How many people in Oldham County rely on Medicaid?
As a cancer survivor and someone who relies on my medical insurance for continued care, I worry about my neighbors in Oldham County. I worry that you might be one diagnosis away from something scary. My concern hinders on whether or not people will get the care they need because of the cost of that care.
It cost more than $1M to cure me of an aggressive form of breast cancer. A routine mammogram saved my life by providing early detection. My health insurance covered my treatment well when I consider the totality of the claims. However, I had and still have high out-of-pocket expenses; that is what happens when we need to keep the monthly premiums low.
Just recently at Trackside Tunes in La Grange, a young father who said he works as a police officer told me that it cost his family $6,000 when his wife gave birth to each of their children. He has insurance through his employer, which is the state employee insurance plan. Even with a seemingly good insurance plan, our public servants pay so much in out of pocket expenses. (Note: 42.8% of all births in KY in 2024 were covered by Medicaid)
For those neighbors who rely on Medicaid to ensure they too can access the care they need for themselves or their loved ones, I worry that cuts will lead to dire results. Medicaid allows them to access preventive healthcare and prescriptions that keep them healthy. Medicaid ensures that if they receive a scary diagnosis or have an emergency, they can get the care they deserve without going bankrupt to pay the bills. In 2024, 3,159 women died from breast cancer. If I avoided my mammogram and treatment due to financial or other barriers, I am not certain I would be here today. The Kentucky Commission on Women shows that 25.5% of women in Kentucky are on Medicaid (most recent 2024 status). What will they do if they are diagnosed with breast cancer?
According to June 2026 data from the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, 9,841 people in Oldham County rely on Medicaid.
The cuts that we are seeing at the federal and state levels absolutely impact your neighbors in Oldham County. When people lose access to Medicaid, they are likely to go uninsured. Not only does this risk the health and wellness of our neighbors due to potentially untreated medical issues, but it will likely create a higher need for services, which will ultimately be more expensive.