Medicaid Cuts Among Changes Expected When OBBBA Takes Effect in 2026
AMA
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA), effective in 2026, presents substantial shifts in healthcare policy, including ending fiscal incentives for Medicaid expansion and increasing costs for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollees. The bill could displace 10 million people from health insurance by 2034, with another 14 million at risk of losing coverage if ACA tax credits are not renewed. Key provisions such as more frequent Medicaid eligibility checks, work requirements for enrollees, and shortened ACA enrollment windows are designed to cut federal health program funding but could significantly hinder access to care. Healthcare professionals must prepare for the anticipated challenges in patient coverage and the broader implications for healthcare delivery.
