Health

No one should have to go without the medical care they need simply because they can’t afford it. Investments in Medicaid, ALL Kids, mental health care and other health services help Alabamians stay healthy and productive, and they lay the foundation for a future where all of our residents have a chance to thrive, regardless of their income or background.

Arise works to identify and eliminate the structural barriers that prevent many of our friends and neighbors across the state from accessing the health care they need. We examine how a variety of policy solutions, including Medicaid expansion, would help break down those walls and strengthen the health care infrastructure on which all Alabamians rely.

Fact Sheet

What we know about the health care changes in the new federal budget law

While many Alabamians were preparing for the July 4 holiday, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a sweeping federal budget law with serious consequences for families across the country, including right here in Alabama. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities put it plainly: “House and Senate Republicans have now passed a [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health, Medicaid Expansion
Date
July 8, 2025
Author
Debbie Smith
Personal Stories

Virginia wants you to join her in protecting health coverage in Alabama

Virginia would say things have been going well since moving back home to Birmingham a year ago – steady even. She said consistency has been key in staying healthy when life takes on unexpected changes.

And Virginia has had to navigate some unexpected changes recently. 

Issues
Budgets, Health, Tax Reform, Medicaid Expansion
Date
June 23, 2025
Author
Whit Sides
Fact Sheet

Federal budget bill threatens health coverage for 190,000 Alabamians

A bill passed by the U.S. House would put the health of thousands of Alabamians — and the state’s fragile health care system — at serious risk. Here is what’s at stake for Alabama: 190,000 Alabamians could lose coverage The bill would make cuts to Medicaid and would raise premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace. [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health, Medicaid Expansion
Date
June 10, 2025
Author
Debbie Smith
Personal Stories

Medicaid helped save her daughter’s life. Angelica wants it to be there for other Alabamians, too

Angelica is outspoken about the misconceptions and stigmas that often surround federal programs serving Alabama families. She said that in the past, more than half of her paycheck would be spent on private insurance.

Issues
Health, Medicaid Expansion
Date
June 2, 2025
Author
Whit Sides
Resources

HB 177: A case study in Alabama Arise advocacy

Alabama Arise successfully leapt into action this year to defend health coverage for thousands of children across our state.

Issues
Health, Medicaid Expansion
Date
May 29, 2025
Author
Whitney Washington
Handbook

Kit de herramientas de salud materna de Alabama

"Para mejorar la salud materna, debemos concentrarnos en mejorar la salud y el acceso a la atención de todas las mujeres; no solo durante el trabajo de parto y el nacimiento, sino también antes y después del embarazo, y durante toda nuestra vida". - Dra. Leana S. Wen Descargue aquí una copia completa en PDF [...]
Issue
Health
Date
April 3, 2025
Author
Alabama Arise
Letters & Testimony

Alabama Arise, 111 partner groups urge Congress to oppose cuts to Medicaid, SNAP

Congressional leaders are considering cuts to health coverage, food assistance and other human services in a push to offset the cost of tax cuts for wealthy households. The amount of potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the House budget resolution would be roughly equal to the cost of extending tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health, Safety Net
Date
February 25, 2025
Author
Alabama Arise
Fact Sheet

HB 89 and SB 102 would improve maternal health, save money and save lives in Alabama

Presumptive eligibility allows doctors and other providers to determine Medicaid eligibility for expectant mothers who are likely to be eligible. This allows women to begin receiving Medicaid coverage in the first trimester without having to wait for the agency’s official eligibility decision. More than 50% of expectant mothers in Alabama are eligible for Medicaid coverage [...]
Issue
Health
Date
February 13, 2025
Author
Jennifer Harris
Fact Sheet

School breakfast for all: What Alabama can do to help feed all of our kids

By Carol Gundlach, senior policy analyst, and LaTrell Clifford Wood, hunger policy advocate | January 2025 Overview Alabama can and should do more to equip our children and our schools for success. One big step would be to provide school breakfast for all our children. And our lawmakers can make major progress toward that goal [...]
Issues
Health, Safety Net, Tax Reform, Other Issues
Date
January 24, 2025
Author
Alabama Arise
Personal Stories

‘It shouldn’t be like this’

“If working people could get the coverage they deserve, we wouldn’t even be where we are now. Here in the Black Belt, or anywhere else.”

Issues
Health, Medicaid Expansion
Date
January 15, 2025
Author
Whit Sides
All Issue Resources