22 Million at Risk of Losing Healthcare Under Republican Medicaid Reform Proposals

GOP Pushes Medicaid Cuts to Fund Trump Policies

The Republican Party is pushing for significant cuts to Medicaid, the federal health program that supports millions of low-income Americans, in an effort to finance former President Donald Trump’s tax policies and mass deportation plans. Democrats claim that these proposed cuts could leave up to 22 million people without health care, directly contradicting Trump’s previous campaign promises to reduce costs for working-class citizens. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Federal Medicaid Freeze Blocked by Judge

These developments come as reports reveal that Trump’s decision to freeze federal Medicaid funding has already led to entire states being blocked from the payment system. Despite White House assurances that Medicaid would remain unaffected, a judge halted the freeze late Tuesday amid accusations that the administration was overstepping its authority. The acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, Matthew Vaeth, had justified the freeze as a measure to combat what he called “wokeness.” Second presidency of Donald Trump / Wikimedia

Senator Wyden Condemns Healthcare Cuts

“This is a blatant attempt to rip away health care from millions of Americans overnight and will get people killed,” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in a social media post. U.S. Senate Photographic Studio / Wikimedia

Republicans Consider Permanent Medicaid Reductions

As uncertainty looms for over 72 million Medicaid enrollees, congressional Republicans are considering permanent reductions to the program. According to The New York Times, the House Budget Committee is exploring measures such as new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, federal funding caps, and tighter eligibility criteria. Additional provisions being discussed could significantly undercut Medicaid expansion in states that have adopted it. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services / Wikimedia

Speaker Johnson Discusses Work Requirements

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated to reporters earlier this month, “There’s some talk about work requirements and various aspects, but we haven’t determined the final parameters of it yet.” Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

DNC Projects Millions Could Lose Coverage

Even if Medicaid is not entirely dismantled, these changes could result in millions losing coverage. A Democratic National Committee (DNC) analysis, shared with Salon, indicates that curbing Medicaid expansion—which currently provides coverage to those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty line—could force nearly 22 million people out of the program. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

DNC Director Criticizes Trump's Healthcare Approach

“Trump lied to the American people for months on the campaign trail, promising to lower their costs on Day One. It’s clear from Trump’s first week in office that he’s focused on the bottom line of his billionaire backers, not working families,” said Sam Cornale, executive director of the DNC. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

State-by-State Impact of Proposed Cuts

A state-by-state breakdown of the DNC analysis shows that Medicaid expansion rollbacks would impact over 5 million Californians and 2.3 million New Yorkers. Additionally, more than 900,000 individuals in Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, along with 640,000 Arizonans, 689,000 Oregonians, and 730,000 Virginians, could lose their health care coverage.

“Americans all over the country rely on Medicaid for health care coverage and these cuts would devastate families, including in many communities that carried Trump this election cycle," Cornale added. Kaboompics.com / Pexels