GOP Bill: 11M Lose Health Insurance – CBO Report
Millions Could Lose Insurance Due to House Bill’s Medicaid Cuts, CBO Says
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report projects that a House-passed budget reconciliation bill could leave nearly 11 million additional Americans uninsured by 2034. The analysis highlights the potential impact of proposed medicaid cuts on healthcare coverage and the uninsured rate.
The CBO estimates that 7.8 million individuals would lose coverage due to changes in Medicaid eligibility requirements.These changes, part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s provisions, aim to lower the federal deficit by $1 trillion. though, the CBO notes that the bill would increase the overall deficit by $2.4 trillion.
Key changes to Medicaid include mandating beneficiaries to report work, education, or volunteer hours to maintain coverage. This provision alone is projected to decrease federal spending by $344 billion. The bill also requires more frequent eligibility checks and reduces federal support for states offering insurance to undocumented immigrants. the CBO estimates that 1.4 million people without verified citizenship would lose coverage by 2034.
The legislation also targets Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions,such as ending the open enrollment period earlier and restricting subsidies for automatically reenrolled beneficiaries. The CBO estimates that 1.3 million people would lose coverage due to ACA-related changes under the Energy and commerce Committee, while another 2.3 million would become uninsured due to healthcare policies in the Ways and Means portion of the bill.
Loren adler, a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on Health Policy, noted that the coverage losses would reverse about half of the insurance gains made since the ACA.
Democrats, including Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore.,House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal,D-Mass., and House energy and commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., have criticized the bill, arguing it would reduce healthcare access for the poor while benefiting the wealthy. In a joint statement, they said millions would lose coverage, healthcare costs would rise, and tens of thousands could die.
hospital groups also voiced concerns, anticipating increased uncompensated care costs, especially for safety-net and rural providers. An analysis by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation suggests providers could lose over $770 billion in revenue over the next decade under the bill.
Republicans, including administration officials, argue the bill preserves Medicaid for the most vulnerable by cutting out able-bodied enrollees, reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. However,some GOP lawmakers,like Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., worry about the political consequences of stripping Medicaid coverage from their constituents.
what’s next
The bill is now under Senate consideration, where changes are possible. GOP leaders aim to have it ready for President donald trump’s signature by July 4.