Understanding Proposed Cuts to Medicaid and How You Can Make a Difference

Medicaid is a federal program that provides funding to states to help run health insurance programs for people who would otherwise have a hard time affording health care. In California, that includes Medi-Cal, which provides health coverage for children and adults with disabilities whose income is below a certain level. Individuals with disabilities who qualify for a waiver program can also get Medi-Cal coverage.

California uses money from taxes plus federal Medicaid funds to pay for Medi-Cal and other disability support programs, so if federal funding is cut, the state has to decide whether to raise taxes to make up the difference or to offer fewer services.

In February 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a plan that would cut $1.5 to $2 trillion in federal spending over the next 10 years, including $880 billion from Medicaid and $230 billion from food assistance programs. The U.S. Senate is also considering the House’s plan to cut federal spending. Congress may use terms like “work requirements,” “per capita caps,” “block grants,” and “reduce matching rate” to describe cuts that will affect Medicaid funding.

Carruthers says these cuts would affect a stunning 43% of Californians who participate in Medicaid-funded programs, including Medi-Cal, Covered California health insurance, Regional Centers, IHSS, WIC, CalFresh, and foster care.

Although these cuts have been voted on, there are still multiple steps before being officially implemented, as Carruthers showed us:

What this means is that there is still time to make an impact at the federal level! Families who rely on programs funded by Medicaid have time to communicate to policymakers why these programs matter and why Congress should act to protect Medicaid funding. “Your representatives need to know how Medicaid helps you and your family, and what it would mean to your life if the services and supports are reduced or stopped,” Carruthers says.

You can also reach out directly to the congresspeople who represent your family and tell them your story. Look up your senators and representatives here. Carruthers says, “You are helping your representative understand the impact of their decisions. Elected officials remember the people they meet and their stories.” We’ve prepared a list of practical steps you can take to help advocate for your child’s rights and tell your family’s story to people in power, whether you have three minutes or thirty.

A written letter or a phone call is a great way to tell your assigned representative how Medicaid cuts would affect your family, but Carruthers also recommends setting up an in-person or online meeting to really make an impact. Use this link to find their office phone number and ask for an appointment.

Here are Carruthers’ tips for a successful meeting:

• Prepare ahead what you will say. You can use the “Tell your Medicaid story” template above to write out your talking points for the meeting.
• Be on time (but understand that you may have to wait).
• Start on a positive note: “I deeply appreciate your support of people with disabilities” or “Thank you for your support for Californians.”
• Stay focused on one topic: your Medicaid story.
• Keep the meeting short; you should aim to tell your story in about five minutes.
• Be ready to answer their questions.
• If you’re meeting with a staff member and not your representative directly, ask how long it will take to get your feedback to the representative.
• End by thanking them for their time and for considering protecting Medicaid.

Although we’re not certain how the proposed cuts would affect Regional Center, Medi-Cal, and IHSS if implemented, we know that it’s vital to make our voices heard on behalf of our families and our children.

Thank you to Aaron Carruthers for sharing his expertise during our event. You can watch the replay here.