Medicaid and access to affordable health coverage is central to rural America’s health—the physical and mental health of citizens, the financial health of families, and the economic health of towns and communities.
If Congress cuts Medicaid, millions of people in rural America will pay the price. If Congress does not extend critical tax credits, millions more people in rural America will pay as well.
Cutting Medicaid Will Hurt Rural Children and Families
Medicaid covers nearly half of all rural children—over 4.8 million nationwide. It serves as a lifeline for farm families and rural workers in sectors where employer-sponsored health insurance is less available. Medicaid ensures that rural families do not have to choose between financial disaster and getting their children the care they need.
Cutting Medicaid Will Erode Rural Access to Care
Already, nearly 200 rural hospitals across the country have been forced to close or reduce services in the last two decades. And many of the rural hospitals that have managed to stay open thus far are facing serious financial headwinds. Medicaid is a key funding stream that keep local hospitals and health facilities open for all their patients, not just those covered by Medicaid directly. Rural Americans already face disproportionate health risks and barriers to accessing care. Cutting Medicaid would make these disparities even worse.
Cutting Medicaid Will Grind Down Rural Economies
The healthcare sector is one of the most important employers in rural America. The loss of Medicaid funding would force providers to downsize and lay off employees, creating major economic consequences in addition to the impact on health. Workers and businesses in countless other sectors would be affected by the financial ripple effects of healthcare layoffs, cuts, and closures if Washington slashes Medicaid.
Cutting Medicaid Will Increase the Burden on Caregivers and Families
In rural communities, family members, friends and neighbors play an outsized role in helping seniors age in place. When caregivers are forced to forego full-time or even part-time employment elsewhere, Medicaid’s home healthcare funding helps fill the gap. If Congress takes funding away from Medicaid, caregivers and families could face a serious financial blow.
Extend Critical Health Coverage Tax Credits
Rural areas of states that have not expanded Medicaid will see high rates of disruption in coverage. These areas tend to have high enrollment in the insurance marketplaces due to these enhanced tax credits.The expiration of the enhanced tax credits would increase the number of uninsured people. Rural communities and the low-income would be particularly impacted.