by Jennifer Vigil 

When Karla Zimmerman was diagnosed with a rare brain condition, she needed surgery. Without Medicaid, she said Friday, she couldn’t have afforded it.

“Thanks to Medi-Cal, I received life-saving neurosurgical care at UC San Diego Health,” said the patient at UC San Diego Health. “I still have two aneurysms that need continuous monitoring. As a mother of two, my biggest fear is not being there for my daughters. No one should have to worry about losing their health care.” 

But many are as a result of threatened cuts that could have a profound impact on the public healthcare program – known as Medi-Cal in California and backed by federal funding.

Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) joined Zimmerman and community leaders Friday to highlight the need for Medicaid and the damage they fear will be done by cutbacks to federal spending favored by Republicans. 

Peters said that one in five residents of his district relies on Medicaid. Proposed cuts of $880 billion might take away healthcare for them and tens of millions of other Americans while increasing costs for millions more. 

“Cutting health coverage will not make America healthier, it will make us sicker,” Peters said. “I’ve now voted twice to stop Republican efforts to slash Medicaid, and I promise to continue doing everything in my power to halt their schemes.” 

Peters was hosting his second news conference in two days – he decried a potential $1 billion funding cut for HIV prevention a day earlier – at UC San Diego Health‘s Hillcrest Medical Center.

California Democrats have focused on San Diego this week. Senator Alex Padilla and Rep. Sara Jacobs met with healthcare representatives at Rady Children’s Hospital Wednesday to discuss the potential fallout for the region should Medicaid funding be lost.

Hospital and community health center staff stood with Peters in Hillcrest, along with long-term care providers, labor union members and local elected officials, many of them holding blue signs bearing the words, “Save Medicaid.”

“As a public safety net provider, UC San Diego Health delivers comprehensive care to all members of our community regardless of demographics, insurance coverage or income status,” said UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent. “Investing in Medicaid is an investment in the greatest asset we have in this nation, our people, and their health.” 

San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee said that with many San Diegans already facing financial struggles, potential healthcare cuts are “the last thing we need.” One of three people in San Diego County, he said, including hundreds of thousands of kids, could feel the impact of Medicaid funding being slashsed.

“Anyone who wants to lower the cost of living, support working families and decrease homelessness should be against these cuts,” Lee said.  

Possible cuts to Medicaid are far from a done deal. They have to be reviewed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate before congressional committees can delve into details of any cutbacks, according to KFF Health News. Lawmakers then would need to pass a bill and send it on for President Donald Trump’s approval.