On Sunday, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) suggested that no one “legitimately” on Medicaid would lose coverage as a result of spending cuts. In an interview with NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” anchor Chris Stirewalt stated that for Republicans to achieve the substantial expenditure cuts they have aimed for, they will most certainly have to target more than simply waste, fraud, and abuse.
Stirewalt said the Office of Management and Budget has determined that just approximately 4% of government payments are improper, which accounts for slightly more than $31 billion in Medicaid spending.
“You all are looking to cut a lot more than that over the next 10 years,” Stirewalt said. “Can you really promise that no one is going to lose their health coverage as a result of this?” “I think what we can promise is that no one that is legitimately on Medicaid will lose their coverage, and I think that’s important,” Perry said.
Perry claimed that undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid services, driving up costs. However, according to KFF, which was formerly called The Kaiser Family Foundation, undocumented immigrants are ineligible to enroll in government-supported programs such as Medicaid, CHIP, (Children’s Health Insurance Program), or Medicare, or to purchase coverage through the ACA (Affordable Care Act) Marketplaces.
Emergency Medicaid spending reimburses hospitals for emergency care that they are required to provide to people who meet other Medicaid eligibility requirements (such as income) but do not have an eligible immigration status. That includes undocumented immigrants and lawfully present immigrants who are still ineligible for Medicaid and CHIP.
Medicaid provides health insurance to 80 million low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans. In other words, Medicaid covers 20% of all Americans. Medicaid cost taxpayers $870 billion in 2023.
I am one of those people who are “legitimately” on Medicaid. As a person with cerebral palsy, Medicaid impacts me every single day. Medicaid allows me to live in my apartment where I receive around-the-clock care. In September of this year, at the age of 26, Medicaid will be my only source of health insurance.
In my case, Massachusetts Medicaid provides the funding for my PCAs (Personal Care Assistants). My PCA helps me with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, and toileting. Without Medicaid, I wouldn’t be able to pay for PCA services, which cost more than $50,000 annually.
In most cases, home and community-based services are less expensive than institutional care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that home and community-based services cost 50% less than institutional care. In 2020, KFF found that the average annual cost per person for home and community-based services averaged slightly more than $36,000, whereas institutional costs averaged more than $47,000.
Medicaid is more than healthcare insurance for low-income Americans. Medicaid is the difference between life and death for many. People’s lives should be more important than money and politics.
Sources:
Chidambaram, Priya, and Alice Burns. “How Many People Use Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports and How Much Does Medicaid Spend on Those People?” KFF, KFF, 14 Dec. 2023, http://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/how-many-people-use-medicaid-long-term-services-and-supports-and-how-much-does-medicaid-spend-on-those-people/.
Fortinsky, Sarah. “Scott Perry Says No One ‘legitimately’ on Medicaid Will Lose Coverage.” The Hill, Nexstar Media Group, 9 Mar. 2025, thehill.com/homenews/house/5184753-scott-perry-medicaid-coverage/amp/.
Kosofsky, Isadora, and Abby Goodnough. “Medicaid Is Not a Top Campaign Issue. but for These Voters, It’s Crucial.” The New York Times, The New York Times Company , 26 Oct. 2024, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/26/us/medicaid-election-voters-photos.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VE4.kycA.3Ph6OZk9LLH2&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare#.
Pillai, Drishti, et al. “5 Key Facts about Immigrants and Medicaid.” KFF, KFF, 21 Feb. 2025, http://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-immigrants-and-medicaid/.
Worden, Amy. “Rep. Perry Defends GOP Medicaid Cuts, Says Those ‘legitimately’ Enrolled Won’t Lose Coverage.” PennLive, PA Media Group, 10 Mar. 2025, http://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2025/03/rep-perry-defends-gop-medicaid-cuts-says-those-legitimately-enrolled-wont-lose-coverage.html?outputType=amp.