Arizona Medicaid

Karen Slone waits on a Tucson bus bench near her Tucson home. A special boot protects her foot after she lost part of it to an infection related to her diabetes. She delayed treatment because she had no health coverage, she said. Many Arizonans lost coverage during the recession when the state cut Medicaid access.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Karen Slone, 63, uses a cane to cross a Tucson street. After she lost her job and insurance last year, she stopped going to the doctor; a sore on her foot from diabetes turned into a raging infection.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Karen Slone wraps her foot with a fresh bandage. She is still struggling with $30,000 in medical bills.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Dr. David Armstrong reassures Jesus Duarte after foot surgery at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson. Armstrong saw a huge increase in serious foot problems from diabetics like Duarte after Arizona cut back its Medicaid access.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Dr. David Armstrong removes infected bones from the foot of a diabetic patient; many diabetics without healthcare coverage delay treating foot infections, leading to serious complications. “These people’s feet were literally killing them,” Armstrong said.

Dr. David Armstrong removes infected bones from the foot of diabetic patient Jesus Duarte. “If it was just a couple of months earlier, we could have stopped some of these problems,” Armstrong said, referring to diabetics who delay treatment due to lack of health coverage.