Senate Bill Cuts $1.1T Medicaid, Risks 11.8M Losing Coverage

The Congressional Budget Office has released new estimates showing that Senate Republicans' version of President Donald Trump's spending package would lead to 11.8 million Americans losing health insurance by 2034, more than the House-passed version. The bill would cut federal spending on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act by $1.1 trillion, with Medicaid bearing the steepest cuts, including the introduction of strict work requirements and reductions in provider taxes. These cuts mark the largest reduction in Medicaid funding in history, contradicting President Trump's claims that cuts would only target fraud and waste. The legislation would also add at least $3.3 trillion to the national debt over a decade, raising concerns among some Republicans and Democrats alike about its fiscal impact. Further amendments in the Senate could deepen Medicaid cuts by phasing out the enhanced federal matching rate for Medicaid expansion enrollees, potentially causing millions more to lose coverage. Critics warn that these cuts would harm vulnerable populations, rural hospitals, and states' ability to maintain expanded Medicaid programs.