We Must Defend Medicaid for Arizona Veterans

In America, we should treat High-quality and affordable healthcare as a right, not a privilege, for everyone.

Yet, Republicans are waging war on our health care by seeking broad and devastating cuts to Medicaid that would raise costs and rip away coverage from millions of Americans.

April was Medicaid Awareness Month a celebration of how this vital healthcare program has touched millions of families nationwide. Medicaid is a critical source of health care and financial security, serving people from all backgrounds, including children, mothers, people of color, people with disabilities, working families, rural Americans, and seniors.

Around 85 million people including 2,332,111 in Arizona receive care through Medicaid. Medicaid enrollment has increased by 52% nationally since 2013, and the program has proven time and time again to save lives, keep rural hospitals open, broaden access to needed care, and help reduce health disparities. It may come as a surprise to learn that Veterans often depend on Medicaid coverage to supplement what their VA services cannot provide for them. For example, the critical mental health services , as well as home and community-based services that a military veteran might often need, are available through Arizona’s Medicaid program, AHCCCS.

However, this vital program remains under attack by Republicans. Only last month, the Republican Study Committee proposed cutting Medicaid spending by trillions of dollars over the next decade. Since two-thirds of families who count on Medicaid include people who already work and the vast majority of others are caregivers, students, or physically unable to work, this Republican red tape is clearly about reducing Medicaid enrollment, not about promoting work.

At the same time, GOP leaders in 10 states have also failed to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, blocking 1.6 million people from affordable coverage. During his presidency, Donald Trump allowed states to kick people off Medicaid through work reporting requirements. Now, Trump has promised to follow through on repealing the Affordable Care Act, which would end Medicaid expansion and throw the entire healthcare system into chaos.

These drastic measures to slash funding and impose onerous paperwork requirements would rip away coverage from tens of millions of children, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. These proposals from MAGA Republicans would mean millions of people could not afford to go to the doctor when needed, risking their lives and livelihoods.

When people have access to health insurance, they can receive the care they need, there is less strain on their finances, and they are likely to have better health outcomes. The Biden administration has championed lowering health care costs, helping more people become insured, and improving care for the American people. Since taking office, President Biden has defended Medicaid from GOP attacks, offered incentives to states to expand Medicaid, reduced the paperwork required to maintain Medicaid coverage, expanded coverage for postpartum women, and lowered premiums for people who buy insurance on their own, leading to a record 21 million Americans enrolling.

So many hard-working Americans who rely on this program could see their health care ripped away if Republicans get their way. Not only do they want to end Medicaid as we know it, but they are working overtime to dismantle reproductive care, hike premiums, cut Medicare, reverse recent coverage gains, and raise prescription drug costs for the American people.

In the wealthiest nation on earth, no one should have to risk their lives because they can’t afford the care they need, least of all those who made sacrifices to serve this country. Just as our Arizona Vets defended us, we must defend them by protecting the Medicaid services that are vital to them. We should want to build on the progress of these programs rather than wanting to go backward, campaigning on threats to rip away coverage and impose barriers to coverage. The contrast between these two visions could not be clearer. Let’s continue to fight to expand access to coverage, lower health care costs, and protect Medicaid for years to come, not just for veterans but for all Arizonans.

Aaron Marquez is executive director of Vets Forward.

 

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