"It happens anytime, anyplace," she says. "Ican't work because all my numbers are inverted nowand I can't tell my 3's from my 5's and 8's."

Sporting a silver MedicAlert bracelet on herright wrist, Margaret talks hopefully about howher 11 medications might contain her seizures,depression and headaches. Almost everything ispaid by MassHealth, the state Medicaid program.

Welfare recipients are automatically eligiblefor the program. It also covers people moving offwelfare for up to a year.

MassHealth frees Margaret from the burden ofcostly co-payments for frequent ambulance ridesand countless office visits, and she only has topay 50 cents per medication each month. Her sonhas complete medical and dental coverage.

"MassHealth is absolutely fabulous," Margaretraves. "If all parts of the system failed and Icould choose only one program, I'd stay withhealth insurance."

That's the kind of popular support drivingstate legislators to expand MassHealth coverage.In July, guidelines were loosened to includepeople above the federal poverty line.

"We've expanded to help working families,"MassHealth spokesperson Sharon Torgerson says."We're trying to find as many unsubscribed peopleto get in our program as possible.

"We're saying `Come on down!' and the boys overin welfare are saying `Go away!' Torgerson laughs.

MassHealth opened its arms and welcomed anadditional 106,000 people, bringing the total toalmost 800,000. Some revenue from the recent 25cent cigarette tax hike will fund MassHealth's$3.4 billion budget, which is bank rolled byfederal and state money.

Beat Downs at Home

The pain etched on Jennifer's face alone couldhave told her wrenching story. Words, thoughinadequate, filled in the all-too-familiardetails.

As a child, Jennifer's twin sister and motherlived as migrants in Boston, never staying morethan a year at a single place. When Jennifer was14, her mother did not want anything to do withthe children anymore and left them at theirestranged father's home. At 15, she met someonewho said he loved her.

"I never felt loved by anyone before," Jennifersays, slowly shaking her head. "But he just wantedto own me."

At sweet 16, Jennifer got pregnant.

"I did it on purpose because I thought having ababy would solve all my problems," she says. "Itjust made things worse."