Medicaid & CHIP
What are Medicaid and CHIP?
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are means-tested programs jointly financed by states and the federal government. They are one of the largest payers for healthcare in the United States.
The federal government provides the majority of the funding and sets parameters that all states must meet, while the states each administer their own Medicaid and CHIP programs.
Medicaid currently provides healthcare coverage for over 72 million Americans, giving low-income and rural patients access to critical primary and specialty care. The program also covers over 40% of births and nearly 65% of nursing home residents. The program is the largest single payer of long-term care services and support (LTSS) in the United States. In short, millions of Americans rely on Medicaid.
CHIP is a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance to eligible children and pregnant women in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. The program is managed by states according to federal requirements. In October 2024, over 7 million people were enrolled in CHIP.
But the programs aren’t just integral for patients, Medicaid and CHIP also account for 19% of hospital revenues as well as 18% of healthcare spending overall.
The bottom line:
- Medicaid and CHIP provide healthcare coverage for almost 80 million Americans
- The programs give low-income patients access to critical primary and specialty care
- Medicaid is the main financing mechanism for LTSS
- Funding for Medicaid and CHIP directly impact nursing jobs and patient access to care
Resources
- H.R. 1 Summary – One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Why Medicaid Matters – One-Pager
- Understanding Medicaid and CHIP: A Comprehensive Overview
- Advocate for Medicaid
- Blog – What is Medicaid, and why does it matter to nurses?
Coalition Work
Medicaid and the States
States each administer their own Medicaid program.
Not all states refer to their Medicaid and CHIP programs the same. For example, Hawaii’s is named ‘Hawaii QUEST Integration’ while Oklahoma’s is ‘SoonerCare’. Learn what your state calls their program -> HERE
Medicaid Expansion:
Under the Affordable Care Act, states can expand Medicaid coverage to adults and families who make more money than the poverty line threshold. When states do this, the federal government pays a bigger share of the healthcare costs for the expanded population.
Ten states have not expanded their Medicaid programs: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Nurse testimonials
“As an Intensive Care Unit Nurse Manager at a safety-net hospital, I see firsthand how essential Medicaid is—not just for keeping my patients alive, but for ensuring the survival of our hospital and the health of our entire community.”
“As a nurse practitioner for 17 years and a registered nurse for 27 years, I work in the heartland of this great country. Rural citizens need continued access to healthcare… funding cuts could decimate rural healthcare throughout the Midwest and across this great nation.”
“Reductions to Medicaid will directly impact my residents at a skilled nursing facility who are without any other income and unable to take care of themselves. These real elderly people deserve to be cared for…”
“As a Geriatric Nurse, Medicaid is the only funding many seniors have at end of life. Without Medicaid providing health care many seniors would suffer!”
“I am a nurse practitioner at a federally qualified health center. I am privileged to see lives changed through access to care and Medicaid. If funding is cut it will increase the burden on hospitals and create more expense overall.”
Take Action!
Share your Story
How has Medicaid impacted your practice, community, and patients? Share your story today!
Contact your Representative
Protect Americans’ access to healthcare, urge your representatives to defend Medicaid and prevent funding cuts!