaid, but there seems to have been some type of miscommunication as to his correct address. Legal Aid provided the DHS worker with a correct address for Demaine and was told that he should soon receive a Medicaid card in the mail.  

When asked what Medicaid meant to him, Demaine said it means he does not have to pay for doctor’s visits or any medicine he may need. Fortunately, he does not have any serious medical issues, but is glad that he has Medicaid for future medical problems that may arise. On this day, legal aid helped Demaine and prevented him from having another negative encounter with DHS. 

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