Did You Know? (May 17, 2025)

Every one of us will be hurt by the Medicaid cuts included in the Federal budget proposed by Congressional Republicans.  You might be thinking, “I’m not on Medicaid (AHCCCS in Arizona); so it won’t affect me.”  However, the story of my nephew Liam (not his real name) is a cautionary tale of unexpected illness and the need for safety nets.

Liam has worked mainly in the restaurant industry since he was a teen. Not uncommon in the restaurant world, he was laid off a few months ago.  Wanting to support his wife and child, he searched for a new job but became ill.  Lack of insurance led him to delay seeing a doctor, but a burst appendix finally sent him to the hospital, where they also found he had a cancerous tumor.  Luckily, the hospital found he was eligible for Medicaid in his state, and he was given the surgery and treatment he needed.  I’m so grateful and happy to say Liam appears to be doing well now and has a new job.

Under the new Republican budget proposal, Liam would not qualify due to being an “able-bodied” person.  He also wouldn’t be able to pay the bill; so the medical providers would have to write it off.  They, in turn, must raise the amount they charge the rest of us to cover their costs – or go out of business, especially common in rural areas.  It starts a cycle of decreasing medical providers, higher medical costs, and higher insurance rates for businesses and all of us as individuals.

For more information, read the Arizona Chamber Foundation’s article “New Economic Analysis Warns of Significant Job Losses, Higher Health Care Costs if Federal Medicaid Cuts Move Forward.”

Marian Hill