The New York Times wrote about Medicaid’s history, breadth, and importance in an article about the recent defeat of the plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. California’s Medicaid program is called “Medi-Cal,” covering around 14 million Californians.
Medicaid now provides medical care to four out of 10 American children. It covers the costs of nearly half of all births in the United States. It pays for the care for two-thirds of people in nursing homes. And it provides for 10 million children and adults with physical or mental disabilities. For states, it accounts for 60 percent of federal funding — meaning that cuts hurt not only poor and middle-class families caring for their children with autism or dying parents, but also bond ratings.
