Our nation’s Medicaid program serves as a lifeline for millions of individuals grappling with chronic illnesses and disabilities, as well as countless mothers and infants.
On a positive note, North Carolina recently expanded Medicaid to provide health insurance coverage to over 600,000 working people within our state. These individuals would otherwise fall short of the income threshold for “regular” Medicaid but surpass the affordability of private health insurance.
However, the situation is dire as Congress has placed the health care of these families and numerous others in North Carolina at risk of being cut. The U.S. House of Representatives has set a target of reducing $880 billion from Medicaid, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences for the healthcare system and jeopardizing the well-being of patients and communities in North Carolina.
As obstetricians and gynecologists, we are deeply concerned about the potentially devastating impact these cuts would have on our patients. Many of them rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs. These are the individuals and families who have only recently gained access to health insurance through North Carolina’s Medicaid expansion. For many, it marks their first time having health insurance in years.
Medicaid provides more than just appointments; it covers essential medications, vaccinations, prenatal ultrasounds, hospital stays, and surgeries. Without Medicaid, these patients would be unable to receive the necessary care to maintain their health, work, and care for their families.
It is undeniable that losing health insurance does not guarantee immunity from illness. It simply means that individuals without coverage cannot access the assistance they require when they are unwell. For individuals with diabetes, high-risk pregnancies, high blood pressure, or other health conditions, delaying care often results in more severe health complications. This can lead to emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and more costly medical treatments.
No one should have to fear losing their job, home, or even a loved one due to a single illness, all because they lack health insurance.
The patients we encounter who are covered under Medicaid expansion are working diligently to maintain their health, care for their children, and advance their lives. However, they cannot achieve these goals without access to health insurance. Therefore, Medicaid expansion holds immense significance.
No one should have to fear losing their job, home, or even a loved one due to a single illness, all because they lack health insurance. Regrettably, this scenario would unfold if we reverse our progress in Medicaid expansion at the state level.
Cutting Medicaid would have a particularly severe impact on women of childbearing age, many of whom rely on Medicaid coverage to meet their health needs. In fact, nearly half of all births in our state are now covered by Medicaid. North Carolina’s recent Medicaid expansion legislation provided healthcare for many women of childbearing age before they became pregnant. Healthy mothers give birth to healthy babies, so eliminating or reducing Medicaid coverage for these women before they conceive will result in an increase in high-risk births, babies with serious health complications, and subsequently higher medical costs.
Instead of resorting to emergency rooms, we want our patients to have consistent access to healthcare. Removing this coverage from the thousands of women will lead to a perilous rise in preventable health complications and deaths not only in North Carolina but also across the nation.
While Congress deliberates on these cuts, one thing is certain: if Medicaid is cut, not only will women and their families bear the brunt of the consequences, but so will North Carolina. It is not too late for us to collectively raise our voices in support of Medicaid and oppose these steep cuts. We urge our elected officials to push back against these proposed cuts. The lives of our fellow North Carolinians, including many mothers and babies, depend on it.
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