Medicaid Cuts Could Leave You Without Coverage—Find Out If You’re Affected

Medicaid is a vital lifeline for millions of Americans but current changes could put that coverage at threat In May a proposal by House Republicans could dramatically cut Medicaid funding leaving plenty of people without the healthcare they depend on Let s break down what this could mean for you your family and others who rely on Medicaid What s Going on with Medicaid The administration is proposing selected big changes to Medicaid in an effort to reduce federal spending by billion over the next years Here s how it could affect you Work Requirements Particular people would need to prove they are working or meeting other requirements to stay on Medicaid Eligibility Checks The ruling body would be checking more often to make sure that only those who qualify are receiving benefits Reduced Federal Funding States would get less money from the federal ruling body meaning they might have to cut back on Medicaid services or raise taxes to make up the difference These changes could make it much harder for millions to keep the coverage they rely on How Multiple People Could Lose Coverage According to the Congressional Budget Office CBO about million people could lose their Medicaid coverage over the next decade because of these cuts That s a lot of people and it s happening sooner than you might think These changes could start taking effect as early as The people who could be hit hardest are seniors and people with disabilities who get both Medicaid and Medicare While they would still have Medicare Medicaid helps with the extra costs like copays and prescriptions Without it these individuals could face unaffordable health bills Why Does This Matter Medicaid isn t just insurance it s a lifeline for a large number of If these cuts go through here s what could happen Loss of Healthcare Medicaid helps millions of low-income people get clinical care and losing that coverage would be devastating for them Hospital Closures Medicaid is critical for multiple hospitals especially in rural or low-income areas If these cuts happen a few hospitals might be forced to shut down leaving communities without vital care Higher Costs for States States would have to make up the difference either by raising taxes or cutting other key services More Expensive Care for Seniors Seniors who rely on Medicaid to cover costs not covered by Medicare would likely face higher premiums and more out-of-pocket costs These cuts could end up making healthcare even harder to afford especially for those who are already struggling When Will This Happen The House of Representatives is planning to vote on this regulation by Memorial Day If it passes the cuts could be put into action right away But not everyone is on board Democrats healthcare advocates and even several Republicans are concerned about the damage this could do to people who rely on Medicaid The vote will be a huge turning point in the future of healthcare for millions of Americans What Can You Do About It If you re worried about these changes there are a limited things you can do Check Your Eligibility Make sure you still qualify for Medicaid under the new rules Changes could affect who gets coverage Speak Up Let your local representatives know how fundamental Medicaid is to you and your family They need to hear from you Explore Other Options If you re worried about losing Medicaid you might want to start looking at other coverage options like the wellbeing insurance marketplace or state programs Medicaid cuts could leave millions without the healthcare they need Hospitals might close people might lose coverage and costs could go up for families across the country If you or someone you know relies on Medicaid it s significant to pay attention to what happens next The vote is still coming up and we ll have to wait and see what happens but it s worth starting to think about how these changes might affect you If you re unsure what to do don t hesitate to reach out for help There are plenty of information and people who can help you understand your options