The branding of Medicaid
Let’s call Medicaid by its real name.
“While 80 million Americans are insured through Medicaid, many people don’t think of themselves as “on Medicaid” — even when they are.
“Why? Because Medicaid is not branded as Medicaid in most states. If you tell a patient in South Carolina they might lose Medicaid, their eyes may glaze over. Tell them Healthy Connections is at risk? You have their attention. In Tennessee, Medicaid is TennCare and in Ohio it is the Buckeye Health Plan. In Florida, Medicaid sounds like an orange juice brand: Simply Healthcare. (Seriously, it feels like that moniker should have an exclamation point behind it.)
“Adding to the confusion, many states offer Medicaid coverage contracted through private companies. These types of plans are state-funded, private insurance-branded programs (called managed care organizations) often featuring actual private insurance logos, a fact that further distances them from their federally funded origin. No wonder Tennesseans shrug when we talk about Medicaid recipients. They don’t think, or even know, they are one. And if they do not know the issue applies to them, they may be less likely to oppose cuts.”
The Congressional GOP is planning $2.3 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade. Wonder how many voters in red states realize that the folks they elected will be cutting off medical insurance for themselves or their friends and loved ones.
Voters will be blindsided by GOP Medicaid cuts
“While 80 million Americans are insured through Medicaid, many people don’t think of themselves as “on Medicaid” — even when they are.
“Why? Because Medicaid is not branded as Medicaid in most states. If you tell a patient in South Carolina they might lose Medicaid, their eyes may glaze over. Tell them Healthy Connections is at risk? You have their attention. In Tennessee, Medicaid is TennCare and in Ohio it is the Buckeye Health Plan. In Florida, Medicaid sounds like an orange juice brand: Simply Healthcare. (Seriously, it feels like that moniker should have an exclamation point behind it.)
“Adding to the confusion, many states offer Medicaid coverage contracted through private companies. These types of plans are state-funded, private insurance-branded programs (called managed care organizations) often featuring actual private insurance logos, a fact that further distances them from their federally funded origin. No wonder Tennesseans shrug when we talk about Medicaid recipients. They don’t think, or even know, they are one. And if they do not know the issue applies to them, they may be less likely to oppose cuts.”
The Congressional GOP is planning $2.3 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade. Wonder how many voters in red states realize that the folks they elected will be cutting off medical insurance for themselves or their friends and loved ones.
Voters will be blindsided by GOP Medicaid cuts
If some of the anecdotal reactions of MAGA to their relatives being fired is any indication, they will be cheering the cuts as their children die.
As long as the people they hate are hurt they will not care. These people are completely out of touch with the social contract.
Anything shy of healthcare for all is flawed and will cost more money in the end as they lose control of it. It will end up with hospitals picking up the tab with little resource to collect payment. If they turn away a patient and the person die, the outcome will be borne by the facility rejecting the needed care.
This played out in low income or no-income areas of the nation previously. Minorities were recipients of the worst healthcare due to cost and their low income.
Timeline of Healthcare over the years Just more information in a timeline.
A (Brief) History of Health Policy in the United States/