Now that the Senate has passed President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which includes $1.1 trillion in health-care cuts, millions of Americans are bracing for significant changes to the U.S. healthcare system, including the potential loss of their health insurance.
On Tuesday, the Senate narrowly passed the spending measure by a 51-50 vote, following a long overnight session on amendments. The bill will now go to the House, where Republicans hold a narrow majority.
Medicaid, a joint federal and state health insurance program for people with disabilities and low-income Americans, is projected to lose $1 trillion in funding over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office reports.
The CBO also forecasts that the current bill would result in 11.8 million people losing their health insurance by 2034, however other reports put the estimate at 17 million.
According to government data, approximately 72 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid.
Back in May, President Trump stated that he would veto the bill if it included Medicaid cuts. He added, “They’re looking at fraud, waste and abuse. And nobody minds that… If illegal immigrants are in the mix, if people that aren’t supposed to be there, people that are non-citizens are in the mix, nobody minds that. Waste, fraud and abuse. But we’re not cutting Medicaid, we’re not cutting Medicare, and we’re not cutting Social Security.”
Some Republican House members have already voiced concerns about the legislation, therefore the bill’s success is still not guaranteed.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff