Medicaid Awareness Month
Republicans slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid to give tax breaks to billionaires. 7.5 million Americans are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage — and 2 million have already been cut. It's time to fight back.
Republicans slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
7.5 million Americans are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, including seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Nearly 800 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other critical providers are closing, cutting services, or at risk of closing.
Health care for 68 million Americans
Medicaid is one of the largest and most important health programs in the United States. It covers children, seniors, people with disabilities, mothers, rural families, and working households.
It funds mental health care, substance use treatment, long-term care, and hospitals in every community — especially in rural areas where it is often the only lifeline.
Learn More About Medicaid
What's at stake
Republicans slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid to fund tax breaks for billionaires. The consequences are devastating.
Coverage Ripped Away
7.5 million Americans — including seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities — are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, and 2 million have already been cut since the Big, Ugly Bill passed.
Hospitals Closing
More than 370 hospitals, 570 nursing homes, and hundreds of clinics face closure, forcing communities to travel further for emergency care.
The 'Sick Tax'
Over 20 million Medicaid recipients face new bills every time they see a doctor for cancer, diabetes, or other serious illnesses.
Seniors Hit Hardest
Low-income seniors are forced to pay thousands more each year as premiums and out-of-pocket costs rise.
Red Tape Barriers
New bureaucratic requirements make it harder to enroll in Medicaid, while generating billions in tax breaks for the wealthy.
Rural Communities Devastated
Rural hospitals that rely on Medicaid are shutting down, leaving entire communities without emergency rooms and maternity care.
Medicaid is essential care people depend on to stay healthy and live with dignity.
Families across the country are in crisis — losing access to care, facing longer waits, forced to choose between health and paying bills. Seniors, children, people with disabilities, and caregivers are paying the price.
Stand Up for MedicaidFour weeks, four fights
Each week of Medicaid Awareness Month 2026 shines a light on the Americans who depend on Medicaid — and are threatened by Republican cuts.
Hospitals are closing.
Communities are suffering.
Protect Our Care is tracking every hospital, clinic, and nursing home closing or cutting services due to Medicaid cuts. The toll is growing every week.
Explore the Full TrackerHospitals Threatened with Closure
Emergency rooms, maternity wards, and trauma centers shutting down
Nursing Homes at Risk
Seniors face displacement from the facilities they call home
Clinics Cutting Services
Communities losing access to primary care, mental health, and more
New closures and service cuts are being reported daily across the country
Medicaid provides health care to nearly 70 million Americans — though 2 million have already lost coverage since the GOP passed their Big, Ugly Bill.
Over 370 hospitals that rely on Medicaid funding to keep their doors open are threatened with closure.
More than 570 nursing homes face potential closure, putting seniors and people with disabilities at risk.
Over 20 million people on Medicaid face new bills each time they see a doctor for cancer, diabetes, or other illnesses.
Medicaid changed their lives
“Medicaid has saved my life multiple times. At one point, I had pneumonia for six months because I didn't have Medicaid. I became homeless for a time trying to pay off the medical debt. I was homeless for six months while working full time.”
Your Voice Matters
Medicaid is essential care that people depend on to stay healthy and live with dignity. Tell Congress to protect Medicaid.
Share your Medicaid story
Personal stories are the most powerful tool to protect Medicaid. When lawmakers hear from real people about how Medicaid has changed their lives, it changes the conversation.
Whether Medicaid helped you get through a tough time, covered your child's care, or kept your family healthy — your experience matters.
Share Your StoryA campaign of
Protect Our Care fights to make quality, affordable health care accessible to every American. Medicaid Awareness Month is one of our signature campaigns, now in its ninth year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about Medicaid Awareness Month and the threats to coverage.
Medicaid Awareness Month takes place every April to educate the public about Medicaid — one of the largest and most important health programs in the United States. Launched in 2018 by Protect Our Care, it highlights the vital role Medicaid plays in providing coverage to nearly 70 million Americans, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and working families.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state health insurance program that provides free or low-cost coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities. It is the single largest source of health coverage in the United States, covering 68 million people as of November 2025 — down roughly 2 million since the GOP passed their Big, Ugly Bill. Medicaid funds mental health care, substance use treatment, long-term care, and hospitals in every community, especially in rural areas.
In their reconciliation bill, Republicans cut over $1 trillion from Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations. These cuts put 7.5 million Americans at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, threaten to close more than 370 hospitals, 570 nursing homes, and hundreds of clinics across the country, and impose a "sick tax" on over 20 million people — hitting them with new bills each time they see a doctor. Already, 2 million people have lost Medicaid coverage since the Big, Ugly Bill passed.
The so-called "sick tax" refers to new cost-sharing requirements that Republicans imposed on people enrolled in Medicaid. Over 20 million people now face new bills each time they see a doctor for cancer, diabetes, or other illnesses. These costs, while they may seem small, can be devastating for people living on low incomes and may cause them to delay or avoid necessary medical care.
Medicaid is a critical funding source for hospitals, especially in rural areas. Republican cuts threaten to shutter over 370 hospitals, 570 nursing homes, and hundreds of clinics across the country. When these facilities close, entire communities lose access to emergency rooms, maternity care, and other essential services, forcing people to travel long distances for basic medical care.
You can make your voice heard by contacting your members of Congress and telling them to oppose Medicaid cuts. Share facts about Medicaid on social media, attend local events during Medicaid Awareness Month, and share your personal story about how Medicaid has helped you or your family. Visit our Take Action page for specific steps you can take right now.
Medicaid Awareness Month was launched in 2018 by Protect Our Care, a health care advocacy organization dedicated to making quality, affordable health care accessible to every American. April 2026 marks the ninth annual Medicaid Awareness Month.
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April Is Medicaid Awareness Month
Join Protect Our Care in standing up for the 68 million Americans who depend on Medicaid.