What exactly is Medicaid? It’s a state-federal healthcare program aimed at assisting individuals with low incomes or disabilities. Despite recent Republican proposals in Congress to significantly cut funding for Medicaid, this vital program plays an essential role within the U.S. healthcare system.
Medicaid serves several critical functions: it ensures that hospitals and other medical providers remain financially viable; it provides substantial federal funds to states; and most importantly, it offers health insurance coverage to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
A staggering 79 million people in the United States benefit from Medicaid services or its companion program for children. Sam Whitehead, a correspondent for KFF Health News, explores the history and significance of Medicaid within America’s healthcare infrastructure.
This article was originally published on khn.org—a national newsroom dedicated to in-depth journalism focused on health issues. It is one of KFF’s core operating programs—KFF being an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalistic endeavors.
