1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Medicaid provides vital health insurance to almost 80 million Americans — 1 in 5 people living in the United States — and serves as a core financial backbone of the health care system, including for the clinics and hospitals on which we all rely. Medicaid is a lifeline of coverage and care for so many: children and low-wage working families, veterans, people working to overcome substance use disorder, vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities.  Medicaid must be protected from any attempts to cut or cap funding or otherwise cause Americans to lose essential care and coverage. Any cut to Medicaid is a direct attack on the health and financial security of the American people.  The majority of the public — 71% of voters — want Congress to continue to guarantee coverage for low-income people through Medicaid. MEDICAID STABILIZES THE ECONOMY Medicaid dollars support state budgets. Medicaid is the largest source of federal funding to states,3 directly ensuring states do not need to deplete resources for other essential services, including public safety, education and transportation.    Medicaid keeps rural hospitals open. Medicaid is a critical funding source for many hospitals and especially helps rural hospitals keep their doors open. Since 2010, 74% of rural hospital closures have been in states that did not extend Medicaid coverage to all low-income adults.4 Medicaid improves access to care and reduces burdens on the health system. Compared to those without insurance, people with Medicaid are more likely to use preventive care (checkups and screenings), be connected to a primary care provider, and receive regular care for chronic conditions. All of this keeps health care costs low: When people receive care in the physician’s office, they avoid expensive hospitalizations and the need to use overburdened, understaffed emergency rooms for routine care.