NCUIH Releases New Resource Highlighting Medicaid’s Crucial Role for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) has released a comprehensive overview highlighting the crucial role Medicaid plays in providing health care to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This report emphasizes the importance of preserving Medicaid resources and exempting AI/AN beneficiaries from work requirements to fulfill the federal government’s trust responsibility.
- Approximately 2.7 million AI/AN people are enrolled in Medicaid, with 24% of AI/AN adults aged 18-64 and 23% of those over 64 benefiting from the program.
- Almost 49% of AI/AN children are enrolled in Medicaid.
- Urban Indian Organizations serve as vital health care providers.
- 59% of AI/AN people receiving care at UIOs are Medicaid beneficiaries.
- Eight out of the top ten states with the largest number of AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries have UIOs providing essential services.
Call to Action
Preserve Medicaid Resources
- Cuts to Medicaid would severely impact AI/AN health care access, necessitating state funding gaps and reducing essential services like diabetes programming and cancer screenings.
Exempt AI/AN Beneficiaries from Work Requirements:
- Mandatory work requirements would disproportionately affect AI/AN beneficiaries due to unique economic challenges. Exemption is crucial to protect health care access, consistent with the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
Percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native Population on Medicaid by State and Age Range:
Below is a table of Medicaid data for the AI/AN population, based on the American Community Survey data (2023, 1-year estimate).
| State | 0-18 % of AI/AN Pop on Medicaid | 19 – 64 % of AI/AN Pop on Medicaid | 65+ % of AI/AN Pop on Medicaid |
| Alabama | 58.84 | 14.97 | 22.11 |
| Alaska | 55.85 | 36.74 | 33.21 |
| Arizona | 48.31 | 29.57 | 30.78 |
| Arkansas | 47.24 | 23.11 | 16.94 |
| California | 47.16 | 26.66 | 26.25 |
| Colorado | 49.51 | 26.06 | 27.58 |
| Connecticut | 44.46 | 37.48 | 19.05 |
| Delaware | 56.56 | 21.19 | 20.40 |
| District of Columbia | 31.99 | 4.85 | 24.97 |
| Florida | 39.17 | 13.3 | 20.23 |
| Georgia | 44.67 | 12.10 | 16.88 |
| Hawaii | 44.49 | 25.28 | 20.44 |
| Idaho | 29.99 | 23.67 | 15.58 |
| Illinois | 47.78 | 19.71 | 17.96 |
| Indiana | 46.63 | 28.09 | 23.48 |
| Iowa | 54.32 | 23.95 | 19.33 |
| Kansas | 39.11 | 14.84 | 19.97 |
| Kentucky | 61.44 | 32.86 | 23.60 |
| Louisiana | 50.16 | 28.86 | 22.90 |
| Maine | 62.81 | 36.51 | 29.80 |
| Maryland | 40.43 | 17.56 | 19.58 |
| Massachusetts | 51.09 | 37.18 | 41.82 |
| Michigan | 47.32 | 29.74 | 16.24 |
| Minnesota | 50.35 | 32.43 | 14.18 |
| Mississippi | 65.29 | 14.60 | 26.81 |
| Missouri | 55.78 | 20.56 | 19.62 |
| Montana | 68.30 | 42.37 | 26.44 |
| Nebraska | 52.94 | 25.51 | 28.72 |
| Nevada | 41.06 | 22.72 | 19.65 |
| New Hampshire | 51.70 | 24.62 | 35.66 |
| New Jersey | 57.23 | 19.83 | 10.63 |
| New Mexico | 71.65 | 43.62 | 35.09 |
| New York | 49.32 | 30.94 | 33.53 |
| North Carolina | 57.28 | 21.29 | 23.66 |
| North Dakota | 63.34 | 37.79 | 17.69 |
| Ohio | 46.73 | 27.70 | 27.55 |
| Oklahoma | 51.42 | 21.62 | 17.18 |
| Oregon | 59.71 | 33.21 | 25.83 |
| Pennsylvania | 50.85 | 32.67 | 30.96 |
| Rhode Island | 46.77 | 25.63 | 16.85 |
| South Carolina | 40.89 | 18.65 | 18.50 |
| South Dakota | 60.30 | 26.67 | 30.01 |
| Tennessee | 51.66 | 22.20 | 22.64 |
| Texas | 35.10 | 9.37 | 16.87 |
| Utah | 29.98 | 20.95 | 18.67 |
| Vermont | 73.74 | 33.13 | 24.74 |
| Virginia | 37.40 | 21.24 | 13.27 |
| Washington | 49.27 | 27.90 | 18.98 |
| West Virginia | 45.81 | 32.73 | 10.62 |
| Wisconsin | 53.46 | 27.34 | 15.72 |
| Wyoming | 52.42 | 19.57 | 15.07 |
| All States + DC | 48.68 | 24.22 | 22.97 |
