Having worked as a licensed psychologist at Primary Children’s for 40 years, specializing in working with children with chronic medical problems, I am very concerned about possible cuts to Medicaid.
In 2023, 35.7% of children aged 19 and under in the U.S. had Medicaid health insurance, and this share was slightly higher in comparison to the previous years.
Cutting Medicaid would deny coverage to many of these children. Not only would this show a lack of compassion for innocent children, there would be many other costs to our country.
Children who are denied coverage would experience worse health outcomes, including impact to their mental health, which could affect their ability to be productive members of society as adults. The families are also likely to compile medical debt that they are unable to pay, increasing the costs of health care for the country overall.
It is also important to continue to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) for the same reasons. Life for children does not end after conception.
Nancy Cantor, Salt Lake City
