URGENT: Medicaid cuts threaten health and safety of millions

THE ISSUE: The Trump administration’s proposed $880 billion in Medicaid cuts, aimed at funding tax cuts for the wealthy, are a serious threat to the health and well-being of 72 million Americans who rely on the program, including a significant number of women. With 55% of Medicaid recipients being women, compared to 45% men, these cuts would disproportionately harm women. Despite widespread opposition across party lines, Republicans in Congress are pushing for deep cuts that could drastically reduce the number of people covered by Medicaid. These cuts would also undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion, and the proposed changes could force states to shoulder the full financial burden, potentially leading them to slash Medicaid eligibility, benefits, or provider payments. Although some Republicans claim these cuts would not harm those enrolled, the reality is that they would significantly reduce access to vital healthcare services, especially for women, who depend on Medicaid for essential care.

WHY IT MATTERS: Many do not realize that Medicaid is an important program because their state plan goes by another name. Slashing Medicaid funding would have devastating consequences, especially for women and marginalized communities, and would reverse critical public safety gains. Medicaid is essential for providing pregnancy-related care, family planning, cancer screenings, and long-term care services. It is also key to preventive care, helping low-income women access vital services. In 2020, 93% of women enrolled in Medicaid were either working, attending school, caring for young children or relatives, or experiencing an illness or disability that prevented them from working. Additionally, Medicaid is disproportionately relied upon by women of color due to systemic inequality, with 31% of Black women and 27% of Hispanic or Latina women depending on the program.

Medicaid also covers over 44% of nonelderly women with mental and physical disabilities, and it was the primary health coverage for one in four American women with mental illness as of 2019. Cutting Medicaid would strip away these essential services, disproportionately harming women, especially women of color. Moreover, Medicaid is crucial to public safety. Studies show that Medicaid-funded substance abuse treatment can save billions by reducing crime; Medicaid expansion has been linked to reductions in violent crime and reincarceration rates. In contrast, cutting Medicaid would likely lead to higher crime rates. Tennessee’s experience in 2005, when nearly 200,000 people were dropped from Medicaid, resulted in a seven percent rise in crime, illustrating the harmful impact of Medicaid reductions on public safety. The GOP’s proposed $880 billion cut to Medicaid would jeopardize coverage for millions, raising costs for states, increasing crime, and worsening public health. These cuts would particularly hurt women, leaving them without essential health care services, and would undo the progress made in reducing crime and improving the well-being of vulnerable populations.

STATUS: There is an ongoing discussion in Congress about how much they can cut Medicaid funding – which they are contemplating to justify huge tax cuts that will primarily benefit the wealthy. The Continuing Resolution that continues funding for government programs until September is being reviewed now concerning those proposed cuts.

Your Message:

The GOP’s proposed $880 billion cut to Medicaid would jeopardize coverage for millions, raising costs for states, increasing crime, and worsening public health. These cuts would particularly hurt women, leaving them without essential health care services, and would undo the progress made in reducing crime and improving the well-being of vulnerable populations. Please do not reduce funding for this vital program depended upon by 72 million Americans.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and SENATORS NOW. They need to hear from their constituents who value Medicaid and believe that this huge cut in Medicaid funding will harm millions of women, children, and persons with disabilities.

The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121; a list of members in the U.S. House of Representatives appears here https://www.house.gov/representatives/
For your senators, go to https://www.senate.gov/senators/
You can also go to the Members’ websites and enter a message or obtain their in-state office phone number and call (or visit) to deliver your message,