Long Covid, Kids’ Health and the Fight to Protect Medicaid

Long Covid, Kids’ Health and the Fight to Protect Medicaid

March 13, 2025

Long Covid Day is March 15, 2025

Millions of children are still struggling with the long-term effects of COVID-19, including children who face ongoing health challenges and those grieving the loss of caregivers. 

At The Children’s Partnership, we know that true child health equity means addressing these ongoing hardships and ensuring every child in California has access to the care and support they need. Yet with proposed Medicaid cuts on the horizon, the health and well-being of Long Covid sufferers—especially children—are at serious risk.

The Lasting Impact of Long Covid on Kids

Long Covid doesn’t just affect adults—it can leave children dealing with persistent symptoms such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, difficulty breathing and heart palpitations. These symptoms can disrupt their education, social development and overall well-being. Kids from families with low incomes and communities of color, already facing disparities in health care access, are disproportionately affected when they struggle to get the symptom management and accommodations they need.

Why Medicaid Is Essential for Long Covid Care

Medicaid serves as a crucial safety net, ensuring that children, families with low incomes and individuals with disabilities have access to health care. For children with Long Covid, Medicaid provides vital services such as specialist visits, rehabilitative care, mental health treatment and medications. Cuts to Medicaid would mean:

  • Reduced access to health care services – Kids with Long Covid could lose coverage for essential symptom management, worsening their conditions and long-term outcomes.
  • Strain on community health centers – Many families rely on Medicaid-funded clinics, which could see reduced funding or even closures.
  • Increased financial hardship – Without Medicaid, families may face out-of-pocket costs they cannot afford, leading to skipped doctor visits and worsening health.
  • Limited mental health resources – Many children with Long Covid experience anxiety and depression. Medicaid funds vital mental health services that could be lost with budget cuts.
  • Greater health care inequities – Black and Brown children, who are disproportionately affected by Long Covid and Medicaid cuts, would be hit the hardest.

The Children Left Behind

Beyond physical symptoms, we must also remember the children who lost parents and caregivers to COVID-19. These losses have led to increased financial instability, housing insecurity and mental health struggles. Medicaid helps these children access counseling, medical care and other essential services. Cutting Medicaid would mean denying them the support they need to heal and thrive.

What Can We Do?

  1. Protect and Expand Medicaid – We must fight against Medicaid cuts and advocate for expanded coverage to ensure every child has access to health care.
  2. Increase School Accommodations – Schools must recognize Long Covid as a disability and provide necessary accommodations like individualized learning plans, flexible attendance policies and in-school health support.
  3. Support Research & Awareness – More investment in Long Covid research for children is needed to better understand its effects and develop treatments. We must also work to reduce stigma and misinformation around Long Covid in kids.
  4. Center Affected Families in Policy Decisions – Families impacted by Long Covid and COVID-related losses must have a seat at the table when shaping public health responses and policies.

On Long Covid Day, and every day, we stand with the children and families still feeling the effects of the pandemic. Achieving child health equity means addressing these long-term consequences with urgency, compassion and action. And it means protecting Medicaid—because without it, too many kids will be left behind. Let’s fight for their right to health care and a healthier future for all children in California.

RESOURCES

If you’d like to learn more about Long Covid, what communities are facing, and what we can do going forward, check out these resources: 

ferd