Republican strongholds, such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, are expected to bear the brunt of Medicaid cuts proposed in a Senate bill. These states have a significant portion of their residents, over a quarter, relying on Medicaid for healthcare coverage, as reported by KFF, a nonpartisan health research organization. Florida and Texas, both led by Republican officials, also have over 1 million residents each enrolled in Medicaid, ranking among the highest in the nation.
Estimates suggest that between 12 to 20 million individuals across the country could lose their Medicaid coverage due to extensive reductions in the health insurance program under consideration by Senate Republicans. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that the Senate’s bill could leave nearly 11.8 million people uninsured by 2034, while the Senate Joint Economic Committee Minority estimates the number of potential coverage losses to be around 20 million.
Concerns over increasing national debt led Senate Republicans to include substantial cuts to Medicaid benefits – exceeding $1 trillion – in the bill, which is undergoing a “vote-a-rama” on June 30. If passed, the revised bill will move back to the House for further review, with President Donald Trump urging Congress to deliver the budget reconciliation by July 4.
Protesters from ADAPT, a disability rights organization, were detained during a demonstration against the proposed Medicaid cuts outside the Hart Senate office building in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2025. The Senate bill not only slashes Medicaid as intended by House Republicans but also reduces federal Medicaid spending for those enrolled through state-level expansions of the Affordable Care Act, which aimed to expand insurance coverage eligibility.
Medicaid plays a crucial role in providing healthcare coverage to 83 million low-income individuals, including 40% of American children and 60% of nursing home residents, according to KFF. Despite strong public support for preserving Medicaid, the bill proposes changes that its proponents argue target waste, fraud, and abuse while safeguarding coverage for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, and disabled Americans.
The bill introduces a work requirement for Medicaid recipients and adds $25 billion to a rural hospital relief fund to mitigate potential financial strains on hospitals caused by Medicaid cutbacks. However, experts warn that this added funding may not be sufficient to prevent rural hospitals from closing.
In light of these developments, individuals and advocacy groups continue to voice their concerns and objections to the proposed changes to Medicaid, emphasizing the need to protect access to healthcare for those who depend on the program.
The article discusses the impact of work requirements on Medicaid recipients, opposition to Medicaid cuts, and concerns raised by various groups and individuals. Many low-income individuals work in jobs without insurance, and implementing work requirements could create bureaucratic hurdles. Some states that previously imposed work requirements have since removed them due to challenges. Opposition to Medicaid cuts has come from various groups, including the American Hospital Association, senior citizens, and disabled individuals who fear losing access to healthcare. The cuts could also strain state budgets and result in loss of services. Republican-led states with low private insurance coverage heavily rely on Medicaid. Senator Thom Tillis criticized the cuts, expressing concern for constituents who may lose Medicaid coverage.
