What’s going on in New Hampshire Health Care
Today, Phil Sletten – Research Director, New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute and Lisa Beaudoin – Disability policy professional, Strategies for Disability Equity joined Protect Our Care NH to highlight the devastating impact of proposed Medicaid funding cuts on New Hampshire’s families, hospitals, and state budget. The discussion focused on how block grants, spending caps, and restrictive reporting measures could force the state to absorb up to $493 million annually in lost federal Medicaid funds, putting essential health care services at risk.
Speakers emphasized that these cuts would leave children, people with disabilities, and working families without access to the care they rely on while deepening New Hampshire’s budget shortfall. With rising health care costs already straining state resources, these cuts could jeopardize hospital funding, increase uncompensated care, and create a crisis for rural health providers.
Our CNH/POC News series looking at healthcare, cost, access and our economy
New Hampshire's Healthcare Future at a Crossroads
Healthcare access and affordability are at the center of an urgent conversation in New Hampshire. A new report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute reveals that proposed Medicaid policy changes could cost the state nearly $493 million annually—a staggering figure with widespread implications.
In this episode, we sit down with Phil Sletten, Research Director at NHFPI, to break down where these costs would come from, which communities would be most affected, and what these shifts mean for hospitals, healthcare providers, and the state's economy.
What happens when Medicaid policies change? How do these shifts impact not only low-income residents but the entire healthcare system? And what strategies could policymakers consider to protect access to care while maintaining financial stability?
Join us as we dive into the numbers, the human impact, and the policy solutions that could shape New Hampshire’s healthcare future.
Without Congressional action, enhanced health care tax credits that have helped thousands of Granite Staters afford coverage will expire after 2025, leading to higher costs for families and individuals across New Hampshire, according to Phil Sletten, Research Director at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI).
If these tax credits expire, families across New Hampshire will face devastating premium hikes, forcing many to forgo coverage and lose access to routine and preventive care.
“The tax credits created under the Affordable Care Act and expanded through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have been critical in making health insurance more affordable for many New Hampshire families,” said Sletten. “These credits help people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford coverage. If they expire, many families will see significant increases in their monthly insurance costs.”
On Monday, March 24, Edward D. Shanshala, Lisa Beaudoin, and Jake Berry joined Protect Our Care NH to highlight ongoing threats to American healthcare as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marks its 15th anniversary.
For over a decade, millions of Americans have gained quality, affordable healthcare through the ACA. Today, more Granite Staters have coverage than ever before, and insurance rates statewide are at record highs. Yet there are those in Congress who support efforts to undermine this progress, aiming to remove vital tax credits that help New Hampshire families save thousands annually and proposing to slash Medicaid funding by at least $880 billion—putting healthcare at risk for working families and vulnerable populations statewide.
Need Help?
If you need help with Medicaid, call Medicaid Program Client Services at (800) 852-3345, ext. 4344 (TDD Access Relay (800) 735-2964). Hours are 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.
If you need enrollment assistance, reach out to a Navigator, enrollment assister, or insurance agent through the Find Local Help tool on HealthCare.gov.
Contact the NH Insurance Department with any other questions or concerns you may have at 1-800-852-3416 or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.