68 million older adults and people with disabilities rely on Medicare for health coverage. But for over 12 million of them, Medicaid is essential to fill coverage gaps and make Medicare affordable.
Medicaid helps people with Medicare access vital services like dental care, medical equipment (like wheelchairs), transportation to appointments, and long-term care, enabling them to stay healthy and live safely in their communities.
Without Medicaid, many Medicare enrollees—especially those with limited income—would struggle to afford care, risking their health or having to choose between medical care and housing, food and other essentials. Cutting Medicaid would directly harm millions of Medicare enrollees and increase costs for the Medicare program and state budgets.
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
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