Barbers and stylists in Alabama often work for themselves, and that comes with a cost. One Birmingham barber in the state’s health coverage gap said he decided against getting health insurance because premiums were close to $1,000 monthly.

In his own words: “Me personally? I don’t go to the doctor. I think it’s part of a bigger problem in our industry. We all just accept that care is too expensive, so we put it off. As a small business owner, that’s scary, especially with a family.”

Medicaid expansion would help this barber – and more than 220,000 other uninsured Alabamians – get the health care they need to survive and thrive. Read more stories of people living in Alabama’s coverage gap here.