Survey: 50% of Americans Worry Medicaid Cuts Will Force Kids Off Health Insurance

Most Americans are worried children will lose health insurance coverage and hospitals will be forced to cut services if proposed Medicaid cuts are approved.

A KFF survey released June 6 assessed Americans’ opinions about the proposed Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1, the House of Representatives’ budget reconciliation bill. The Senate is now considering its version of the bill.

The majority of adults and 61% of parents of kids under 18 worry that significant reductions in federal Medicaid spending would negatively affect their family’s ability to obtain and afford health care.

Medicaid and Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health insurance coverage for 37 million children. Of those, 7 million have special health care needs and 3 million are part of military-connected families.

In the poll, 72% of adults said they are worried federal funding cuts to Medicaid would increase the number of uninsured children and adults. Another 71% are “very worried” about the cuts’ impact on health care providers.

The KFF poll breaks down opinions further, showing a clear belief that Medicaid is not only essential for individuals but also for the health of communities:

• 46% of adults are very worried that cuts to Medicaid will lead to more children and adults becoming uninsured.
• 60% of adults are very worried Medicaid cuts will negatively impact their family’s ability to get and pay for health care.
• 90% of Medicaid enrollees say they are worried that Medicaid cuts would negatively impact their families' access to care.
• 69% of total rural adults and 52% of Republicans polled are worried that cuts to Medicaid will negatively impact the uninsured rate of children and health care providers in their rural communities.

The public’s strong opposition to Medicaid funding reductions serves as a reminder of the program’s critical importance in safeguarding the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including half of children who rely on Medicaid.