Protect Medicaid

Medicaid is Independence, Dignity, and a Lifeline for People with Disabilities.

Act Now! Contact your elected officials today

The Protect Medicaid movement needs you to act and contact your Congressman or Congresswoman about how Medicaid has improved your life and/or that of your loved ones.

Support Medicaid Advocacy Initiatives

Protect Medicaid Rally, NJ Statehouse Annex, Trenton – March 6, 2025

The New Jersey Protect Medicaid Coalition, a collaboration of disability advocates, activists, and organizations committed to defending Medicaid mobilized March 6, 2025 to rally at the NJ Statehouse Annex in opposition of proposed cuts in the federal budget that will negatively impact 1.9 million New Jerseyans. 

Read the full press release here.

NJ Spotlight News Broadcast Coverage

Article by Gene Meyers, NorthJersey.com

Partner Agency Resources

Sharing Your Story: A Guide to Medicaid Advocacy by The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development

Summary:

This guide has information to help you share your lived experience with policymakers so they understand the importance of Medicaid and the services it provides to people with disabilities. In the guide, you will find information about how Medicaid works and commonly proposed threats, along with tips for sharing your story and a worksheet to help you plan your advocacy message.

Link to Guide in Other Languages

A Cut to Medicaid is a Cut to Medicare Fact Sheet by Justice In Aging, Medicare Rights Center, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and Community Catalyst

A Cut to Medicaid is a Cut to Medicare Issue Brief by Justice In Aging, Medicare Rights Center, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and Community Catalyst

Summary:

68 million individuals are enrolled in Medicare—and one in five rely on Medicaid to afford and access essential health and long-term care. Without Medicaid, 12 million Medicare enrollees could not access the care they need, jeopardizing their health and well-being. Given that nearly 30% of all Medicaid dollars directly support Medicare enrollees, any proposed cuts to Medicaid are, in effect, cuts to Medicare.

Protect Medicaid 2025 Toolkit provided by the National Protect Medicaid Space

Medicaid Defense Resource List by CBPP, Community Catalyst, NHeLP and FUSA

Protect Medicaid E-blasts

March 11, 2025: Call-In Day

March 5, 2025: Protect Medicaid Rally Update

February 25, 2025: Protect Medicaid Rally News Release

February 25, 2025: Call-In Day

February 22, 2025: Protect Medicaid Stories Video Launch

Understanding the Issue

Medicaid is under attack by the new administration and Congress, who aim to cut $2.3 trillion from federal funding for Medicaid. Legislative proposals seek to cut Medicaid by dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion, which significantly lowered uninsured rates in states that adopted the expansion. Proposals also include cutting back and restructuring federal funding for Medicaid which would lead to widespread cuts in eligibility, lifetime cap in benefits, and cuts to provider payment rates, potentially leaving millions of current enrollees without health care coverage, unable to afford life-saving medications, treatment for chronic and life-threatening conditions, and access to care and supports they need.

Why is it Important to Protect Medicaid?

Medicaid is a comprehensive health insurance program covering physical and mental health care, dental, and vision, which allows New Jersey children, adults, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities to get the health care they need, so their families and communities can be productive and healthy.

Medicaid also covers home and community-based supports and services that benefit recipients by improving their health and quality of life. This coverage allows individuals with complex needs to remain at home, rather than in institutions, and receive the vital care they need to survive.

For 1.9 million people here in New Jersey alone, Medicaid is a critical lifeline.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are especially important to the health and success of children and the economic security of their families. Medicaid covers early childhood screenings and treatments to help young children develop, be healthy, and grow into healthy adults . For children with disabilities, the reliance on Medicaid means they can live at home with their families.

Medicaid helps families by covering health care for older adults and individuals with disabilities receiving long-term, comprehensive care in institutions – including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and residential treatment centers. Without Medicaid, this kind of care is not affordable to most people in New Jersey, and these individuals would either be homeless or die.

Medicaid also benefits our state budget, keeps rural hospitals open, supports the creation of jobs, and overall benefits our economy.

Let our voices be heard! Act Now to Protect Medicaid and Share Your Story with Lawmakers!