Medicaid | The Arc of Oklahoma

Advocacy & Public Policy > MEDICAID

The Fight For Disability Care & Services

Medicaid Matters to Millions

People with disabilities want to learn, contribute to their communities, and live as independently as possible—no matter the level of care and support they need. Medicaid makes that possible.

Medicaid helps people with disabilities and people of all ages who have a low income. It’s a federal program, but every state participates. States invest their own budget dollars and run the program for their residents.

Medicaid matters.

✔ Hundreds of thousands of infants with disabilities get a great start in life with Medicaid services that support their development and learning.

✔ Millions of people with disabilities get their health insurance through Medicaid—and for kids with disabilities, it’s often the only coverage that meets their needs.

✔ Medicaid also pays for home care workers who help people with disabilities with daily tasks, like getting out of bed, taking medications, making meals, and so much more.

The entire disability care system is at risk. Millions of lives will be impacted—get involved now!

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Medicaid is a Lifeline for Oklahomans

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance and access to long-term care to more than 972,000 Oklahomans, including:

What Medicaid Means to Oklahomans:

Health: Medicaid coverage unlocks access to health care and improves health.
Financial Security: Medicaid protects families from high health care costs.
Dignity and Community: Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) enable more than 32,000 disabled Oklahomans to live, work, and participate in their communities.
Federal Investment: The federal government spent $7 billion on Medicaid in Oklahoma in 2023—providing around 81% of the total cost of the program in the state.
Jobs: Medicaid creates thousands of valuable local jobs in the health care sector and increases employment for people with disabilities.
Stronger Rural Hospitals: Medicaid funding enables rural hospitals and other critical health care infrastructure to stay open and provide care to rural residents.

69% of Oklahoma voters oppose cuts to Medicaid funding.

Impact to Oklahoma’s State Economy:

Cuts to federal Medicaid funding would shift costs onto Oklahomans, squeezing already-tight state, local, and family budgets.
The state would be forced to make up for the loss in federal funds.
The risk of cuts to HCBS is especially great because the state spends more on HCBS than any other optional benefit. Oklahoma already limits HCBS due to constraints on available funding.
2,284 Oklahomans are currently on a waitlist to receive Medicaid-funded HCBS.
Without adequate funding for HCBS, thousands of Oklahomans with disabilities would lose their independence and be forced into nursing homes or state-run institutions to survive.