Using Medicaid to Fight Climate Change

Authored: Maya Gowda

Art By: Mia Hsu

Day by day, the impacts of climate change continue to devastate communities across the U.S. and throughout the world. Climate change poses many threats to health through extreme heat events, weather events, air pollution, and more. Nonprofit organizations in the health care sector are pivotal in providing Medicaid and additional resources for those who are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. Minority groups are more susceptible to impacts exacerbated by climate change and do not receive adequate healthcare in emergency situations [1]. People who live in areas with high temperatures are more likely to experience health problems which require Emergency Department (ED) visits. There is a positive correlation between days with higher temperatures and ED visits [1]. Due to the overwhelming amount of patients in ED areas, doctors experience difficulty in treating all patients effectively. Unfortunately, patients with serious injuries may not receive the proper medical attention and resources necessary at an efficient rate [1].   

Many states are affected by problematic Medicaid programs. A few states which have not expanded healthcare efficiently include Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California [2]. In specific to Florida, many Floridians are affected by Florida’s Medicaid “Unwind” process in which people are classified as ineligible to receive Medicaid [3]. The “Unwind” process results in many people being burdened with medical debt. Experiencing medical debt prevents individuals from accessing the most efficient treatments or medications, leading to worsened health outcomes [4]. Certain groups such as agricultural workers and farmers are at the forefront of climate change impacts. They spend large amounts of time in the sun, exposed to harmful UV rays, and are faced with chemical exposure from pesticide usage [4]. All agricultural workers should be eligible for Medicaid in order for them to continue working and contributing to the food industry. In addition to agricultural workers, pregnant women and young children are part of vulnerable populations most likely to face the brunt of climate change [5]. For instance, harmful weather events can cause a lack of transportation, making it difficult for pregnant women and young children to access healthcare resources or medical attention [5].  

If vulnerable populations are insured by Medicaid, there will be greater access to essential healthcare resources and less climate-related deaths. Resources such as increased transportation and access to cooling materials are beneficial in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Outdoor workers should receive education about the importance of using cooling materials and electrolytes in order to protect themselves from extreme heat. Medicaid can encourage partnering organizations to utilize sustainable resources by providing financial incentives [6]. Additionally, to combat food insecurity in minority groups affected by climate change, Medicaid programs should partner with more food relief organizations. In 2023, Medicaid’s Sunshine Health Program partnered with Farm Share to allow farmers to directly donate nutritious foods for families in South Floridian communities [6]. Increased literacy about the relationship between climate change and health is important for students in many states as they experience climate change impacts, like extreme heat or a greater prevalence of natural disasters. 

Works Cited

1. Thorndike, A. L., Peterson, L., Spitzer, S., Patel, S., Smithey, A., Moore, J. E., Cook, S. C., & Chin, M. H. (2023). 

2. Map Shows States Where 1 Million People Were Removed From Health Care Plan—Newsweek. (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-where-millions-americans-taken-off-medicaid-1890887

3. Advancing health equity through partnerships of state Medicaid agencies, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care delivery organizations. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1104843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1104843

4. Home. (n.d.). Florida Health Justice. Retrieved October 14, 2024, from https://floridahealthjustice.org/

5. Climate Change and the Health of Socially Vulnerable People | US EPA. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-and-health-socially-vulnerable-people

6. Pappas, A., Kovats, S., & Ranganathan, M. (2024). Extreme weather events and maternal health in low-income and middle-income countries: A scoping review. BMJ Open, 14(6), e079361. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079361

7. de-Assis, M. P., Barcella, R. C., Padilha, J. C., Pohl, H. H., & Krug, S. B. F. (n.d.). Health problems in agricultural workers occupationally exposed to pesticides. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Do Trabalho, 18(3), 352–363. https://doi.org/10.47626/1679-4435-2020-532