Medicaid: The Unsung Hero of American Prosperity

We can all agree that the American Dream rests on the ideals of hard work, opportunity, and prosperity. Yet recent policy proposals threaten these very ideals by aiming to reduce one of America’s economic cornerstones, which fortifies national security and embodies a commitment to our collective wellbeing.

Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Americans (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2025). Its recipients include a newborn in the NICU, a working parent managing chronic illness, a senior citizen receiving long-term care, and a student accessing mental health services. Medicaid is healthcare, and far more. It supports the productivity of millions who contribute daily to our society, protects our national security, and ensures economic growth.

The current domestic policy package, which passed the House and is now being considered by the Senate, aims for $880 billion in budgetary savings by cutting at least $715 billion directly from Medicaid (AP News, 2025). These are not mere budgetary adjustments, but drastic cuts that would strip vital healthcare coverage from millions of working Americans.

But Medicaid is a brilliant investment in our nation’s productivity. By ensuring access to preventive care and chronic disease management, Medicaid keeps Americans healthy, reducing absenteeism and maintaining an elite workforce. Economic analysis by Deloitte shows that investing in health access across the U.S. could add $8 trillion to the GDP by 2050, increasing federal tax revenues by $450 billion and state and local tax revenue by $100 billion more every year (Kellogg Foundation). Conversely, restricting access to essential services increases absenteeism, lowers workforce participation, and drives up long-term healthcare costs, ultimately weakening our national economy.

Medicaid is also a brilliant investment in national security. Our military readiness depends on a healthy, eligible recruitment pool. Yet, HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. recently noted that 74 percent of young people aged 17-24 are ineligible to serve in the military due to chronic illness (First 100 Days). Undermining Medicaid compromises the health of individuals, as well as national resilience and preparedness at a crucial moment in history.

Despite spending more on health care than any other industrialized nation, the United States lags behind its peers in health outcomes (OECD, 2022). Life expectancy is falling, chronic diseases are rising, and access to care remains unequal. This isn’t a resource problem – it’s a distribution problem. Because the differences we see in health outcomes today are driven more by ZIP code than genetic code, reflecting decades of policies that have denied access to preventative healthcare for all.

Medicaid offers a pathway to resolve this.

Addressing budgetary concerns is complex, yet we cannot compromise the long-term health and prosperity of our country for short-term budgetary gains. Rather than weakening Medicaid, we must recognize its value as a brilliant investment. The evidence is clear: proactive healthcare through Medicaid is significantly more cost-effective than treating advanced illnesses in emergency settings (Mathematica, 2025). Strengthening Medicaid supports economic vitality, reduces burdens on healthcare systems, and fosters a more resilient society.

In this critical moment, safeguarding and strengthening Medicaid is not only morally responsible, but economically and strategically necessary. It ensures community health, supports workforce participation, and fortifies our national security. If we genuinely aim to enhance America’s strength and prosperity, we must shift direction. Instead of dismantling Medicaid, let us reinforce this vital program and related community-based health initiatives. We know what works: Medicaid, nutrition support, primary care access, and community-based services.

Now is the time for decisive action. Future generations will need a strong and stable healthcare system for the growth and success of our country. Investing in Medicaid is an investment in America’s long-term stability, economic strength, and the sustained promise of prosperity for all. Every person, in every community, should have the opportunity to live a long, healthy, productive life.

This is how we secure the American Dream, and how we preserve it for the next generation.