Medicaid Cuts Would Devastate Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Medicaid Cuts Would Devastate Older Adults and People with Disabilities
by Mbacke Thiam

Editor’s note: We have been covering issues related to Medicaid and Medicare, particularly as they affect Staten Islanders.  As Senator Schumer made clear, the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare will affect tens of thousands of low-income residents and senior citizens, as well as children who have lost their parents or who are disabled, across the island and across the country.  Citizen Action of NY has also been sounding the alarm on the devastating effects these cuts would have on members of various communities across New York City. 

Medicaid is not a budget line, for many it is a lifeline. Across New York City, from Staten Island to Greenwich Village and beyond, Medicaid serves as a primary source of insurance for older adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid funding is critical for sustaining long-term services and independence.

There are nearly 7 million New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid, with 4 million individuals living in New York City alone. Medicaid recipients are comprised of older adults, children, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and working adults who have low incomes.

In Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are particularly vital. These services help older adults and people with disabilities live independently in the community instead of nursing homes. These services provide vital support to complete activities of daily living and access to procure workers to provide home-care support. The proposed cuts or drastic changes to the program, many New Yorkers would be at risk of losing their access to these necessary services. These drastic cuts could result in a person with a disability being faced with living in an institution. For some, it is a matter of life and death.

We have seen health care facilities shuttered across the state, including right here in New York City. We have seen rising costs not only in health care, but in every aspect of daily life. All New Yorkers know how difficult it is to find affordable housing. However, New Yorkers with disabilities must identify affordable and accessible housing to address their disability-related needs. Older adults and people with disabilities Facing devastating cuts to Medicaid or the potential of losing full Medicaid coverage is simply not something that these populations can endure.
We need healthcare that is affordable and accessible to all. The proposed Medicaid cuts are not just budget decisions; they are decisions that cut people off from the crucial care they need. We must defend Medicaid and access to health care programs like the Affordable Care Act.

At the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY), we hear from people daily about how access to Medicaid shapes their lives. Many older adults and people with disabilities rely on Medicaid not just for medical treatment, but also assistance navigating complex systems, accessing benefits, and securing accessible housing—which are all essential supports that ensure safety and dignity.

Beyond individual hardship, these cuts would shift pressure onto emergencies and other health care systems. Hospitals and emergency responders would be forced to fill the gap left by waning homecare support. This is not a reasonable option because it is expensive, inefficient and unsustainable.

Medicaid is not a discretionary service; it is a key component to the foundation of New York’s mental and physical healthcare infrastructure. It funds home-care aides, personal attendants, adaptive equipment, and community support. Rollbacks in Medicaid funding will compromise home-based services, widen service gaps, jeopardize health outcomes, and strip independence from older adults and people with disabilities.

Cutting Medicaid is not a fiscal responsibility—it is the dismantling of a safety net built by years of smart investment. Our community deserves better. This is New York, we watch out for each other. Let us stand together to preserve Medicaid which is a cornerstone of care, dignity, and independence for all. Healthcare is a human right!

To help support access to health care, CIDNY is collecting stories from Staten Islanders about what Medicaid and/or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) means to them. If you are a Staten Islander who is a Medicaid or ACA recipient and would like to share how Medicaid benefits you, please share your story with CIDNY at https://forms.office.com/r/3RwK3m6ZtC

Banner Image: Wheelchair. Image Credit – Steven HWG