We must do everything we can to protect Medicaid for Michigan kids, who will be undeniably and irreparably harmed by any federal cuts to this critically important program. The stakes have never been higher for Michigan families, and the data speaks volumes about what we stand to lose.
Annie E. Casey Foundation Reveals Critical Healthcare Data
This urgent reality became crystal clear with the recent release of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which provided a comprehensive picture of how kids are faring across our country. The report showed us exactly what is at stake if Michigan children lose their ability to receive quality healthcare through Medicaid coverage.
The Casey Foundation’s comprehensive 50-state report examines 16 indicators within four key domains of child well-being: economic security, education, health, and family and community. These metrics paint a sobering picture of childhood health outcomes and the critical role that Medicaid plays in supporting Michigan families.
Michigan’s Healthcare Rankings Show Promise and Peril
Here in Michigan, the state’s highest ranking continued to be in health at 22nd nationally, thanks in large part to more children having access to health insurance due to continuous enrollment in Medicaid during the pandemic. This improvement represents years of progress that could be completely reversed by proposed federal cuts to the program.
However, recent federal threats to Medicaid, including attempts to dismantle or restrict eligibility in order to provide tax giveaways to the wealthiest Americans, would unravel these substantial improvements. The proposed changes threaten to strip healthcare coverage from hundreds of thousands of Michigan children.
Staggering Numbers Show Medicaid’s Critical Role
The statistics reveal just how dependent Michigan families are on Medicaid coverage. In 2022, an impressive 97.4% of Michigan children ages birth to 18 had health insurance coverage. More striking still, in 2024, 42.8% of all Michigan children ages birth to 18 were enrolled in Medicaid programs. That represents close to half of all Michigan kids relying on this essential safety net.
These numbers become even more significant when we examine rural communities. Medicaid enrollment among children was substantially higher in the Alpena area last year, with coverage rates of 60.8% in Alcona County, 47.4% in Alpena County, 54.4% in Montmorency County, and 44.9% in Presque Isle County.
Rural Communities Face Disproportionate Impact
The federal threats to Medicaid will impact children and families living in every county across Michigan, but they will have an especially devastating impact in rural counties, where significantly more children rely on the program for their fundamental healthcare needs. Rural Michigan families already face unique challenges in accessing quality healthcare, and Medicaid cuts would compound these difficulties exponentially.
The Alpena area’s overall child insurance rate is also lower than the state average, meaning that rate would undoubtedly drop much further if Medicaid coverage were to be stripped away from kids. This creates a dangerous domino effect that would leave countless children without access to preventive care, routine checkups, and emergency medical services.
Healthcare Infrastructure at Risk
Beyond individual coverage, hospitals and other healthcare facilities located in rural areas face greater risk of being forced to close their doors or dramatically reduce their services in the face of Medicaid cuts. Rural healthcare providers tend to rely more heavily on Medicaid funding in order to stay operational and serve their communities effectively.
The closure of these critical facilities would result in significant job losses for healthcare personnel, directly impacting the economic security of families raising children in these communities. Moreover, it would cause major healthcare accessibility issues for patients of all ages, creating healthcare deserts that force families to travel hours for basic medical care.
Maternity Care Crisis Looming
Taking a closer look at childbirth specifically, our latest KIDS COUNT data reveals that 39.2% of all births in Michigan were paid for by Medicaid in 2022. However, in rural areas like the Alpena region, these percentages are substantially higher, demonstrating the program’s outsized importance in these communities.
The percentage of Medicaid-paid births in 2022 were 53.4% in Alcona County, 46.7% in Alpena County, 53.5% in Montmorency County, and 44.1% in Presque Isle County. These numbers underscore how essential Medicaid is for ensuring safe pregnancies and healthy births across rural Michigan.
Maternity Care Deserts Threaten Mothers and Babies
Maternity care deserts — areas where there are no hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care — already exist in many rural areas, including the counties of Alcona and Presque Isle. If cuts to Medicaid are implemented, these deserts could potentially multiply rapidly, resulting in significantly worse health outcomes for both mothers and babies.
According to research from the March of Dimes, women living in maternity care deserts face a 13% higher risk of preterm birth and experience higher rates of inadequate prenatal care. It’s also critically important to note that inadequate prenatal care disproportionately impacts women of color and women with low incomes in these underserved areas.
Economic Consequences Extend Beyond Healthcare
The economic ripple effects of Medicaid cuts would extend far beyond the healthcare sector. When families lose health insurance coverage, they often delay necessary medical care, leading to more expensive emergency room visits and hospitalizations later. This places additional strain on an already stressed healthcare system and drives up costs for everyone.
Small businesses in rural communities also benefit from Medicaid coverage for their employees’ families, as it helps keep overall healthcare costs manageable. Without this safety net, many employers might be forced to reduce benefits or eliminate positions entirely.
Time for Action is Now
The stakes are extraordinarily high right now for all Michiganders, including the youngest among us. Michigan kids have a fundamental right to be able to grow up healthy and strong, but they won’t be able to achieve that if their access to quality healthcare is taken away, all to line the pockets of the richest among us.
It’s not too late to let your voice be heard on this critically important issue. Contact your federal lawmakers today and let them know how important Medicaid is to you, your family, and your community. The future health of Michigan’s children depends on the actions we take right now.
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