Like many families with chronic health conditions, Andrea and Beth recognize the need for their provincial health card to cover their medical expenses, which is provided to all low-income families at no cost. Andrea reveals how she feels trapped, "You can't…being on welfare…ok…you can't get ahead. If you're working…you lose your white card…your health card." She recognizes that both she and her children have long term health needs and need health coverage "for the sicknesses" to ensure that she can get the prescriptions and health care that they need. Andrea knows that she cannot cover health costs on her own, "Like I'm a diabetic and for the month of February I am lucky I have a drug plan because the test strips and stuff for my blood machine come up to over $400!" She also faces ongoing expenses for her children's care. Both of her special needs children are scheduled for regular medical follow-up at an out of province pediatric clinic, "they go every 18 months to two years…I don't have to pay nothing…I take the train down and take the train back."

Like Andrea, Beth relies on her health card to cover the costs for expenses that she incurs related to a health concern with her son. Some inconclusive test results suggesting that her son might have cancer set her into turmoil. When she planned the out-of-province trip to see the specialist with her son, this required a considerable amount of organization on her part:

I had to call [our Member of the Legislative Assemby (MLA)³⁵ ] to speed it up so I could get my voucher. Then there was the shopping for underwear and pajamas for both of us…I had to buy a couple of new T-shirts. And he wanted a toy to take, so we had to go to another store…

³⁵ An MLA is an elected person in each electoral district that represents constituents' views in the provincial legislative assembly, and participates in committees and debates on provincial legislation.