By Regina Agyemang
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For millions of Americans, Medicaid is not merely a healthcare program—it is the cornerstone of their survival. At Link Health, a community-based organization that collaborates with Tufts students to assist with cash assistance enrollment in health centers, we witness this reality every day. Our mission is to connect families with programs that provide healthcare, food assistance, and energy relief. Yet, without Medicaid, fulfilling this mission becomes exponentially more challenging.
Medicaid is far more than an insurance program; it serves as the gateway to essential safety net services like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). When families lose Medicaid, they do not merely lose access to healthcare—they lose food security, critical nutrition for their children, and the ability to maintain safe living conditions.
Medicaid enrollment automatically qualifies families for WIC, ensuring that pregnant women and infants receive both nutrition assistance and healthcare referrals. Without Medicaid, many mothers would struggle to access prenatal care, leading to higher infant mortality rates and lifelong developmental challenges for their children.
Similarly, millions of Medicaid recipients rely on SNAP to afford groceries. Over 39 million Americans currently receive food assistance through SNAP, with many qualifying due to their Medicaid enrollment. Restricting Medicaid eligibility would simultaneously strip thousands of families of healthcare and food assistance, exacerbating food insecurity and health disparities.
Furthermore, Medicaid plays a pivotal role in determining access to LIHEAP, which provides home heating and cooling assistance to low-income families. In 2022, nearly 6 million households depended on LIHEAP to prevent utility shutoffs. Families will be left grappling with inflation and rising energy costs without Medicaid.
Proponents of Medicaid restrictions often argue that cutting enrollment will save taxpayer money, citing concerns about inefficiencies, fraud, and the perception that Medicaid discourages work. However, evidence consistently demonstrates that such policies are counterproductive.
In 2018, Massachusetts proposed Medicaid reforms, including work requirements for non-disabled adults. However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rejected the state’s proposal, citing concerns over its alignment with Medicaid’s goals.
In reality, Medicaid strengthens local economies and state budgets. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that Medicaid expansion boosted workforce participation by enabling low-income adults to manage chronic illnesses and remain employed. States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) experienced a 6% reduction in unpaid hospital bills, alleviating financial burdens on hospitals and preventing closures.
Take Massachusetts, for example, where Medicaid expansion has been a resounding success. The state has seen a significant decline in uninsured rates, improved health outcomes, and a stronger healthcare system overall. Conversely, Texas, which has resisted Medicaid expansion, continues to have one of the highest uninsured rates in the nation, with rural hospitals closing at an alarming rate due to uncompensated care costs. These contrasting outcomes highlight the transformative potential of Medicaid when it is adequately supported.
Behind every policy debate lies a human story. Consider Maria, a single mother in Massachusetts who works full-time but relies on Medicaid for her children’s healthcare. Because she qualifies for Medicaid, she receives SNAP benefits to buy groceries and LIHEAP assistance to keep her home warm. If Maria loses Medicaid, her access to food and energy assistance will vanish alongside her healthcare coverage.
For Maria and millions like her, losing Medicaid is not an abstract policy change—it is a life-altering crisis. It means choosing between paying for groceries or keeping the lights on. It means skipping doctor’s visits and risking preventable health emergencies. These are not hypothetical scenarios; they are the real and immediate consequences of cutting Medicaid.
Medicaid is far more than an insurance program—it is an anchor of economic stability, public health, and community resilience. The ripple effects would strain hospitals, deepen poverty, and weaken local economies.
At Link Health, we see firsthand how Medicaid transforms lives. It is the foundation upon which we build our work, enabling us to connect families with the resources they need to thrive. Without Medicaid, our ability to serve these families would be severely diminished. We would face a community in crisis, with fewer tools to address the growing needs of those who rely on us. At Link Health, we are committed to advocating for policies that uphold the dignity and well-being of the families we serve.
This is not merely a policy debate—it is a moral imperative. The decisions made today will determine whether millions of families can continue to access the support they need or whether they will be left to navigate impossible choices alone. The time to protect Medicaid is now.
Author: Regina Agyemang
