Essential Medicaid: A Necessity, Not a Privilege
In a world where policy choices determine the fate of millions, the ongoing debate surrounding Medicaid and its impact on disabled individuals is a crucial issue that demands attention.
The Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill" aims to cut Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, a move that could affect 10 to 12 million Americans, many of whom are already medically vulnerable. According to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, these changes could potentially strip coverage from millions, putting the health and well-being of these individuals at risk.
For disabled individuals, the income limits imposed by Medicaid can be a significant barrier to maintaining stable lives. Income caps significantly impact their ability to earn more or save beyond certain limits, which can restrict access to essential healthcare and supportive services. Most states impose strict monthly income and asset thresholds that people with disabilities must meet to qualify for Medicaid, often requiring incomes below about 138% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Without Medicaid, many disabled people would face high medical expenses they cannot afford, putting their health and housing stability at risk. Financial restrictions like asset limits create barriers to economic security, forcing disabled people to live on the edge of poverty since saving money or investing could jeopardize their benefits.
Moreover, Medicaid plays a crucial role when beneficiaries are dually eligible for Medicare, helping cover the high medical costs associated with disabilities and chronic conditions. Policies that introduce work requirements or cost-sharing are projected to lead to coverage losses and increased financial burdens, potentially destabilizing disabled adults' access to care and disrupting their stable living conditions.
In New Jersey, for instance, the income cap for people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and enrolled in Medicaid is approximately $1,550 a month.
The outdated income limits for Medicaid force the disabled community into poverty by design, as earning too much can lead to losing the medical care that keeps them alive. This economic precarity exacerbates challenges related to employment, emergency savings, and overall financial resilience.
The proposed changes to Medicaid could cause preventable deaths for millions of Americans, according to Dr. Adam Gaffney, a critical care physician and health policy researcher at Harvard Medical School. The individual stories of those affected by these potential changes are heart-wrenching. One such individual, a legal immigrant from Nigeria who came to the United States as a five-month-old baby, has lived with sickle cell disease and has experienced numerous hospitalizations, excruciating pain, nerve damage, blood transfusions, kidney transplants, medical procedures, and near-death experiences. This individual has relied on Medicaid, a government program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families.
For this individual, survival alone is not enough. They deserve the chance to thrive without fear that a job, a dream, or a single extra paycheck will cost them their lives. The proposed bill includes new work requirements that could push millions off Medicaid coverage, a move that many in the disabled community view as a threat to their care and livelihood.
It is crucial that policymakers confront the systemic failure of Medicaid and take steps to raise or eliminate income caps, reject work requirements, and strengthen Medicaid protections. By protecting and strengthening the current system, we honor the lives of those who depend on it and give them the opportunity to live, not just survive.
