Since 2005, 400,000 Missourians’ Health Care Coverage and Benefits Have Been Slashed: The cuts enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature and Gov. Blunt left more than 100,000 regular Missourians without any coverage and slashed benefits from another 300,000 Missourians. Children, the elderly and people with disabilities all saw their health care slashed. These cuts impacted everyday Missourians - folks who get up each day and work hard to provide for their families. Rural families, urban families and suburban families from all parts of the Missouri have been directly affected by the cuts.
Health Care Slashed from Thousands of Missouri Children: There are 71,000 Missouri children who had health care in 2004 who do not have it today, including more than 33,000 children who used to receive coverage through the popular S-CHIP program, which the Blunt administration cut off. Now 1 in 11 children in Missouri has no health insurance.
Health Care Slashed from Missourians with Disabilities: The Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program helped provide health insurance to thousands of Missourians who overcame their disabilities and made it to work each day. The Blunt administration and legislative allies totally eliminated this critical program, leaving thousands of hardworking, inspiring Missourians completely behind without the health care they need, and often forcing them to leave the jobs they worked so hard to obtain.
Since 2005, Missouri Has Turned Down More Than $1 Billion in Federal Health Care Dollars: Instead of accepting federal dollars to address Missouri’s health care crisis, the Blunt administration has turned away more than $1 billion in federal funds over the past three years -- money that would have provided health care for thousands of Missourians. The people of Missouri already pay federal taxes to fund health care, but instead of bringing that money back to Missouri we are sending those dollars to other states to provide health care for those citizens.
Following the 2005 Cuts, Health Care Premiums Have Skyrocketed for Missouri Families: Even if a Missouri family was fortunate enough to keep their health care following after the 2005 cuts, odds are their premiums have skyrocketed over the past few years as a result of them. In fact, the average Missouri family pays roughly $900 more in premiums now than they paid just a couple years ago. The HMOs and big insurance companies continue to see huge profits, while regular Missourians are paying the price for the cuts.
On Health Care, Missouri is Falling Behind: Because of Missouri’s health care crisis, studies show that Missourians are losing access to health care at more than three times the national rate. Other states are moving forward, drawing down more federal dollars and expanding health care to more citizens. Meanwhile, Missouri is moving backward.
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Since 2005, the Blunt administration has slashed the health care and benefits of more than 400,000 Missourians - creating a health care crisis in the state. Following these cuts, more than 750,000 Missourians have absolutely no coverage today, including more than 127,000 children. Other states are moving forward and expanding health coverage, but Missouri is moving backward.
