Barely Managing With Medicaid
On top of all the emotional and logistical challenges of caregiving, it can be a huge financial strain on family members — who are typically paid little or nothing for their services. In Georgia, for example, family caregivers like Miller can only receive compensation if the care recipient qualifies for a Medicaid waiver — a process she says is grueling, confusing, and comes with long waitlists.
“I believe that any family caregiver who is actively providing care and can demonstrate it should be eligible for compensation and tax relief, regardless of Medicaid status,” she said. “We are saving the system money — yet paying the price physically, emotionally, and financially.” Miller is absolutely right: The Columbia report estimates that the labor of the country’s unpaid caregivers is valued at $890.56 billion.
But the countless hours that family caregivers essentially donate to the government don’t seem to factor into financial support for caregivers and those requiring care.
Each month, Jenise’s brother Michael gets a $932 disability payment from Social Security and about $132 in food stamps. “He is 270 pounds, so that doesn’t cover the food he eats monthly,” she said. “He had been giving me $400 a month, but I spend much of that on extra food, his pharmacy co-pays, his life insurance, and other necessities.”
And like so many others who require care, Michael depends on Medicaid for health care. But Jenise and other caregivers fear that a reduction in benefits is imminent.
That’s at least in part because, in a few short months, the Trump administration has been taking significant steps towards dismantling Medicaid as we know it. At this point, it’s unclear how much damage these laws and policies will do, but it’s safe to say things won’t be getting better.
If signed into law, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed in the House of Representatives on May 22, would make the biggest cuts to Medicaid in the program’s 60-year history. It’s estimated that the bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $625 billion, causing 10.3 million people to lose their Medicaid coverage by 2034.
