The groundswell of support for Medicaid that has recently come to the surface may have been surprising to those targeting the health coverage program for cuts but it is not surprising to those of us who conduct Medicaid research.
Medicaid, together with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) insures over 37 million children. Medicaid, the larger of the two programs, covers about four in ten children nationwide. Medicaid is a state-federal partnership, designed and administered by state agencies subject to federal requirements and is vital to the health and well-being of children and families.
KFF’s tracking poll shows Medicaid has been gaining popularity and about three in four people (77%) have a favorable view of the health coverage program. Nearly all adults (97%) say Medicaid is at least somewhat important for people in their community and three-quarters (73%) say it is very important. About two-thirds (65%) of the public say that someone close to them has received help from Medicaid at some point.
In 2024, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we conducted focus groups of parents and guardians of children with Medicaid coverage and providers who serve these children. As explained in our brief, we found that Medicaid coverage is highly valued by families and health care providers. This post describes these findings in more detail, offering greater insight into why families and providers value Medicaid coverage.
Medicaid Gives Families Much-Needed Peace of Mind
In each of the focus groups, parents and providers noted that one of the main reasons they value Medicaid is because it provides peace of mind and financial security. Parents spoke about the challenges that come with gaps in health insurance coverage, such as skipping appointments and prescriptions and worrying about asthma flare-ups, accidents while playing sports, and large medical bills. Having Medicaid coverage for their children meant they could be confident that doctor visits, prescriptions, even hospital stays, would be covered.
…he is accident prone, he’s the first one to go to the ER. So, I’m just hoping he be good… This is my first thing, don’t y’all hurt y’all self, we can’t go to the hospital with that.
– Michigan parent (reflecting on 15-year-old son losing Medicaid coverage during unwinding)
Personally, I feel very comfortable because with the Medicaid that my son has, he had asthma and he needs glasses, and the dentist, it has covered everything. He had a surgery at the end of 2019, a hernia, and it covered the hospital.
– Texas parent
Providers shared these sentiments. When children have Medicaid coverage, families can afford to seek needed care, fill prescriptions, and follow the recommended dosage. Families without Medicaid coverage are sometimes forced to make very tough decisions, such as filling the prescription for only one type of inhaler when two types are needed and skipping doses to make the inhaler last longer.
For me to commit them to go to the emergency department, I’m sticking them with the $2,000 bill, and so I have to think about that differently, you know. I’m affecting the kids’ chance to go to college now. With Medicaid I get to make a clinical decision and I don’t have to worry about the financial implications that I’m saddling the family with. And to me that’s a heavy burden that I carry and it’s really nice when kids [have] Medicaid, I don’t have to carry the burden.
– Tennessee pediatrician
I think one of the biggest benefits is… providing coverage for the medications, because I feel like cost is certainly a huge barrier for families, especially with asthma medications. I’ve had a lot of private insurance families that either skip the inhalers or maybe take it once a day instead of twice a day to make it last longer. So, I think just taking a lot of financial burden off is helpful.
– Tennessee pediatrician
Medicaid Coverage for Children is Comprehensive
Parents also value Medicaid because it provides children with comprehensive coverage. Parents specifically mentioned the importance of covering mental health services, dental care, and glasses. Providing children with access to Medicaid-covered therapy services at school was popular with parents.
At school they referred [my son to] a counselor, and immediately Medicaid covered it, and it was very helpful, they gave him therapies, they gave me appointments every week, it was something accessible, and it was something that Medicaid offered [us] through the school.
– Texas parent
Similarly, providers described Medicaid’s coverage as comprehensive and flexible. For example, providers noted that with Medicaid, they can make the right clinical decision about which medication to prescribe or test to order and they know Medicaid will cover it without prohibitive out-of-pocket costs.
Well, under Medicaid, the EPSDT program, we’re paid to do periodic checkups that includes… everything, as in growth monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, vision screens, hearing screens, developmental screens…
– Washington pediatrician
So generally, I think Medicaid is a great program for kids, I think it works really well in Washington. Kids who have autism, I can do their fluoride treatments, I think all the way up to age 12, for a lot of other kids that caps out at age five, so that gives me that extra bonus being able to continue to provide that service.
– Washington pediatrician
Extra Support for Times of Crisis
Parents also value Medicaid because it steps in just when they need it – whether between jobs and needing coverage for the whole family, or in providing coverage for treatment of disabling conditions that private insurance does not cover and would otherwise be completely out-of-reach.
I’m actually really happy with it, because my youngest had issues at birth where he had to be brought to a different hospital because of just some issues with him after being born, with his heart. And they did all these tests and even now with his allergist, it’s really nice because it covers his allergy tests, his EpiPens.
– Washington parent
Providers reinforced Medicaid’s critical role in times of crisis, such as covering an unexpected stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that could bankrupt families otherwise.
I think there’s, like any program and anything, there are opportunities for improvement. I was reading an article the other day about parents of a NICU baby … Medicaid covered their million-dollar NICU stay … if there was no Medicaid, that would be just unimaginable for many, many, many families.
– Washington pediatrician
At a time when so many people are struggling financially, it’s not surprising to learn that people value their Medicaid coverage because it provides access to health care services, mental health services, and medications for themselves and their children. It is also not surprising that the public is staunchly opposed to proposed cuts to Medicaid as such cuts would severely undermine Medicaid’s ability to fulfill this critical role in our health care system.
Note: Quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity.