Weakening Medicaid would weaken your health care

In Iowa, nearly 700,000 people — including 300,000 children — rely on Medicaid for their health care, which is jointly funded by federal and state governments. These are our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and loved ones, living in every corner of the state. Medicaid helps them cover everything from routine checkups and maternity care to cancer treatment and emergency services. It’s not just a safety net — it’s a lifeline that keeps Iowa’s health care system strong and accessible for everyone. 

Yet today, federal policymakers are considering cutting billions of dollars from Medicaid. If this occurs, access to care will be in jeopardy — not just for those enrolled in Medicaid, but for all Iowans. That’s the simple truth. Fewer services, fewer doctors, and fewer clinics means everyone — even those with private insurance — could face longer wait times and reduced options. Providers already stretched thin may be forced to close rural clinics, cut staff or eliminate services, particularly when it comes to maternal care, behavioral health and pediatrics. It also means more people may access health care through higher cost, busy emergency rooms, instead of the primary care physician office.