Protecting Medicaid Means Protecting All Our Communities

Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of Americans, ensuring access to essential health care services, from routine doctor’s visits to life-saving medications. Proposed budget cuts threaten this critical program, putting vulnerable communities—especially communities of color—at serious risk.
Across the country, Medicaid provides coverage for nearly 37 million non-elderly people of color, helping to bridge racial and ethnic health disparities. Research shows that Medicaid expansion has significantly reduced the uninsured gap, improving health outcomes for Black, Latino, and Indigenous families who are already more likely to face systemic barriers to care. In states like NH that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, the gap in uninsured rates between white and Black adults dropped by over 50 percent, and by 45 percent between white and Latino adults.
Cuts to Medicaid would have devastating consequences, not just for people of color, but for seniors, children, low-income workers, and health care providers. With more than 70 million Americans relying on Medicaid, reducing funding would strain hospitals, increase medical debt, and force families to make impossible choices.
Ensuring access to affordable health care should be a priority for everyone. We must work together to protect Medicaid and keep our communities healthy—because no one should have to lose their health care to balance a budget.