The Invisible Labor of Medicaid Moms: What the System Never Acknowledges

Written By Maureen Welch

I remember the late-night “just one more email”, after a full day of caregiving, appointments, therapy, school chaos, and no break. I thought I was alone in barely keeping my head above water. Then I realized: I was not alone. And the system has mostly been silent about it.

This is the invisible labor, the constant planning, managing, advocacy, and creative caregiving that Medicaid parents, especially mothers, carry. And though it’s unseen, it keeps the entire disability support system from falling apart.

That’s exactly why I created Navigating Disabilities Colorado (NDC), so families get seen, supported, and equipped to push back against burnout.


What Is Invisible Labor, and Why Does It Matter?

Economists like Nancy Folbre have long studied “care work” as invisible labor, the emotional, physical, and administrative work that sustains lives and families, yet rarely gets counted.

This includes:

  • Managing paperwork and systems

  • Coordinating services

  • Making 47 micro-decisions before noon

  • Holding the emotional climate of the entire household

In 2023, the value of unpaid caregiving in the U.S. was estimated at $600 billion, higher than the entire U.S. pharmaceutical industry. A 2025 Axios study found Pennsylvania families provided over $32.5 billion in unpaid care that year alone.

Now imagine the scale of invisible work happening across Colorado, unpaid, untracked, and emotionally draining.

What Medicaid Moms Are Actually Doing (That No One Sees)

  • Being a Case Manager’s Assistant: following up, clarifying eligibility, updating documents

  • Juggling Transportation, Nutrition, and Medical Schedules

  • Running IEP Meetings Like Corporate Presentations, While Holding Their Own Togethe

This isn’t “mom guilt.” This is real labor. And while some waivers now allow for caregiver pay through IHSS or CDASS, much of the work you do isn’t recognized or supported.

How NDC Is Turning Invisible Labor Into Power

At NDC, we believe your labor should be visible, valued, and supported.

That’s why inside the Roadmap for the Waiver Journey, we include:

  • A community of support, in our group coaching calls 3-5x a month, to help you name and claim what you do

  • An overview of services, to help you explore legal paths to compensation

  • Emotional support resources that address what it feels like to be overlooked

  • Ongoing community encouragement that says: you are not alone

And on our Resources Page, you’ll find tools that lighten the admin burden, including checklists, templates, and video lessons.

Your Labor Deserves Recognition, Not Just Resilience

You’re not “just a mom” or “just a caregiver.” You’re the project manager of a life-support system. And yes, it’s okay to feel tired, even angry, when the system doesn’t see that.

So here’s what I want you to know:

  • You’re not failing. The system is underbuilt.

  • Your labor matters, whether it’s paid, unpaid, or somewhere in between.

  • You deserve to rest, be seen, and receive support that honors all you do.

Your Next Step

Ready to feel seen, and supported?

Let’s make the invisible visible, together.

Maureen Welch
Next

What to Do When Your Case Manager Doesn’t Respond (And How to Escalate Like a Pro)