Medicaid Matters
NAVIGATING HEALTHCARE
Medicaid Matters for Families in Minnesota
Over 43% of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) under age 18 rely on Medicaid. This vital program helps families access the care, therapies, and medicines their children need to thrive.
Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) have a wide range of chronic illnesses and/or disabilities, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, asthma, or autism. Nearly 20% of U.S. children (14.6 million) have special health care needs. For many of these children, Medicaid is the only source of coverage, or it supplements private insurance to cover essential services like medical equipment, therapies, and medications.
Medicaid is more than insurance – it is a lifeline. It allows children with special health care needs to access the therapies, medications, and equipment they need to thrive, while supporting families’ financial stability and ability to work. Ensuring these protections remain is critical for the health and well-being of Minnesota’s children and families.
Quick Statistics
- 43% of CYSHCN in Minnesota are covered by Medicaid
- 36% rely solely on Medicaid
- 8.2% use Medicaid to supplement private insurance
- 23.9% of families have stopped or reduced work
- 23.1% of families experience financial hardship
Why Medicaid is Critical
SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
- About 36% of CYSHCN rely solely on Medicaid for necessary services.
- Another 8.2% use Medicaid to supplement private insurance coverage.
- Medicaid helps families afford care, often saving them from bankruptcy.
- Medicaid allows parents to continue working by providing home health care when children have serious medical needs.
REAL-LIFE IMPACT OF MEDICAID
- Santina, Pennsylvania: A teen with Rett Syndrome and epilepsy could lose access to medication, and her single mother might have to quit her two jobs without Medicaid’s home health support.
- Joshua, Oregon: His life-saving liver transplant was funded by Medicaid; without it, his family couldn’t afford his 22 daily medications.
- Jason, Ohio: A child with severe developmental delays could lose early intervention therapies critical to walking, speaking, and using his hands.
How Medicaid Affects Minnesota Families
WORK AND EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS
- 23.9% of Minnesota families of CYSHCN have stopped working or reduced work hours due to their child’s health needs (NS-CSHCN 2009/10).
- Families of children with functional limitations are most affected (56.7%).
- Minnesota ranks 5th nationally for families of children with functional limitations who reduce work hours or stop working.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS
- 23.1% of Minnesota families of CYSHCN experience financial problems due to their child’s health needs, up from 19.5% in 2001.
- Families of children with functional, emotional, developmental, or behavioral conditions are particularly likely to face financial challenges.
Medicaid is essential. It protects the health of vulnerable children and the well-being of their families. These protections must be preserved.
THE THREAT OF MEDICAID CUTS
Why Cuts Put Children and Families at Risk
- Federal Medicaid caps would push states to cut coverage or reduce reimbursement for critical services and medications.
- Cost sharing could make care unaffordable for children with the highest medical needs.
- Cutting reimbursement to pediatric specialists or hospitals would reduce access to qualified providers.
- Families may be forced out of the workforce to provide care, risking financial stability.
- State and local governments could face higher costs due to uncompensated care and increased emergency room use.
