Louisville mother worries about potential impacts of Medicaid cuts for daughter with disabilities

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — When June McQuaig was just three months old, her mother, Megan Bowden, learned of a diagnosis that would make every day a battle for her little girl.

“June has epilepsy. She has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She is deaf and has cochlear implants. And then she is nonverbal, so she requires an accompanying device that helps her speak,” said Bowden. “She has all sorts of services. Therapeutic services like occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy. She receives those in outpatient settings. And then, of course, in school as well, so that she can have a safe and active time while she’s in the classroom in public schools.”

Now June is 10 years old, and Bowden said they’re facing another battle.

With President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” set to become law, she worries there could be Medicaid cuts that would affect the services her daughter relies on.

“Without access to this kind of medical care, June’s life is going to be really short. And I really just don’t know if we’re going to be able to access this kind of care in the future if Kentucky isn’t able to help families and have Medicaid,” Bowden told FOX 56.

This is admittedly a scary time for her—and for the millions of people who benefit from Medicaid.

“I’m afraid that services will be overwhelmed in our state, that maybe we won’t be able to access the hospital as easily because more people will be coming to Louisville, Kentucky, for services instead of any of the rural hospitals that maybe they’re closest to.”

Without June’s primary health insurance, Bowden said they would not have been able to afford things like a spinal surgery this past spring that has allowed June to live a more comfortable life. According to Bowden, that surgery would have cost at least $400,000.

“I want to give my daughter the best life possible, but I also want to help hold up our community… Everyone deserves the dignity of health care. And I’m scared that we’ve cut it off at the knees now in our country,” Bowden told FOX 56.

According to Bowden, the effects of possible cuts most likely won’t be felt until 2029. But June’s disabilities won’t disappear by then.

She has been told that she should still be able to access things like the Michelle P. Waiver program—support that’s allowed June to grow up in her own home.

“June is a recipient of the Michelle P. program. It not only pays us to be her in-home caregivers, but at a fraction of the cost that it would provide or that the state of Kentucky would have to pay if we institutionalized June.”

Bowden advocates through Kentucky Voices for Health. Through that organization—and using her own personal platform—she said she is not backing down in her fight to speak up for those who can’t do it themselves.

“I’m not scared for us because I know that I’m really resilient. And I know that I’ll always do what I need to do for my daughter. But I am scared for a lot of other families that really need this. And, yeah, it’s going to be a lot of work. And I’m not afraid of that work either.”

June may be nonverbal, but through her mother’s voice, she’s part of a much louder message.
That access to care is not just a policy issue; it is a matter of life and dignity.