Over 7 million seniors rely on Medicaid to cover essential services, like long-term care, medical equipment, hospitalization, and prescription drugs. As the single largest payer to long-term care services in the country, middle-class families depend on Medicaid to help take care of their loved ones. Six in 10 nursing home residents count on Medicaid for the long-term care they need.
But this Medicaid Awareness Month, Trump and Republicans in Congress are continuing their war on health care, cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid to give billionaires and big corporations another tax cut. For seniors, who often live on fixed incomes and face high medical expenses, losing their health care coverage would be catastrophic. The consequences of such severe Republican cuts to Medicaid touch nearly every household in America. Families are being forced to choose between seeing a doctor, filling a prescription, or paying their rent or mortgage. Without Medicaid, millions may be forced to leave their jobs to provide full-time care for an aging parent who can no longer afford their nursing home.
By the Numbers
- Millions of Seniors & Older Americans Rely on Medicaid Coverage. 7.2 million Americans over 65 are enrolled in Medicaid, and more than 11 million Americans ages 50 to 64 have health coverage through Medicaid — thanks to the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.
- 6 to 8 Million Older Adults Live Below the Federal Poverty Level. For millions of seniors and older Americans on fixed incomes, Medicaid is a lifeline to affordable care.
- Medicaid Is the Single Largest Payer to Long-Term Care Services Nationwide. As seniors age, long-term care services become more essential. Medicaid serves about 70 percent of seniors who will need some form of long-term care in their lives.
- 1.4 Million People, Including Seniors, Would Gain Coverage if Remaining States Expanded Medicaid. 17 percent, approximately 238,000, of the uninsured in the coverage gap are people aged 55-64 who face increased health care needs.
- Medicaid Pays for Over 60 Percent of Long-Term Care Residents in Nursing Homes. Medicaid covers nursing home bills for over 60 percent of residents in long-term care, totaling over $64 billion. The median private nursing home room cost over $130,000 yearly in 2026.
- 12 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Also Have Medicaid Coverage. Nearly 9 million of the dual eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries are “full benefit” Medicaid enrollees who have access to a range of Medicaid benefits, not otherwise covered by Medicare.
Seniors and Older Adults Depend on Medicaid for Affordable, Comprehensive Care. As of 2024, approximately 3.1 million adults aged 55 and older are uninsured. Older Americans often have more complex health issues, requiring additional medical attention that is costly, pushing care out of reach. For seniors on Medicare, Medicaid helps fill many of the gaps in Medicare coverage, such as transportation to medical appointments and medical equipment.
Trump Is Making It Financially Impossible for Family Members to Take Care of Their Loved Ones. Medicaid’s long-term services and support (LTSS) programs play a critical role in compensating caregivers for the care they provide. Medicaid is the single largest payer for long-term care services nationwide. As seniors age, long-term care services become more essential. 70 percent of seniors receive home-based care. 47 states and the District of Columbia have programs to provide payment to caregivers through Medicaid waivers or state plan options. These generally come in the form of hourly wages or daily stipends comparable to those of other direct care providers. These programs are commonly available to people caring for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, seniors, and people with physical disabilities. However, Republicans passed the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, which will result in reductions in these programs. The implementation of these cuts will be devastating to families across the country that rely on LTSS programs to make ends meet while caring for an older or disabled family member.
Medicaid Supplements Medicare Coverage for Millions of Seniors. 12 million seniors are eligible Medicare-Medicaid dual beneficiaries. Nearly 9 million are “full benefit” Medicaid enrollees who have access to a range of Medicaid benefits, not otherwise covered by Medicare. More than half of dual enrollees are seniors of color, and nearly half of dual enrollees suffer from long-term disabilities.
Medicaid Helps Seniors and Older Americans Stay Retired and Out of Poverty. Many seniors and older Americans survive on low incomes or have chronic health conditions that prohibit them from working. Medicaid allows individuals living on fixed incomes or who have chronic health problems to continue getting the care they need by filling the gaps in their Medicare coverage without having to worry about choosing between food and housing or their health. Medicaid has long been considered one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the nation, and its expansion has significantly improved health outcomes for seniors and older adults. In a nation where 4 in 10 adults report having medical debt, Medicaid serves as a lifeline not only for health care, but for economic stability as Americans age. A January 2021 study from Health Affairs found that the ACA helped reduce income inequality across the board, but much more dramatically in Medicaid expansion states.
Low-Income Seniors With Medicare Depend on Medicaid for Long-Term Care. It is estimated that 70 percent of seniors will need long-term care at some point, and over 60 percent of nursing facility residents utilize Medicaid to receive their care. Medicaid is a critical provider of home- and community-based care, essential to keeping loved ones at home with their families and neighbors. Without Medicaid, many seniors would not be able to afford these needed services with Medicare alone. 80 percent of individuals in nursing facilities covered by Medicaid were dually eligible, with Medicaid covering costs once Medicare benefits have been depleted.
Hundreds of Thousands of Seniors Are Stuck in the Medicaid Coverage Gap. 10 states have refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), stranding many seniors with low incomes in the Medicaid coverage gap. 17 percent, approximately 238,000, of the uninsured in the coverage gap are people aged 55-64 who face increased health care needs. Over half of these individuals reside in Texas or Florida.
