Special Report: VNS Health Home Health Aide Teresita Carter Describes Her Visit to the White House!
When President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hosted an event at the White House on April 5th to mark the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), VNS Health home health aide Teresita Carter was in the audience, seated just a few yards from the podium. Teresita attended the event as a representative of the local 1199SEIU union. Because she chooses to work 17 hours a week caring for a single client in Far Rockaway, Teresita doesn’t qualify for union-sponsored healthcare coverage—which means she benefited directly from the ACA’s expanded access to health insurance.
“As the largest healthcare workers’ union in the country, we want to make sure folks continue to have access to affordable health care,” says Katia Guillaume, Home Care B Vice-President, 1199SEIU. “Teresita, the only union representative from New York State to attend the White House event, was chosen from a pool of caregivers and union delegates because she’s been personally impacted by ACA, and because she has been outspoken about how this health care reform law has helped her. We’re thrilled she was able to attend on behalf of all our union members.”
Frontline spoke with Teresita recently about her visit to the White House.
Frontline: How did you come to attend the ACA event?
Teresita: Someone from 1199 had reached out to me to ask if I’d be willing to go to Washington for the ACA anniversary, and I said that I would. There were about six union members they were considering. Then the 1199 official contacted me again and said I’d been picked to go! I traveled that morning to Washington on Amtrak, and was met at Union Station by an escort from the Biden Administration. We joined some representatives from other unions for lunch, then proceeded straight to the White House. The event was originally supposed to take place in the Rose Garden, but because it turned out to be a rainy day, they moved the event inside the White House itself.
Frontline: What was it like walking into the White House?
Teresita: It was awesome—a sight to remember. Security was everywhere, but they made you feel very welcome. They had many different flags flying, and people in various places were playing flute music. Everyone was so polite and courteous. They all kept saying “Welcome to the White House, welcome to the White House!” They made me feel so special. It was really nice.
Frontline: What can you tell us about the event?
Teresita: It was something I’ll never forget! When we were seated, there were a lot of reporters behind us, waiting for the President to come in. Kamala Harris spoke first, and then she brought President Obama up, and he talked about the Affordable Care Act. Next, President Biden came up and President Obama introduced him as the Vice President, and everyone laughed. Then President Biden announced the new steps his administration is taking to build on the ACA, with a special focus on expanding coverage and making the enrollment process easier. Nancy Pelosi also came up on the stage with them. I was sitting there thinking, “I’m really here in the White House!” How many people can say they were in the presence of the Vice President, the 44th President and the 46th President? It was wonderful! I felt honored to the bottom of my heart to be there. As someone who understands the benefits of The Affordable Care Act because I am living it every day, I truly appreciate the effort being made to expand its coverage. I will never forget my time at The White House, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent both VNS Health and 1199!
Frontline: Can you share a little bit about your work at VNS Health?
Teresita: I love taking care of older people. As years go by, you really get to know a patient, and if they’re troubled by something, you pick up on it. This is my fourth year with the man who is my patient now. I care for him four days a week. His only family is his sister, who visits often, but he has nobody else. He’s overweight, but other than that, he’s fine. When I began with him, he had just gotten out of a nursing home and he lay in his bed all day long, not moving. He didn’t want to do anything. My being the person I am, now he’s not in the bed anymore. He wears regular clothes, and I have him walking in the hallway of his building. He’s losing weight, and his doctor is very happy. She said to me, “Whatever you’re doing with him, continue doing it!” He never used to come outside, so when I first took him out in the summertime, his neighbors were all amazed and glad to see him. I don’t think I did anything extra special—I just told him, “Come on, you’ve got to get out of this bed.” I’m motivating!
