Medicaid as Linchpin: Truth and Consequences | More Hopeful Futures or Children as Collateral Damage?

We haven’t reached the pain point yet. This is the first step….And then there’s going to be that snowball effect where they either lose benefits, or a nursing home closes down, a rural hospital closes a unit, etc. And then it starts really picking up steam. And the challenge is going to be coming back from that. We can see the immediate impact in front of us, but there’s the economic impact that’s going to be longer term. We don’t talk enough about the long-term impact on the child. Right. It’s not just that we’re going to lose this benefit today, it’s going to be the effect on the child as we move forward.

–Moe Hickey, Voices for Utah Children

In this May 13 GLR Learning Tuesdays webinar, a diverse group of policy experts, health care leaders, education advocates, and community voices came together to explore the critical role Medicaid plays in supporting not just children’s health — but their learning and development, their families’ stability, and the foundational systems that serve them. They also highlighted key action steps that can be taken now to ensure that this vital program is sustained and strengthened.

Moderated by Dr. Robert K. Ross, former President and CEO of The California Endowment, the session made clear that Medicaid is far more than a health insurance program. It is a central pillar of educational equity, economic resilience, and community well-being. Dr. Ross grounded the conversation in a powerful historical and moral context, urging participants to see Medicaid as part of the nation’s democratic promise to its children.

Panelists — Paola Andujar of National Association for the Education for Young Children, Anne Dwyer, JD, MP, of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, Moe Hickey of Voices for Utah Children, and The Honorable Jessica Schubel of Day One Strategies — brought deep insights into the consequences of current policy shifts and the opportunity to act now to preserve and improve Medicaid. 

Key themes included:

The Impact of Medicaid Policy on Children’s Health

• Proposed Medicaid cuts could lead to significant coverage losses for children and families, with an estimated 8.6 million people potentially becoming uninsured and coverage losses exceeding 14 million when combined with other ACA provisions.
• Medicaid coverage is correlated with improved educational outcomes. Research shows Medicaid enrollment improves reading scores and future earnings.
• Medicaid covers a significant portion of health services provided in schools and access to these services is linked to improved academic outcomes.

The Broader Implications of Medicaid Funding

• Understanding the economic implications of Medicaid cuts is crucial, as cuts can lead to increased costs for states in other areas, such as emergency care, and long-term economic impacts can affect community stability and growth.
• Cuts to Medicaid can lead to reduced funding for schools and community health programs.
• Reduced Medicaid funding and/or increased administrative burdens not only limit individual access to care, they also threaten the sustainability of early childhood systems, public schools, and community health providers that depend on Medicaid as a reliable funding stream.

Opportunities for Advocacy and Collaboration

Panelists stressed that Medicaid is deeply interconnected with education, economic opportunity, and equity. Advocates, educators, and funders must work in concert to protect and strengthen the program. Examples of activities include:

• Collaborating with other organizations to promote Medicaid’s benefits; educate the public; share resources and information to empower local advocates; and support joint campaigns to enhance visibility and understanding of Medicaid’s role.
• Increasing awareness about the ways Medicaid funding impacts various sectors, including education and health services.
• Encouraging a holistic approach because the health and education systems are interconnected.

The session closed with an urgent message from the panelists: The future of Medicaid is not just a policy debate — it is a defining moment for how we support children and families. To protect this vital infrastructure, coordinated advocacy, informed messaging, and strong local leadership are essential.

If you were able to attend the session, we would love to hear your feedback! We appreciate your help in filling out the following form as we seek to learn and understand the perspectives, ideas, critiques and recommendations that better inform our key audiences.