With Trump back in power, Medicaid faces potential cuts that could impact millions of low-income Americans.
Republicans are talking about cutting funding and changing regulations to shrink Medicaid, which is a huge program that helps around 79 million mostly low-income folks. They want to roll back the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which added millions of people to the program over the last decade.
Trump hasn’t said much about Medicaid during his campaign, but his past administration tried to implement work requirements and block grants for states. Some GOP leaders believe major changes are needed to tackle federal debt, and they see Medicaid as a prime target.
Advocates for low-income Americans are worried that these cuts will leave many without insurance and struggling to get care. Medicaid is turning 60 soon, and after the pandemic protections ended, many people lost coverage.
Experts predict that if the GOP pushes through their plans, we could see a big shift in who gets covered and how Medicaid operates. But there will likely be pushback from various groups that rely on Medicaid to function.
The GOP is considering several strategies to cut Medicaid, like switching to block grants, reducing funding from the ACA, and adding work requirements. If these changes happen, low-income folks might find it tough to afford private insurance, which usually comes with high costs.
Some conservative think tanks are pushing for accountability in how states manage Medicaid, claiming that some people who shouldn’t be enrolled are getting benefits. They want to focus on traditional populations like children and people with disabilities.
Overall, it seems like a tough road ahead for Medicaid, and many are bracing for a fight over its future.
