I’ve written before about the politics of becoming a single mom by choice. But with the passage of Trump’s “big beautiful bill”—the 2025 budget deal that slashes Medicaid funding—the politics of parenting just became even more personal.
Why My Twins Have Medicaid, Even With Good Insurance
I have employer-sponsored health insurance. It’s solid. It covered our $1.5 million NICU bill after my twins were born at 34 weeks.
But my kids are still on Medicaid.
Why? Because they have ongoing health challenges tied to prematurity. A third-party evaluator reviewed their medical records and approved them for a Medicaid waiver. That means Medicaid acts as their secondary insurance: my employer plan gets billed first, and anything not covered is picked up by Medicaid.
And no, we’re not abusing the system.
Medicaid Is Hard to Navigate—And That’s the Problem
I have the privilege of working from home. That gives me the time and flexibility to call Health and Human Services, sit on hold, complete the paperwork, and decode government language that’s intentionally difficult to understand.
But what about a parent who’s working two jobs, doesn’t have paid time off, and really needs the help? They might give up—not because they don’t need it, but because they can’t figure out how to access it.
This isn’t a system anyone’s gliding through. If anything, its complexity discourages people who qualify from even trying.
Pediatric Healthcare Needs Medicaid
Even if your child isn’t on Medicaid, their care may still depend on it.
Medicaid is the largest payer of pediatric healthcare in the U.S., covering about 40% of all children and up to 50% of NICU stays. Pediatric hospitals rely on Medicaid to survive—because unlike adult medicine, pediatric care doesn’t rake in profits. Kids don’t get hip replacements or blood pressure meds for life. Children’s hospitals often operate on razor-thin margins, and without Medicaid, they collapse.1
As Dr. Beachgem10 (an actual MD, not just an influencer) recently explained on Instagram: “Even if your kids aren’t on Medicaid, the pediatric system relies on it. These cuts impact everyone.”
Real-World Impact: My Urgent Care Visit Last Week
Last week, I took one of my fearless toddlers to urgent care after a head bonk (she’s fine). The wait wasn’t terrible. The care team wasn’t visibly overwhelmed. I didn’t leave wondering how I’d afford my mortgage this month.
It felt like the system worked—for once.
But this kind of experience is increasingly at risk. Cuts like the ones in this new federal budget aren’t just “trimming the fat.” They’re amputating limbs.
And once you cut funding for children’s health, it doesn’t grow back easily.
I Pay Taxes So the System Is There When It’s Needed
I’ve been paying taxes since I was 15. The whole point of a social safety net is to catch you when you fall—not to shame you for needing it.
I didn’t expect to need Medicaid. I had a plan. I had a good job and good insurance. But then I had premature twins and spent a month in the NICU. And suddenly, the safety net became a lifeline.
This is what the system should do.
Support people who are doing everything right—who still need help.
1 Children’s Hospital Association. “Medicaid and Children’s Hospitals.” 2023. https://www.childrenshospitals.org ↩
Leave a Reply