Anne Kuhnen

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.

That was one of my key takeaways from the recent release of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which provided a clear picture of how kids are faring across our country and showed us exactly what is at stake if they lose their ability to receive quality health care.

The Casey Foundation’s 50-state report examines 16 indicators within four key domains of child well-being: economic security, education, health, and family and community. Here in Michigan, the state’s highest ranking continued to be in health at 22nd thanks in large part to more children having access to health insurance due to continuous enrollment in Medicaid during the pandemic. However, recent federal threats to Medicaid, including attempts to dismantle or restrict eligibility in order to give tax giveaways to the wealthiest of Americans, would unravel these substantial improvements.

In 2022, 97.4% of Michigan children ages birth to 18 had health insurance, and, in 2024, 42.8% of all Michigan children ages birth to 18 were enrolled in Medicaid. That is close to half of all Michigan kids. Medicaid enrollment among children was even higher in the Alpena area last year: 60.8% in Alcona County, 47.4% in Alpena County, 54.4% in Montmorency County and 44.9% Presque Isle County.

The federal threats to Medicaid will impact children and families living in every county in Michigan, but they will have an especially significant impact in rural counties, where there are more children relying on the program for their health care needs. The Alpena area’s overall child insurance rate is also lower than the state average, and that rate would undoubtedly drop further if Medicaid were to be stripped away from kids.

Hospitals and other health care facilities located in rural areas are also at greater risk of being forced to close their doors or reduce their services in the face of Medicaid cuts, as they tend to rely more heavily on Medicaid funding in order to stay operational. The closure of these facilities would result in significant job losses for health care personnel, impacting the economic security of families raising children, and cause major health care accessibility issues for patients of all ages.

Taking a closer look at childbirth, specifically, our latest KIDS COUNT data shows that the percentage of Medicaid-paid births in Michigan was 39.2% in 2022. However, in rural areas like the Alpena area, percentages are much higher. 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.

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, and, if cuts to Medicaid are made, these deserts could potentially multiply, resulting in worse health outcomes for mothers and babies. According to the March of Dimes, women in maternity care deserts face a 13% higher risk of preterm birth and higher rates of inadequate prenatal care. It’s also important to note that inadequate prenatal care disproportionately impacts women of color and women with low incomes in these areas.

The stakes are so high right now for all Michiganders, including the youngest among us. Michigan kids have a right to be able to grow up healthy and strong, but they won’t be able to do that if their access to quality health care 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 and your community.