Over the past few years, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) worked with Tribal Enrollment Assisters to collect stories describing the real-life scenarios of obtaining health insurance coverage and how this affected Tribal communities and Tribal citizens. To protect identities and to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), personal names have been omitted, but Tribal affiliation, age, family size, and health insurance coverage have been kept. These stories are meant to provide an inside look into Tribal citizens’ experiences with health insurance coverage to discover how it has impacted not just the individuals themselves but also their communities. As Tribal communities have been known to be particular in the stories they share, and that trust is something they value to the utmost, Tribal Enrollment Assisters take pride in the trust and communication they can share with Tribal citizens. Because of this pride and respect, Tribal Enrollment Assisters at Indian Health Service, Tribally Operated or Urban Indian Health programs facilities were hesitant to share their clients’ stories nationally. However, through the work of NIHB, these stories can now be told of how Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare, and Health Insurance Marketplace are crucial resources for eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives who either have no insurance or are dealing with inadequate care through Indian Health Service’s rationed system.

Additionally, it is the wish of the Tribal Enrollment Assisters and NIHB that these stories showcase hope and healing within Tribal communities and not be used as a marketing tool but as a teaching tool. These stories were provided by Enrollment Assisters who assist Tribal citizens with enrolling in health insurance coverage. Elders use stories as a teaching tool to demonstrate life lessons, teach traditions, or share important messages with their community and how these stories will be showcased.