# Medicaid Awareness Month

> Medicaid Awareness Month is an annual April campaign by Protect Our Care to educate the public about Medicaid and fight back against cuts to the program.

## About This Site

Medicaid Awareness Month (medicaidawareness.com) is the official campaign site for Medicaid Awareness Month, launched in 2018 by Protect Our Care. April 2026 marks the ninth annual campaign.

## What Is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state health insurance program that provides coverage to nearly 70 million Americans (68 million as of November 2025). It covers children, seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and working families. Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the United States. It funds mental health care, substance use treatment, long-term care, and hospitals in every community.

## The 2026 Crisis

In their reconciliation bill (the "Big, Ugly Bill"), Republicans cut over $1 trillion from Medicaid to fund tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations. The consequences:

- 7.5 million Americans are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage
- 2 million people have already lost coverage since the bill passed
- 370+ hospitals are threatened with closure
- 570+ nursing homes are at risk
- Hundreds of clinics face service cuts
- Over 20 million Medicaid recipients face a "sick tax" — new bills every time they see a doctor
- Low-income seniors face thousands more per year in premiums and out-of-pocket costs

## Weekly Themes for April 2026

- April 1-10: Hospitals in Crisis — How Medicaid cuts are forcing hospitals and clinics to close
- April 13-17: Women, Moms & People of Color — Disproportionate impacts on these communities
- April 20-24: People with Disabilities — Medicaid's role as the foundation of independent living
- April 27-May 1: Seniors — How cuts affect older Americans who depend on Medicaid for nursing home care

## Key Facts

- Medicaid covers nearly 50% of all births in the United States
- Medicaid is the #1 funder of long-term care, covering approximately 62% of nursing home stays
- Medicaid is the primary funder of home and community-based services for people with disabilities
- Communities of color rely on Medicaid at higher rates due to systemic inequities

## About Protect Our Care

Protect Our Care is a health care advocacy organization dedicated to making quality, affordable health care accessible to every American. They launched Medicaid Awareness Month in 2018.

- Website: https://protectourcare.org
- Hospital Crisis Watch Tracker: https://www.protectourcare.org/hospital-crisis-watch/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/protectourcare
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protect.our.care/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@protectourcare
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wN2qaaPxir78tQjMtZpYQ
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/protectourcare.org

## Site Pages

- Home: https://medicaidawareness.com/
- About: https://medicaidawareness.com/about
- Take Action: https://medicaidawareness.com/take-action
- Share Your Story: https://medicaidawareness.com/share-your-story
- Hospitals in Crisis (Week 1): https://medicaidawareness.com/hospitals-in-crisis
- Women, Moms & People of Color (Week 2): https://medicaidawareness.com/women-moms-people-of-color
- People with Disabilities (Week 3): https://medicaidawareness.com/people-with-disabilities
- Seniors (Week 4): https://medicaidawareness.com/seniors

## How to Take Action

1. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge your representatives to oppose Medicaid cuts
2. Share facts about Medicaid on social media using #MedicaidAwarenessMonth and #ProtectMedicaid
3. Share your personal Medicaid story at https://medicaidawareness.com/share-your-story
4. Attend local events and town halls during April

## Contact

For press inquiries or partnership opportunities, contact Protect Our Care at https://protectourcare.org