House Republicans’ reconciliation bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is cutting funds to medical services and insurance such as Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill was passed on July 4, 2025, and will cause many disabled people to struggle with getting their healthcare covered.
The Bill and its Impacts
With over $715 billion in cuts to Medicaid as well as many restrictions now in place to prevent certain people from getting the help they need, people with disabilities are facing more challenges than ever before.
There are now work requirements that disabled people have to meet in order to qualify for Medicaid. This will affect many people, such as those who are unable to work or find a job.
There is also a section of the bill that prevents Medicaid and other companies from giving funds for gender-affirming care. This section of the law specifically targets people who are transgender. Some of these changes will also affect people in the student body.
How will this bill affect the student body? The lead medical assistant at the TuHS School-Based Health center, Shelby Price, said, “There is a chance that the School-Based Health Center can close.” This could leave many students in a vulnerable position if they are unable to get the care they need.
Additionally, remaining eligible for coverage is harder than ever before. Now, instead of having to prove eligibility once a year, people are required to prove they qualify for the program every six months. The added requirements are likely to make it more difficult for people struggling with employment and their health to remain signed up.
In the next 10 years, the number of uninsured people will likely drastically increase as people aren’t meeting the requirements. “Oftentimes, students don’t think it has an impact on them, but this bill has an impact on all of America,” government teacher Michael Crotty said.
By October of 2028, all states will be required to charge a co-pay to people on Medicaid who have a higher income than what is considered the poverty line. This can greatly impact families, as well as students who make more than the poverty line but not enough to afford the co-pay of $35 per appointment.
Other Effects of the Bill
The bill will make it more difficult for health care coverage companies such as Medicaid to expand. The bill puts restrictions on states and how much in provider taxes they are able to use to fund Medicaid. This shortage of funds will make it harder for states to expand Medicaid to reach all those who need healthcare and can’t afford it.
The changes as a result of the new law also make it harder for children and seniors to be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. In fact, most of the people who will lose their coverage are either seniors or people with disabilities.
A section of the bill also prevents Medicaid and CHIP from giving health coverage if people don’t immediately have identification available to prove that they are US citizens. This can affect people of all ages who do not have identification with them. The main target of this section of the law is undocumented immigrants.
On top of all of that, it is also harder now to keep Medicaid eligibility for long-term services, such as nursing homes, as well as mental health services, such as therapy. Experts suspect we may see a spike in suicide and mental health issues in young people in the following years.
