Hundreds from NJ disability community rally in Trenton against GOP Medicaid cuts
Every morning, Kevin Nunez begins his day with the help of a personal aide — an assistant funded by Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program that could be in line for deep cuts.
Nunez, whose cerebral palsy necessitates a wheelchair, said the program allows him to live independently. Without support provided by Medicaid, the Willingsboro man said, he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed, dress or prepare for his day.
The author and activist was among hundreds of New Jerseyans who rallied in Trenton on Thursday against $880 billion in spending cuts endorsed by House Republicans in their federal budget proposal.
The boisterous crowd filled a plaza outside the Statehouse chanting “No Medicaid cuts!” and “Let us live!” Buses and vans with wheelchair lifts lined the streets.
“We brought my son, who has disabilities,” said Carol Van Pelt of Little Egg Harbor. “Medicaid is his only health insurance. Without it, he wouldn’t have access to glasses, doctor visits, medication, hospital visits — everything that Medicaid covers. Without it, he would lose all of that.”
Her son, Ryan Knipple, has autism and said he relies on transportation and other programs funded by Medicaid. “I know a lot of my friends who cannot work and therefore cannot get their own medical benefits,” he said. “So I’m protesting for them as well.”
The potential cuts have alarmed many New Jerseyans with disabilities. Nunez said his wheelchair-accessible van, his ability to leave his home, and even basic medical care all depend on funding from Medicaid. For millions of Americans with disabilities, the program is not just health insurance — it’s the foundation for a dignified life, he argued.
What’s in the GOP budget?
The reductions, spread over a decade, would help pay for tax cuts and border security initiatives President Donald Trump has promised. He has sent shifting messages about the proposal, alternately saying he would protect Medicare and Medicaid but also endorsing the House Republicans’ “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL” on social media.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has said spending can be eliminated by rooting out waste, fraud and abuse and that the bill doesn’t specifically mention Medicaid. But a report by the Congressional Budget Office on Thursday said Republicans cannot reach their budget goals without cutting health care programs.
The bill narrowly passed the House last month and is now before the Republican-led Senate, which could make changes. In the House, the budget vote fell along party lines, with New Jersey’s three GOP congressman supporting it and nine Democrats opposing.
“I support strong Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs for those who depend on them. Children, seniors, and those who are disabled rely on these crucial programs,” U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., R-Union, told The Record and NorthJersey.com in a statement. “I do not support these programs being riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse — that is a direct threat to their actual missions.”
Who gets Medicaid in NJ?
About 15 million people with disabilities in the United States rely on Medicaid for their health insurance coverage, representing 35% of the disabled population, reported the Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health care policy.
In New Jersey, an estimated 300,000 residents with disabilities rely on the program, the foundation said. That includes 9,000 who live in group homes with staff to help residents with daily routines. Federal Medicaid dollars pay for a big chunk of the cost for their homes, therapy, aides, drivers and social programs.
Medicaid keeps them out of institutions and pays for treatment, wheelchairs and other equipment and prescription drugs, speakers said at the rally. Without the federal money, which is often matched by state funds, there also would be a greater financial strain on other health programs that already operate on shoestring budgets, they said.
“People think Medicaid is just for people sitting at home all day, but that’s not the case. It helps people go to work, participate in their communities and live meaningful lives,” Donald Campbell, executive director of the Atlantic Center for Independent Living in Galloway, said in an interview. “And for those who think this won’t affect them, 25% of Americans have a disability. This impacts all of us.”
Campbell described the moment as a frightening one for people with disabilities.
“I’ve never seen people with disabilities more at risk of losing services. There’s a tangible fear in the air, and the uncertainty is overwhelming,” he said. “Without Medicaid, people would be stuck in their homes, unable to get out of bed, unable to participate in the community. We’re talking about a major step backward for disability rights.”
Jennifer Rose, a Morristown native who now lives in West Orange, said she relies on Medicaid for “transportation, mental health support and other essential services. It helps me with my mental health struggles, which is really important.
“It’s very inspiring to see so many people speaking out on behalf of those with disabilities,” she said at the rally. “It’s a strong and supportive group.”
Advocacy groups including the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, the state Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Network, the Alliance Center for Independence, Disability Rights New Jersey and the Arc of New Jersey have mobilized to head off the cuts.
NJ’s Medicaid bill
Medicaid — which pays for everything from a family’s doctor visits to a disabled person’s wheelchair or an elderly person’s nursing home care — is one of the costliest government services in New Jersey. It covers about 1.8 million residents, and its $24 billion budget this fiscal year is funded with $14 billion from the federal government and $10 billion from the state’s $56.6 billion budget.
Advocates at the rally urged members of the public to call their representatives, attend rallies and share personal stories about how Medicaid supports people with disabilities.
Sarah Adelman, New Jersey’s human services commissioner, said one-third of New Jerseyans are covered by Medicaid.
“I am able to take those facts to Congress to advocate for continued support, but facts alone are not enough,” she told the crowd. “Congress also needs to hear your stories and your voices. Your lived experiences make a difference.”