Although President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in the U.S. House, the changes to Medicaid and other unpopular features, have a long road to becoming law. The bill – that barely passed — goes to the U.S. Senate, where it may be changed and then voted on yet again before heading to the president’s desk for his signature. Given how close the vote tally was in the House, it’s likely that the Senate will water down or not greenlight some of the more controversial features in the House bill.
This uncertainty is good news for now as millions of Medicaid recipients await with bated breath a final bill. However, if the House bill plows ahead unchanged, it’s estimated that up to 7.6 million people could lose their Medicaid health insurance over the next 10 years.
Those most likely affected
While the bill needs to be further debated and fleshed out, and if the Republican majority in the Senate holds, the conventional wisdom is that those most at risk of losing their health insurance are low wage workers with inconsistent hours, undocumented immigrants who receive care from local programs funded by federal money, seniors and individuals with disabilities who cannot meet new work requirements, and many other of the most vulnerable groups in society.
Burden on states
Should federal dollars dry up it will put the burden on states to continue some of the health programs should there be a political will to do so based on budgetary feasibility. Lawmakers will have tough choices to make on how to offset federal reductions.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said, “Cutting Medicaid by taking away coverage and shifting costs to states will have long-term and expensive repercussions, including worse health outcomes, greater costs to hospital systems, and straining state and local economies.”
Questionable values and savings
In the starkest and bleakest way of describing what losing Medicaid means – many people will not be able to afford healthcare and will die from it. People with chronic health conditions losing Medicaid means they must do with less of other basic needs like reducing how much groceries they buy just to continue their healthcare.
Families and their children will be hurt. Medicaid helps two out of every five children, providing essential health coverage that is vital to their well-being. Medicaid is often relied upon for workers in transition who suddenly lose their jobs and medical coverage. Some states who provide gap insurance during this transitional time rely on federal funds. Such programs could be impacted.
Medicaid has been relied upon by single parents. Many of them are hardworking but barely make enough to support their children. At the very least, Medicaid gave them peace of mind that there is health insurance for them should they get sick. Without Medicaid, it’s highly likely that single parents on a tight budget will ignore body pains that require medical attention, ignore preventative medicine – doctors’ visits that could be lifesaving if illnesses are discovered early.
And when considering that the overall “One Big Beautiful Bill” will not save much but add $3.8 trillion over 10 years and basically amount to a transfer of wealth from working poor Americans to the wealthiest Americans – it’s conservative to say this bill is a cruel piece of legislation, even immoral, and certainly not “beautiful.”
While millions of Medicaid recipients will be cut from their healthcare insurance and have their overall quality of life lowered — the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will have the top 0.1% of income earners stand to gain nearly $390,000 per year.
This reality is harder to swallow when considering that Trump ran on a populist agenda to raise the standard of living for average and working poor Americans. Remember that Trump also promised not to touch Medicaid, along with Social Security and Medicare.
And it’s not just the average and working poor who will be affected by cuts to Medicaid, the entire healthcare system from hospitals to private practices will be impacted, health experts say. Doctors, hospital executives, and advocates have warned that changes to Medicaid could not only harm patients, but also quickly cause rural hospitals to close and force essential programs to shut down. Hospitals also warn of increased uncompensated care of their facilities with Medicaid cuts.
Time to rally for Medicaid
Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, stated that discussions with the Senate commenced in the last week of May. Senators are expected to begin reviewing the House version of the bill in committees in June. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the final bill must pass before lawmakers leave for their summer break at the end of July.
Now is the time to organize and call your senator and your family and friends who live in other states to call their senators and say no to passing cuts to Medicaid. The U.S. Senate switchboard is (202) 224-3121. This number can connect you to any Senate office you request.
It’s recommended that you state not only your opposition to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” but specifically to also mention your opposition to Medicaid changes. Let our collective voices save Medicaid.
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