Cuts to Medicaid are front and center in the national debate right now. Congressional Democrats held a “Day of Action” for Medicaid this week. Engaging the public to resist the cuts means getting the attention of audiences who might associate the program with “welfare.” Here are several framing ideas to consider when working to reach them.

This is another way of giving the super rich more and more tax breaks, by cutting spending to important things we all need.
Americans broadly respond to this common sense point.

Our healthcare system [as a whole] is under attack.

If the conversation is narrowly focused on “Medicaid” it is too easy for many folks to think the fight isn’t about them – if they or their family do not receive Medicaid or if they know their state Medicaid plan under another name. Or, they can more easily buy into the notion that there is rampant waste, fraud and abuse of the system because our national narrative is that it’s the poor who commit fraud.

We’ve built the healthcare programs we have for a reason. Every family faces expensive health hardships at some point, so it’s just good sense to make health situations more manageable for all of us. The Trump administration’s current proposal will result in firing people who work for us, taking away health care we all depend on, and making our lives harder.

Undermining Medicaid weakens the healthcare system for all of us. When everyone is part of the health system (as nearly 94% are right now), we spread the cost and risk across the population. When we start pushing people out, then fewer of us are shouldering the cost, and that means premiums go up, more hospitals, rural health clinics, birth centers and nursing homes close, and emergency rooms get more crowded.

You probably know someone who specifically relies on Medicaid support – which includes special assistance for children, seniors, people working in entry level jobs that don’t offer health insurance, etc. Help make the issue relatable to all by reminding audiences of the breadth of the program.

Strong communications and framing of the debate we do in this moment of an attack on health care assistance can lead to a shift in public understanding of how things work, and the importance of this federal-state partnership supporting the health of everyone.

Checklist

    ☐ Start by discussing the attack on our national health care system, NOT Medicaid. Don’t put Medicaid in the headline.

    ☐ Point out that these cuts are being made in order to offer a huge tax break to super rich people.

    ☐ Note that the current Republican Congressional leadership and the Trump administration proposal to cut health care across the country will undermine our system, the system we all use.

   ☐ Make the statement widely relatable by reminding audiences of the breadth of the program, and by pointing out that the health care system depends on the federal-state funding partnership to work for all of us.

   ☐ If you choose to mention ‘Medicaid’, put the program name AFTER the explanation of the attack on health care for all. Remember that states call this program by different names. If your advocacy is state or community specific, use the official name in your state.

   ☐ Add a call to action! Tell your audience what they can do, who they can call or write.