SNAP Cuts & Healthcare: Impact on Beneficiaries
- face food insecurity, lacking consistent access to adequate food due to limited resources.
- However, proposed budget reconciliation bills in Congress aim to reduce federal spending on SNAP by $287 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
- The proposed legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would also slash federal health program spending by over $1 trillion over ten years, including significant reductions to...
Proposed cuts to SNAP benefits could dramatically increase food insecurity among Medicaid enrollees, putting millions at risk. New research reveals that a meaningful overlap exists between recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and those insured by Medicaid; nearly 80% of SNAP beneficiaries also receive Medicaid coverage. Congress is considering legislation that could slash over $287 billion from SNAP, alongside over $1 trillion in federal healthcare spending cuts. This could leave millions uninsured, especially those already experiencing food insecurity. News Directory 3 provides an in-depth analysis of how these changes to primary_keyword and secondary_keyword eligibility could impact vulnerable populations. Discover what’s next …
SNAP Cuts Could Increase Food Insecurity Among Medicaid Enrollees
Updated June 26, 2025
Nearly 53 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity, lacking consistent access to adequate food due to limited resources. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), established in 1964, provides monthly benefits to help low-income individuals and families purchase groceries.
However, proposed budget reconciliation bills in Congress aim to reduce federal spending on SNAP by $287 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Thes cuts, while generating budgetary savings, could lead to higher rates of food insecurity and poorer health outcomes, studies suggest.
The proposed legislation, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would also slash federal health program spending by over $1 trillion over ten years, including significant reductions to Medicaid and ACA Marketplace subsidies. The CBO estimates this would leave an additional 10.9 million people uninsured within a decade.
A new analysis, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), examines the overlap between SNAP recipients and health coverage sources.
In 2022, the analysis found that the majority (78%) of SNAP recipients were also covered by Medicaid, including 18% who had both Medicaid and Medicare. Approximately 30 million of the 38.3 million SNAP beneficiaries were enrolled in Medicaid, reflecting similar eligibility requirements between the two programs, though rules vary by state.
Of those Medicaid enrollees receiving SNAP,23.3 million were solely covered by Medicaid, while 6.7 million were also covered by Medicare,often referred to as dual-eligible individuals. Medicaid served as the primary coverage source for 88% of children receiving SNAP benefits,totaling about 13 million kids.
Additionally, 9.2 million Medicare beneficiaries received SNAP benefits, representing one in four SNAP recipients. A significant portion (6.7 million) of these Medicare beneficiaries also had supplemental coverage thru Medicaid. In 2023, one in four Medicare beneficiaries lived on incomes below $21,000 per person.
The analysis also revealed that over 500,000 people purchasing health insurance directly, primarily through ACA Marketplaces, received SNAP benefits in 2022. Another 2.4 million SNAP recipients were uninsured.
The proposed changes to SNAP and Medicaid eligibility rules could jeopardize access to both food and healthcare for some individuals, given the significant overlap in eligibility requirements. KFF polling indicates that a majority of the public is concerned about the consequences of considerable Medicaid spending reductions, with half of low-income adults reporting difficulty affording necessities like food.
A CBO analysis of the House version of the reconciliation bill projects that households in the lowest income bracket could experience a 4% decrease in resources by 2034, largely due to changes in Medicaid and SNAP. Simultaneously occurring, the highest income households could see a 2% increase in resources due to proposed tax cuts.
Many individuals enrolled in programs facing potential cuts, such as Medicaid and SNAP, already struggle with food insecurity. In 2022, 52.8 million people lived in food-insecure households, including 30% of Medicaid enrollees (22.4 million) and 13% of medicare beneficiaries (8.7 million). Additionally, 26% of the uninsured and 12% of those with direct purchase coverage experienced food insecurity.
Of the 52.8 million people reporting food insecurity, 73% were not receiving SNAP benefits. However, even among the 38.3 million SNAP recipients, 37% reported experiencing food insecurity.
Proposed SNAP cuts could exacerbate food insecurity and affordability challenges for those already struggling to access food, as well as those at risk of losing health insurance due to other legislative changes.
What’s next
The reconciliation bill is expected to face further debate and revisions in Congress.The potential impact on food security and healthcare access will likely remain a key point of contention.