In an engaging survey of public opinion on Medicaid financing, the February 2025 KFF Health Tracking Poll found that the vast majority of adults support raising funding or keeping existing levels, with only 17% preferring a cut. The poll, based on confirmed Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) research, shows strong bipartisan support for Medicaid, a program on which millions of Americans rely for crucial healthcare services.

According to the poll, 42% feel Medicaid funding should be raised, while 40% believe it should remain unchanged. This means that 82 percent of individuals reject any financial changes, highlighting the program's critical role in the country's healthcare system. Notably, majorities of Democrats, Republicans, independents, Trump supporters, and rural residents advocate for more or consistent funding. However, almost one-third of Republicans support budget cuts, which contrasts sharply with public sentiment.

The findings highlight many Americans' personal connection to Medicaid. Fifty-three percent of adults say they or a family member have been on Medicaid at some point. This personal stake cuts across partisan lines, with 44 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of Trump voters claiming a link, demonstrating why the program is regarded as vital. Almost all respondents asked (97%) believe Medicaid is at least somewhat essential in their community, with 73 percent saying it is "very important."

The survey also revealed widespread misconceptions about the program. For example, 62 percent of the general public wrongly believes that the majority of working-age Medicaid recipients are unemployed. This misperception has increased initial support for placing job restrictions on Medicaid enrollees. At first, 62 percent of respondents supported such measures. But after learning that most of the working-age participants already have jobs and that many may lose their coverage because of the stress of having to show they are eligible through complicated paperwork, that support dropped to 32 percent. The pollsters report a persistent public confusion about Medicaid coverage and its services. Furthermore, slightly less than half (47%) of Americans are either unsure or mistakenly assume that undocumented immigrants are eligible for federal health insurance programs, which they are not.

These findings have far-reaching implications for the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural populations. Rural people have major medical service shortages, with 34% claiming a lack of hospitals, 49% reporting a lack of primary care physicians, 67% citing insufficient mental health support, and 71% citing a lack of specialists. Cuts to federal Medicaid funding might worsen existing gaps, putting extra strain on already overburdened rural healthcare systems.

This data provides critical context as Congress considers Medicaid program modifications in the midst of budget deliberations. The significant public opposition to Medicaid reduction reflects both personal experiences with the program and its critical role in community health. With practically every demographic group recognising Medicaid's value, officials are under significant pressure to preserve or even increase spending levels to ensure the program's sustainability.