Right now, Medicaid funding is on the chopping block at the federal level, putting 72 million seniors, children, low-income families, pregnant people, people with disabilities, young people newly in the workforce, and people across America at risk of losing healthcare coverage. [1]
That’s not all. Medicaid makes up 30 percent of state budgets, meaning cuts to federal support would force governors in both red and blue states to make impossible choices: slash healthcare for those who need it most or gut other essential programs to fill the gap. [2]
Wait, what exactly is going on? Medicaid—an essential program that provides health insurance to millions of people—is under threat. In the past few weeks, Congress has rushed to put together a budget that includes billions of dollars in tax cuts for large corporations and billionaires, funding it largely by slashing the Medicaid budget by $880 billion over the next decade. [3]
Yup, you read that right. Republicans in Congress are pushing for massive tax breaks for the rich and think we should pay for them by cutting healthcare (and other critical programs) for those who can least afford it.
Reckless cuts to Medicaid should not even be an option. If $880 billion is cut from this essential program, it would threaten healthcare access for the 72 million people across America who are on Medicaid, including seniors living in long-term care, children, low-income families, pregnant people, and people with disabilities.
For those 72 million people with Medicaid coverage, these cuts would rip away coverage for critical—and in many cases lifesaving—services, and leave families one medical emergency away from crippling medical debt.
The impacts of rolling back Medicaid would be far-reaching, disrupting care in all communities across life-stages. Medicaid currently finances nearly half of the nation’s births. [4] Approximately 62 percent of long-term care residents in nursing homes rely on Medicaid to cover their costs. [5] About one in three people with disabilities are covered by Medicaid. [6] On top of all this, Medicaid is a popular program supported by voters across the political spectrum. [7]
The thing is, a massive cut to Medicaid like this will not just impact healthcare, but entire state budgets! These funding cuts at the federal level would shift the cost of funding Medicaid onto states themselves, potentially forcing cuts to other critical programs like schools and public safety while also increasing state taxes. All of this, AND states will likely need to cut Medicaid coverage for millions of people to accommodate their state budgets. In fact, this plan to cut Medicaid would benefit the top 1% while harming households in the bottom 40% of income. [8]
In addition, Medicaid is critical for rural communities—and not just for those who use the insurance program. Rural areas face greater healthcare challenges with higher rates of chronic disease, tighter hospital budgets, and provider shortages. [9] Medicaid cuts would only exacerbate these issues, leaving rural communities with more sick people and fewer options for care.
Don’t forget to sign on! Tell your governor to speak out to protect Medicaid!
When you click, you’ll automatically sign on to our petition that reads:
Dear Governor,
In the past few weeks, Congress has rushed to put together a budget that includes billions of dollars in tax cuts for large corporations and billionaires, while slashing the Medicaid budget by $880 billion.
Medicaid is an essential program that provides health insurance to 72 million people in America, covering 62 percent of long-term care residents in nursing homes and half of all births nationwide.
For the 72 million people who have Medicaid, these cuts would rip away healthcare coverage for critical—and in many cases lifesaving—services and leave families one medical emergency away from crippling medical debt. The impacts of these cuts would be far-reaching, disrupting care in all communities across different life-stages, while having devastating consequences on businesses and our economy.
State budgets across the nation would also be negatively impacted. Medicaid makes up 30 percent of state budgets, meaning cuts to federal support would force states to make impossible choices: slash healthcare for those who need it most or gut other core programs that states fund. Further, these cuts would disproportionately harm people living in rural communities, leaving them with more sick people and fewer options for care.
We urge you to join a growing coalition of bipartisan state government groups and speak out to object to these reckless Medicaid cuts, which would have devastating consequences for families in your state.
This is a critical moment in the fight for quality, affordable healthcare for all and for state level funding that we need for education, parks, child care, and other programs that open doors and opportunities for families to succeed. We need your help to keep pressure on our leaders—including governors—to stop reckless cuts that will take away healthcare coverage from 72 million Americans.
Together we are a powerful voice for families.
References
[1] Who does Medicaid cover? How Congress' proposed budget cuts could be felt - NBC
[2] Medicaid Financing 101 - NCSL
[3] Republican governors, wary of Trump, balk at Medicaid letter - Pluribus News
[4] Birth Data - CDC
[5] Medicaid Weighs Attaching Strings to Nursing Home Payments to Improve Patient Care - KFF Health News
[6] 5 Key Facts about Medicaid Coverage for People with Disabilities - KFF
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