Ensuring Medicaid is Available and Stable Long-term

As the nation’s public health insurance program for low-income children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities, Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Americans. That includes more than 2 million adults and children with a history of cancer. In fact, roughly 1 in 2 kids are covered by Medicaid. Research has demonstrated that cancer patients who experience disruptions in Medicaid coverage are more likely to have advanced stage disease and worse survival rates than patients without disruptions.

Medicaid also plays an important role in addressing health disparities. Medicaid provides health coverage to over half of children who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, other or multi-racial, or Latino.

That’s why it is critical that both state and federal policymakers act to protect and improve the Medicaid program.