The One Big Beautiful Bill and Its Impact on Medicaid and U.S. Healthcare

Abstract

Since their establishment in 1965, Medicare and Medicaid have played vital roles in giving healthcare coverage to millions of low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans. Over time, these programs have changed through reforms such as the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which both expanded eligibility and improved access to healthcare. However, the recent passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in [month, year]  marks a substantial shift in policy, implementing the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history. This new legislation introduces strict work requirements, more eligibility verifications, increased copayments, and huge funding reductions, affecting millions of Americans, especially those with low-income. The bill’s economic strategies have sparked controversy due to the projected increases in the nation’s debt, expecting to add [ $ amount]. These reforms are expected to affect the uninsured population, compromising preventative care, and adding stress on healthcare providers especially in rural and underserved areas. Healthcare experts advocate for policy revisions to reduce the effects, focusing on simple enrollment and expanded eligibility. The One Big Beautiful Bill enactment has marked a critical point in time for American healthcare, raising questions of the future of our nation’s healthcare safety net: the system of public programs such as medicaid. This calls for continued conversation to preserve these protections in a way that is economically sustainable for those who rely on them.