New state data shows the importance of the Medicaid program to central Minnesota’s people and economy.

Nearly 24% of the people in central Minnesota get their health insurance from Medicaid. That adds up to just under 177,000 neighbors who live in communities throughout the region.

Medicaid offers health care insurance for people with low incomes. It is the largest single source of health insurance in Minnesota. The program covers nearly 1.3 million of the state’s residents, including children, parents, people with disabilities, and adults 65 or older and serves as a lifeline to rural health care providers that communities depend on. Medicaid contributes significantly to the state’s health care sector, supporting public health infrastructure, hospitals, mental health centers, home care, community clinics, nursing homes, physicians, dentists and many other health professionals.

Proposed federal funding cuts to Medicaid would have a major impact across the state.

“People need to understand the importance of Medicaid to the overall health of our state,” said Minnesota Medicaid Director John Connolly. “The federal contribution to Medicaid is billions of dollars, and federal cuts would be felt all over the state.”

In Minnesota, Medicaid covers: • 592,000 children, about 41% of the state’s kids; • 3 out of every 10 births; • 20% of all mental health treatment; • half of all substance use disorder treatments; • half of all long-term care costs; • programs that help people with disabilities and older adults stay in their home communities.

For county-specific data, financial data by region, and the complete list of 10 Ways Minnesota Medicaid Matters to You, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Medicaid Matters website at https://mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters/by-the-numbers/.