Trumps Breaks Campaign Promise

After taking control of Congress and the White House, Trump broke his promises not to cut or undermine Medicare or its benefits with the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This bill directly targets Medicare, reducing eligibility, restricting access to its benefits, and reducing funding, in ways that would harm individuals eligible for both programs.

The health and economic ramifications of these cuts are devastating for vulnerable adults and veterans including those with disabilities. This bill will terminate Medicare coverage for those with lawful immigration status who have been consistently paying taxes in the US for decades. This rejects the longstanding policy that recognizes eligibility for everyone who has contributed sufficient Social Security and Medicare taxes on wages to be considered “fully insured.”

Withholding and revoking Medicare eligibility from legally present older adults and those with disabilities is a betrayal of American values at its finest. Medicare currently prohibits payment for care for those who are illegally undocumented.

Additionally, this bill would restrict these individuals’ access to the Affordable Care Act, which provides tax credits to make purchasing private health insurance more affordable. Nearly 1.4 million low-income people with Medicare will lose critical cost-sharing assistance.

The Congressional Budget Office predicts fewer people will enroll in Medicaid and MSPs despite their eligibility. Those who are dependent on this financial assistance are already living on a limited income. Therefore, their dollars will be stretched even further, forcing some to choose between paying for healthcare and other basic needs, such as food and rent.

Along with this, there is also an increased risk of death for those who lose their Medicare benefits. A new study examined the health consequences of losing Medicaid and Medicare Part D, which lowers prescription drug costs, and found that individuals who lost Medicaid and LIS coverage experience 4% to 22% higher mortality compared to those who maintained coverage. This links prescription drug unaffordability with worse health outcomes and higher Medicare
spending.

Those with Medicare primarily rely on Medicaid for long-term care. In 2022, Medicaid paid for 61% of all long-term care and more than 70% of home- and Community-Based Services. This bill will undermine access to long-term care by cutting funding to the states. This bill ultimately contradicts and goes against the Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Rule, which endangers the lives of thousands of people with Medicare due to inadequate nursing facility staffing.

Republicans are breaking their promise not to undermine Medicare or cut its benefits. This Republican-backed tax bill will cut overage and healthcare access for millions of older adults and those with disabilities. This puts their lives, health, and financial stability at risk.

Only 37% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, per a May 1–18 Gallup poll.