Last week, Congress passed what experts are calling the largest federal healthcare cuts in U.S. history—$1 trillion over the next decade, with none of it being reinvested back into the healthcare system. Here’s what you need to know: This directly impacts the health and safety of mothers, birthing people, and babies.
Medicaid Funds 41% of All Births in the United States
Nearly one in two babies born in this country relies on Medicaid coverage. For Black mothers, that number jumps to 66%. This isn’t some distant policy debate—this is about whether you can afford to give birth safely, access mental health support during your fourth trimester, and whether your community hospital will still be there when you need it most. The new requirements make it harder to stay on Medicaid and nearly impossible to access for many.
The Impact Is Systematic—Here’s How It Looks in Real Life
A single mom of three can’t meet work requirements because childcare costs in the U.S. are sky-high, and more than she could earn—she loses coverage for herself and potentially her kids.
Approximately 9.4 million people who are currently enrolled in Medicaid are the primary caregivers of their children, which prevents them from getting jobs and would make them lose coverage under new work requirements.
A new mother managing postpartum depression misses one monthly work requirement form—loses coverage.
Constant paperwork requires people to frequently show proof of their eligibility, creating complicated systems that cause confusion and demand meaningful time to navigate.
A maternity ward closes because patients can no longer afford care.
Medicaid reimbursements represent nearly 20% of hospital revenue, and rural hospitals already operate on razor-thin margins.
A mother with gestational diabetes can’t afford ongoing monitoring after birth.
A single diabetes monitoring visit can cost $200-400 without insurance, putting essential preventive care out of reach for families already struggling financially.
These barriers are designed to overwhelm exhausted new parents who are already navigating complex systems while caring for tiny humans.
By The Numbers
- 17 million people are projected to lose health coverage due to these cuts and additional policy changes
- 52,000 additional deaths per year could result from reduced access to preventive care and treatment
- 400 hospitals are at risk of closure—disproportionately in rural and low-income communities
- 600 nursing homes could close, affecting parents of young children also caring for aging relatives
What Happens Next
These cuts won’t happen overnight. Most take effect in 2026-2027, giving us time to organize, educate, and mobilize. This timeline creates an opportunity for sustained advocacy and community building.
Every action you take creates ripples.
- Share accurate information to combat the confusion designed to make people give up
- Help a neighbor or colleague navigate paperwork to defeat the bureaucratic barriers meant to exclude
- Vote, volunteer, and donate to build the political power necessary to create real change
Healthcare is a human right. Maternal health is essential healthcare. And when policies threaten our safety, our dignity, and our lives—we respond with organized action and mutual support.
The fourth trimester is already one of the most vulnerable times in a person’s life. We refuse to let policymakers make it more dangerous.
