PRESS RELEASE from GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Medicare plays big role for small towns, report says

Posted 1/22/25

NATIONAL — Medicare plays a critical role in meeting the health care needs of rural Americans, according to a recent analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

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PRESS RELEASE from GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Medicare plays big role for small towns, report says

Posted

NATIONAL — Medicare plays a critical role in meeting the health care needs of rural Americans, according to a recent analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

The report found that non-elderly adults and children living in rural areas and small towns are more likely to rely on Medicaid for their health insurance than those living in metro areas. Nearly 41% of children and 18% of adults under 65 in small towns and rural areas rely on Medicaid for their coverage, compared to 38% and 16% respectively in metro areas.

Pike and Wayne Counties, PA have a rate of Medicaid coverage slightly below the Pennsylvania state average for rural counties. Pike has a 20.8 percent total coverage rate, and Wayne has a 21.7 percent total coverage rate; rural counties in Pennsylvania as a whole have a 22.6 average coverage rate.

Sullivan County, NY has a 37.2% coverage rate, slightly above the New York state average for small towns and rural areas of 34.5%.

“Medicaid is critically important to the families and healthcare systems in rural America,” said Joan Alker, the center's executive director and the lead author of the report. “Across the country—but especially in rural areas—Medicaid protects families from excessive medical debt, pays for the majority of residents in nursing homes and pays for a large share of births and maternal care. Large cuts to federal Medicaid funding would put the residents of small towns and rural communities and their health care systems at serious risk."

medicaid, health care

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