Picture this! A student at Alabama State University or Spelman College working hard to keep up with his or her classes, juggling a part time job, and trying to make ends meet. Then, the student is told that he or she makes too much income to receive government assistance. Tuition is a struggle, rent is due, and there are always that stack of textbooks one can barely afford. Despite it all, the student is getting by until suddenly, Medicaid the safety net for so many people, especially in places like Alabama and Georgia gets slashed. No more coverage for the health care that your family relies.
This is not some cut to a government program, it is a full ‘gut punch’ to people’s lives. When Medicaid is taken away, it takes away the little hope so many have left to survive. It is not just a loss for the poor, though. This will hurt everyone, and the effects will be felt across Alabama, Georgia and beyond.
These cuts will not impact everyone equally. In Alabama and Georgia, Black families depend on Medicaid more than many realize. Without it, people in these communities face even worse health outcomes, untreated illnesses and unnecessary suffering. You are talking about families in rural areas who do not have the luxury of many health care options. Take away Medicaid, and these families are left to suffer alone.
What about your grandmother who depends on Medicaid to get her prescriptions, or your aunt who needs home health care? If Medicaid disappears, they will have to fend for themselves. No home health care nurse, no regular checkups, hell no birth control pills.
Think about that single mom in Birmingham. She is working two jobs, barely getting by, trying to provide for her kids. Now, if she loses Medicaid, she has to make an impossible choice, does she buy food for her kids with her food stamps, or does she sell them to pay for the doctor’s visit her child desperately needs? Medicaid is not just health care, it is about keeping people alive. Take that away, and families are left fighting for survival with nothing but their bare hands.
Without Medicaid, families will lose their stability, many will not be able to work, and that means fewer people are contributing to the economy. Local businesses suffer, unemployment rises, and the cycle of poverty gets tighter. The wealthy keep cruising along, unaffected.
I remember when I was a kid, standing in line with my mother at the welfare office. She was upset, and I could feel her frustration in the air. We were waiting to meet with her case manager, but something had changed as our aid had been decreased. My mom was doing her best to make ends meet, but in that moment, I saw how quickly a small reduction in assistance could make a huge difference in our lives. That memory stays with me because it was not just about losing financial support, it was about losing a sense of security and the hope that things might improve.
Students are not immune, let us chat about the students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the South. College is already tough enough, right? Students have textbooks to pay for, rent, and many are working a part time job just to make ends meet and pay off that school balance. Now, a student’s mom or dad, or your grandmother needs health care. If Medicaid is cut, you may have to drop out of school to take care of them. That is the reality for many students who are already living paycheck to paycheck. Without Medicaid, you might have to leave your education behind to care for your loved ones. Taking that away means students are forced to choose between their future and their family’s immediate needs.
Listen, if Medicaid is gone, what do you think happens to health care prices?
Doctors and hospitals will raise their fees to make up for the loss. And who is going to get stuck with the bill? The working class!
There are those who can barely afford health insurance as it is. Here is the real tea, when people get sicker and cannot afford to go to the doctor, they will miss work, school, and will not be able to contribute to the economy. This is not just a loss for the poor, it affects everyone.
Do not forget about programs like Peach Care for Kids and All Kids, which helps thousands of kids in Alabama and Georgia get the health care they need. Without Medicaid, these kids are left without basic health care, missing school more often, and falling behind. That is the future we are talking about here.
And for the students relying on work study programs to help pay for their education? Fewer students in school means fewer people paying taxes, fewer people contributing to the workforce, and fewer dollars going to student aid. The ripple effect is real, and it is coming for everyone.
Maybe there are some students who really believe that that cutting Medicaid does not affect them. But the truth is, it does. Medicaid cuts are not just about health care; they are about the health of your community, your family, and your future. There are small towns in Alabama and Georgia that only exist because of Medicaid. If Medicaid is slashed, your health care costs are going to go up. You are going to pay more in taxes, and your local hospital may disappear. The long term effects are going to hurt us all.
Think about your grandmother, mom and your kids.This is not just some policy, it is about real lives. It is about the people who cannot fight for themselves and who will suffer the most.
Before these cuts happen, ask yourself, what kind of society do we want to be? One that leaves the most vulnerable behind, or one that takes care of each other, no matter how hard things get?
Then protect Medicaid. Let your voices be heard. Write to your congressman and let them know we need Medicaid.