DES MOINES, IA – Today, Iowans impacted by skyrocketing health care costs joined a press call alongside Fairness for Iowa, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, and Unrig Our Economy to highlight how insufficient the Trump administration’s health care ‘rebate checks’ are in combatting skyrocketing health care costs. On the call, speakers highlighted how Medicaid cuts from the Republican Tax Law and the elimination of ACA tax credits will continue to raise costs on families. They argue that one-time checks are wholly insufficient to tackle the growing affordability crisis in health care, groceries, gas, and other necessities.
During the call, Iowans who rely on Medicaid and other health coverage shared how rising medical costs are already straining their household budgets, what health care cuts could mean for their families, and why one-time checks are no substitute for affordable, reliable health coverage. Speakers also highlighted that Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03) supported many of these policies, and they discussed the broader consequences of these policies for Iowa families, hospitals, and rural communities.
Watch the full press call here
“Due to my condition, I rely on 24/7 care and 100% assistance with all aspects of daily living. We have relied on home-based community services through Medicaid to hire caregivers,” said Drew Carfrae, a Medicaid recipient. “Because of these cuts, we’ve had to lay off the caregivers that allowed me to have some form of independence, and also allowed for us to lift some of the weight off of my mother's shoulders. Because of these cuts, she has had to quit her job to care for me full time. The last thing we need is more cuts.”
“Medicaid cuts are not just budget decisions; They have real-life consequences for people and the people who depend on those services to build skills or maintain their independence and live successfully in their homes and communities,” said Mackenzi Mellhone, a human services professional. “The cuts and policies are just further destabilizing the system that's already struggling, and it's leaving vulnerable Iowans and individuals with fewer options for care and support. Because without a strong, sustainable Medicaid program, we risk losing more providers, which we already lack, and we're leaving an entire population without access to care to be successful.”
“When you cut health care coverage, you don't cut the health care needs. You shift the burden onto patients, nurses, and an already strained health care system. Cuts to Medicaid and to the Affordable Care Act don't exist on a spreadsheet. They affect real people: our parents, our grandparents, our children, our neighbors, and the patients we care for every day,” said Abby Butler, registered nurse and member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). “We want a health care system that puts patients before profits, and prevention before crisis, and safe staffing before cost cutting, because health care should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it, and nurses should not have to watch preventable suffering become the price of a policy decision. When health care coverage is cut, patients pay the price, nurses witness the consequences, and our entire health care system bears the cost.”
“Over the course of a year, I’ve had probably six primary care providers. Before, my primary care was right here in Ottumwa, but now I have to drive over 20 miles to receive basic care. I'm currently waiting for referrals to specialists because I've had specialists also leave. So I will be driving at a minimum an hour away to see each specialist,” said Lori Benge, a Medicaid recipient. “It's not just my family dealing with this. A lot of families here in Iowa are struggling. Every Iowa citizen needs to have accessible, affordable health care.”
“I am a mom of a child with intellectual disabilities. She passed away in 2018. I say that because I knew firsthand how important Medicaid is to so many Iowans. Right now, my heart hurts,” said Pam Jochum, former State Senator and Board Member of Crescent Community Health Center. “Iowans, in my humble opinion, are getting a double whammy: first privatization, and now the cuts under the big beautiful bill to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. My heart just simply hurts on what's happening to so many people, not just in Iowa, but across this country.”
“The Republican Tax Law’s cuts to Medicaid and the expiration of the enhanced ACA tax credits will leave families paying more and facing difficult choices between health care and other necessities,” said Amy Adams, Fairness for Iowa Partnerships Director. “The administration's one-time checks for some Americans can't compete with the thousands of dollars in rising costs families are facing, thanks to policies that Representatives Miller- Meeks, and Nunn supported. The Republican Tax Law’s cuts to Medicaid and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits are putting families in dire situations. They're having to choose between groceries, gas, and health care. This is not the Iowa that we want for a healthy state.”
“Today’s speakers highlight an obvious truth – one-time checks cannot replace a truly affordable health care system,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “Thousands of Iowans have been struggling to afford their basic medical needs, including prescriptions, routine visits to the doctor, and more. Many have been forced to choose between medical care and other essentials such as putting food on the table. It’s an untenable position that no one should be in. However, thanks to Medicaid cuts from the Republican Tax Law and the elimination of ACA tax credits, it is the reality that far too many Iowans now face.”