Trump's Health Care Move: A Step Back for Millions

President Trump recently signed a major bill that will significantly change Medicaid. This law will make it harder for many people to get health care. The bill adds work requirements for adults under 65. This means they must prove they are working or in school to keep their Medicaid coverage.

Impact of the New Rules

• The new rules could take health care away from up to 15 million people.
• Without Medicaid, these individuals may struggle to afford essential treatments like insulin, dialysis, and cancer care.
• States will also face financial strain as they try to cover the costs shifted from the federal government.
• Over 300 rural hospitals and nearly 600 nursing homes could close due to these changes.

Past Attempts and Consequences

Republicans say the bill does not cut Medicaid, but the work requirements will make it harder for people to access care. This is not the first time such requirements have been tried. In the past, states like New Hampshire and Arkansas implemented similar rules. The results were disastrous. Many people lost their coverage because the process was too complicated.

Increased Costs and Political Implications

• The bill also promises to double the cost of individual health insurance for those who lose Medicaid.
• This will make health care even more unaffordable for many Americans.
• Vice President J. D. Vance downplayed the importance of these changes, calling them "immaterial."
• However, experts warn that these cuts could lead to 200,000 preventable deaths.

Trump's supporters elected him with the hope that he would make life more affordable. Instead, the cost of living continues to rise, and now health care is becoming less accessible. The new bill breaks his promise to protect vital programs like Medicaid. It remains to be seen how this will affect his political future.