Medicaid on the Chopping Block—What It Means for Ohio Veterans
Ohio vets who rely on Medicaid for critical services could be in for rough times.
Over the next ten years, federal Medicaid funding in Ohio is expected to drop by $33 billion, part of a nationwide rollback of $911 billion under the latest reconciliation package. While the state’s 90% federal match for expanded Medicaid remains intact, new work requirements and eligibility hurdles could strip vital care from disabled and low-income veterans.
What’s Going On in Ohio’s Medicaid Landscape
- Who’s vulnerable?
Around 10% of Ohio’s veteran population uses Medicaid — many for mental health, supportive housing, and care not covered by the VA. Veterans with low disability ratings, PTSD, or employment gaps are especially dependent. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- How deep is the cut?
The $33 billion reduction represents just a portion of the $911 billion nationwide cut. KFF estimates Ohio will lose more federal Medicaid dollars than almost all states — second only to six others. (HealthPolicyOhio)
- Red tape rising
Work requirements for recipients aged 19–64 and more frequent eligibility checks mean more veterans could lose coverage — even if disabled or battling PTSD. Analysts warn that up to 200,000 Ohioans across populations may lose insurance.
Why This Is Critical for Disabled Veterans
Ohio’s expanding pool of medically complex veterans — survivors of burn injuries, PTSD, toxic exposures, or mental health challenges — often rely on a combination of VA and Medicaid services. Cuts don’t just threaten health; they threaten stability itself.
With fewer safety nets, veterans may face:
- Increased misdiagnoses or care delays due to eligibility chaos
- Worsened mental health outcomes due to care disruption
- Cost-related medication adherence issues
Voices and Warnings …
Ohio physicians and economists are sounding alarms:
“We’re routinely saving men and women who would have died in any previous conflict … their healthcare shouldn’t be at risk because of budget cuts.” ~ Health policy expert cited in Ohio Capital Journal
And state economists warn these cuts could ripple through our communities:
“We’re looking at job losses, hospital closures, and a healthcare crisis for vulnerable veterans.” ~ Ohio economist reflecting on Medicaid’s broader impact (Center Square)
What Veterans and Advocates Should Do …
- Stay informed and engaged. Monitor how Medicaid eligibility and work rules change. Share how those cutbacks impact you or others.
- Push back locally. Advocate for protections — like exemptions for veterans with disabilities — or state waivers to preserve access.
- Use local networks. Lean on Veteran Service Officers (VSOs), community health clinics, and peer groups to navigate work requirements or redemptions.
Final Thoughts …
Veterans in Ohio fought for our country. They shouldn’t lose coverage because the budget politics of today fail to match that promise. Medicaid cuts may seem abstract, but the consequences — missed therapy, no housing support, worsening mental health — are all too real.
Our veterans deserve better than “tough choices.” They deserve the care they earned.
For advocacy, resources, and more veteran-centered updates, visit DisabledVeterans.org.
The VHA is an organization full of bottom of the barrel mother fuckers. They might accidentally get some good medical doctors in there every now and then, but the people who aren’t completely blow it. The place needs to be wiped off of planet earth.
Trump gonna cause massive suffering to save himself a dime…him and the only people he really represents behind all the right wing propaganda to rope in the dodo birds.
Someone take a rifle to that crooked SOB!
Those mother fuckers at VA will fuck you, you leave, they end up retiring and on a beach somewhere nursing a margarita, one million dollars made. I tell you our political system allows gross injustice. They complain about political violence? How about a chrome 44 magnum revolver is gonna fill in the justice gap if the courts continue their dereliction of duty to uphold rights and the law.
VHA, come for the compensation and pension and go for the healthcare..as in go somewhere else..leave. Motto should be updated to reflect reality: “Just thank God they let you leave…for now.”
Trump will keep the VA going because it’s a cheap, fake healthcare system that flim flams people all the time. It’s a jobs program masquerading as a healthcare system. A redistribution apparatus to hand picked idiots from our society. So many people like Mike Lindell and Alex Jones working there.
Veterans Healthcare Administration likes to split primary care and mental health into two distinct entities. Who is in the middle seeing to it that good overall outcomes are possible? Nobody. If you get fucked on one side, they’re relying on you continuing to go on the other side so they can sweep shit under the rug and claim they still have some relation to you period. When you get fucked on both sides and leave, they really get pissed off, but of course take no responsibility and it gets swept under the rug the longer you consistently stay away from the broken system.
Doing business with the VHA is now a bigger risk than people should probably take now that we have these derelict Supreme Court justices on the bench. Said it’s up to Congress to hold the federal government accountable for abuses? I don’t recall any legislature involved when someone violates someone’s rights and abuses people. Those derelict mother fuckers ought to be removed by the military. How about we get justice ourselves if these cocksuckers want to play bullshit games when we’ve been denied care and abused. The goddamn Congress has already made it clear what their intentions are on healthcare for veterans. When that doesn’t happen, you’re a derelict political structure for sitting on your tits and balls and not enforcing the law. Or when rights are violated you just turn your head. They ought to be ripped off the bench and thrown into a sewer.
Public healthcare in general is gonna take a turn for the worst. Simply put, if you don’t shell out some cash, all you can expect is to see someone period if you’re lucky. That’s not really healthcare either. On top of that, people already have to deal with people like Mike Lindell and Alex Jones in the mental health field there at the VA. Might as well get rid of it. It’s already bad enough.