Medicaid cuts aren’t abstract—they put lives, jobs, and care at risk. UDW members are fighting back.
Medicaid (also known as Medi-Cal in California) cuts threaten our health, our livelihoods, and the care that keeps millions of Californians safe. This public health program helps families, seniors, and people with disabilities get the care they need. Behind every dollar cut are real lives on the line, and UDW will never back down from this fight.
UDW members say NO to Medicaid cuts that threaten care workers, California families, and the clients we serve.
As home care providers in California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, we know what’s truly at stake when we hear politicians talk about potential budget cuts.
We hear claims that Medicaid “won’t be touched”—but the truth is clear: Congress is setting the stage for over $880 billion in cuts to healthcare over the next decade. There’s no way to make cuts that deep without slashing Medicaid, the primary funder of IHSS and a lifeline for millions of Californians.
This is not just a policy debate—it’s personal. When lawmakers propose cutting Medicaid, they’re attacking what we do, who we care for, and how we help our communities thrive.
Cuts to Medicaid = Cuts to IHSS
If federal Medicaid funding is slashed, California will be forced to make drastic cuts to IHSS. That means fewer care hours for seniors and people with disabilities, lower wages for home care workers, and even job losses. Families could be forced to choose between institutionalizing their loved ones or going without care entirely.
And the impact doesn’t stop there—most IHSS and family child care providers rely on Medi-Cal for our own healthcare. Cuts to Medicaid could leave many UDW members without coverage, forcing us onto public assistance or worse.
These aren’t abstract numbers. These are real lives in crisis.
Who Gets Hurt by Cuts to Medicaid in California?
Across California, 15 million people—1 in 3 residents—are covered by Medi-Cal. That includes:
• 1 in 10 seniors
• 1 in 3 children
• 1 in 2 Latino residents
In districts like CA-40 (Rep. Young Kim), more than 125,000 people rely on Medi-Cal—including over 5,200 IHSS providers and their clients. In CA-22 (Rep. David Valadao), more than 60% of constituents—nearly half a million people—depend on Medi-Cal.
These Medicaid cuts won’t “reduce waste”—they’ll eliminate care. People will have to get sicker, wait longer, or travel farther to get basic treatment. These cuts will:
- Deny care to seniors and people with disabilities
- Force hospitals and clinics, especially in rural areas, to shut their doors
- Raise healthcare costs for working people while billionaires keep getting tax breaks
The Truth About “Work Requirements”
Some lawmakers say these budget changes are about “saving money” or enforcing “work requirements.” But that’s just political spin.
Research shows that work requirements don’t increase employment—they just create paperwork barriers and kick hard-working people off coverage. People with disabilities, family caregivers, and those with unstable work hours would be punished for circumstances beyond their control.
These proposals won’t reduce costs—they’ll create administrative chaos while denying care to those who need it most.
We Must Demand: Hands Off Medi-Cal
As members of UDW, we are rising up to protect Medicaid and stand up for the people we care for. We are organizing, educating, and speaking truth to power.
Join us in this fight:
- Share your story
- Call your Senators NOW and demand they vote NO on Medicaid cuts: 1-866-584-5792
- Call your local office to take action now!
We all deserve care, dignity, and a chance to live a healthy life. Medicaid makes that possible. Let’s show up, speak out, and protect what’s ours. Because when we fight together, we care stronger, we live better, and we win for each other.
