Medicaid Cuts Threaten Primary Care Continuity and Raise U.S. Health Costs

Recent research highlights the critical importance of continuous health insurance coverage in maintaining stable connections between patients and primary care providers, which is essential for effective preventive care and managing chronic conditions, especially among adults aged 50 and older. Disruptions in coverage, due to job loss, changes in eligibility, or affordability issues, sever these connections and result in fewer routine checkups, missed screenings, and delayed diagnoses that elevate health risks and increase emergency care use. The Affordable Care Act significantly reduced the uninsured rate in the U.S., with notable health improvements for those gaining coverage, particularly midlife adults. Analysis of longitudinal data from over 12,000 older adults showed that discontinuity in care correlates with poorer clinical outcomes, including worsened blood pressure, blood sugar, and kidney function markers. Preventive services like cholesterol screenings and cancer exams are nearly three times more likely to be accessed by individuals maintaining consistent care relationships through stable insurance. This ongoing access not only benefits patient health but translates into lowered healthcare spending; those with regular providers were 38% less likely to incur above-average costs. Loss of insurance coverage leads to increased emergency room visits for avoidable issues, shifting costs onto hospitals, private insurers, and taxpayers. Medicaid, serving nearly 80 million Americans primarily with low incomes or disabilities, underpins this care continuity, helping prevent costly crisis-driven health scenarios. Proposed Medicaid funding cuts threaten to disrupt these patient-provider relationships and could reverse gains in health outcomes and cost savings, emphasizing the broader implications of legislative decisions on the U.S. healthcare system's stability and efficiency.