Written by Lara Kassel, Coordinator for Medicaid Matters New York
Medicaid – the public health insurance program providing coverage to people with low income and people with disabilities – was signed into federal law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed it into state law the following year. Since that time, New York State has administered a robust, comprehensive Medicaid program, now providing health insurance coverage for approximately seven million New Yorkers statewide. Here are a few of the New Yorkers who have health insurance coverage through Medicaid. Many of us know a child, parent, grandparent, or neighbor covered by Medicaid.
Over the years, New York’s Medicaid program has seen many changes and expansions. New York has a rich history of maintaining a comprehensive program, providing program options and benefits other states do not. These include prescription drugs, dental care, home care, and more. It is hard to imagine a Medicaid program that wouldn’t cover these essential services.
2025: Medicaid Under Threat
The 60th anniversary of Medicaid finds us in a troubling time – Congress has passed and the President has signed H.R.1 (the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill”) that will deliver massive, devastating cuts to state Medicaid programs in order to pay for tax breaks for wealthy people and big corporations. The massive budget reconciliation package will shift billions of dollars in Medicaid costs to states and local governments. Any way you slice it, the hit to New York’s state and local budgets will be enormous.
Medicaid fuels the health care delivery system, helping New York’s hospitals, health centers, mental health services, maternity care, and rehab services keep the lights on and ensuring that doctors, nurses, and therapists are there when we need them. The fiscal impact of these changes will require revamping the way New York funds health care. Access to care in the hardest to reach areas will be most at risk.
The direct human impact of federal funding reductions, however, will be loss of insurance coverage in both Medicaid and the Essential Plan. The congressional budget plan relies on people losing coverage through paperwork barriers and other red tape. People will become uninsured, not because their income disqualifies them, but because they didn’t fill out the right form or send it back in time.
Protecting Medicaid Now and Into the Future
Housed at Schuyler Center, Medicaid Matters New York has been collecting stories from people who have Medicaid for their health insurance coverage, amplifying the importance of the program to their lives. Medicaid is a safety net for New Yorkers across the state, like Katy in the Capital Region who says “My health care was covered by Medicaid during two periods in my life… it made it so I could take care of my health, get prescription medications, and maintain relationships with doctors while looking for work… it was there, it was comprehensive, and it kept me going.”
Medicaid is a federal-state partnership – that partnership is integral to the program’s design. As we mark Medicaid’s 60th anniversary, we must set our sights on protecting the program for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid for their health, well-being, and independence.
Medicaid Matters to Roy Probeyahn
“The first time my bride Arleen, may she Rest In Peace, and I heard the word Autism was in late 1963, 62 years ago. High school sweethearts, we had been married just two years, and our eldest son Roy was but a year old. Yet, we would go on to learn that ultimately all three of our beloved sons—Roy Jr., Mike, and Glenn had— Autism. We later learned we are a Fragile X Syndrome family. We made another vow to each other; our sons are going to live in their own home with us for the rest of their lives. We did just that.
Under the Medicaid waiver, we were the first family in New York State to receive residential services, for disabled adult children living at home. Our sons relied on Medicaid their entire lives, for acute medical, as they were afflicted with many unique and challenging health issues, some life-threatening, involving hospitalizations of all three. Medicaid enabled our youngest Glenn to gain employment with a job coach. He completed 20 quarters of employment and qualified for Social Security.
As they aged, they required additional residential services through Medicaid, as their needs increased and became more complex. Medicaid was and is an essential part of the safe and secure quality of life they required.”
– Roy Probeyahn, Manorville NY
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