Don’t Cut Medicaid: Fix Healthcare, Pharma, Health Insurance

I am writing to urge you to oppose reckless Medicaid cuts that could take healthcare away from millions of low-income Americans. If there are inefficiencies in the program, they should be addressed strategically—not through sweeping cuts that disproportionately harm the most vulnerable. Congress should focus on fixing the root causes of rising healthcare costs rather than making Medicaid recipients the scapegoat. The United States has one of the highest healthcare costs per capita in the world, yet outcomes often lag behind other developed nations. A major factor in these costs is the unchecked power of pharmaceutical and health insurance companies, which have seen record profits while Americans struggle to afford care. In 2024 alone, the top five health insurers made over $40 billion in profit, even as they raised premiums and denied claims at higher rates. Meanwhile, drug companies continue to charge Americans significantly more than other countries for the same medications. If lawmakers are serious about reducing healthcare spending, they should start by holding these industries accountable instead of targeting Medicaid. Medicaid is a lifeline for nearly 90 million Americans, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Cutting funding without a clear, evidence-based plan would drive up medical bankruptcies, increase emergency room visits, and leave millions without essential treatments. During past Medicaid rollbacks, states that implemented harsh eligibility restrictions saw significant coverage losses, often without meaningful cost savings. Many people who were removed from Medicaid simply became uninsured, shifting the financial burden to hospitals and taxpayers. Trump and Musk have a history of making unilateral decisions without fully understanding the impact, and Medicaid should not be subjected to the same reckless governance. Congress, not the executive branch, is responsible for overseeing healthcare policy. Before any cuts are made, lawmakers must conduct a thorough review of which areas of Medicaid need reform and what alternatives exist to maintain coverage for those who need it most. The administration should not be allowed to dismantle Medicaid before fully assessing its impact on working families, rural hospitals, and state budgets. If the goal is to reduce costs, the focus should be on policies that drive down healthcare expenses without sacrificing coverage. Congress should consider legislation to lower drug prices, improve price transparency in the insurance industry, and ensure that billionaires and large corporations contribute their fair share in taxes rather than forcing the burden onto low-income Americans. Slashing Medicaid will not fix healthcare—it will only create more suffering and higher costs in the long run. I urge you to reject broad Medicaid cuts and instead pursue solutions that make healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone.