Republican Medicaid Cuts Drive Rising Health Care Costs, Coverage Threats

Recent executive actions by President Donald Trump, including an April 15 executive order on drug pricing, have been criticized as ineffective and primarily serving to protect pharmaceutical companies rather than lower drug costs for Americans. Critics argue that the order lacks concrete policy details and instead extends the period during which drug companies can charge high prices without negotiation, while Republicans in Congress simultaneously pursue tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy, funding these through cuts to Medicaid and other social programs. Medicaid, a rapidly growing joint state-federal program, now costs more than national defense and faces calls for reform due to its escalating expenses and inefficient spending incentives, with concerns that proposed cuts could harm vulnerable populations. The Trump administration's Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposes up to $880 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cuts over the next decade, ostensibly targeting waste but risking negative impacts on low-income, senior, and disabled Americans. Meanwhile, Medicare Advantage, a privatized segment of Medicare, is criticized for overpayments and billing practices that may cost taxpayers an estimated $1.2 trillion over ten years, yet remains largely unaddressed by current policies. These developments highlight ongoing tensions between efforts to reduce government spending and the need to maintain affordable health care access for millions of Americans.