Health care is lifeline for many

I was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer at just 25, and I rely on Medicaid for my care. So, I’m concerned about proposals the Senate’s considering that would cut Medicaid funding.

Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income children and adults, pregnant women, seniors in nursing homes and people with disabilities. It’s run by Montana and jointly paid for by the state and federal government.

The American Health Care Act would cut Medicaid by more than $880 billion. Medicaid would no longer be a safety net program, with the federal government providing funding in response to state needs. States like Montana would have to come up with the money to cover additional costs, turn people away or make cuts to the people covered by the program.

I know that health coverage is my lifeline, as well as the lifeline for other low-income men, women, children and seniors who rely on Montana’s Medicaid program for cancer screenings and treatments. If that safety net vanishes, we’ll run out of options.

Medicaid funding from the federal government is critical to our state’s economy and it’s vital to the people who rely on Medicaid for coverage. As an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer, I urge Sen. Steve Daines to reconsider any proposal that cuts this economic and health care lifeline to Montana.

Katherine Hosbein,

Missoula