VIRGINIA (WWBT) – Healthcare coverage could change for millions of Americans in the coming months.
Experts say President Donald Trump’s budget bill, also dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” threatens health coverage for America’s most vulnerable population and puts a burden on Healthcare providers.
“For uninsured people, that means that there is more uncompensated care,” said Julian Walker, who works with Virginia Hospitals and Healthcare Association. “With that, [it] means people who get healthcare they are unable to pay for that care. They don’t have insurance, and the cost of that care is initially absorbed by the healthcare provider, like the hospital.”
Walker tells 12 On Your Side they are worried about the impacts this bill could have.
The bill heavily targets Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS), and experts say more than 10 million could be removed from the programs by 2034.
This is because the bill changed its application requirements, making it harder for people to qualify.
If you are insured through the healthcare marketplace, which is under the umbrella of the Affordable Care Act, your premiums may take a hit, too.
“Lets say you’re self employed or you work for a small company that doesn’t offer insurance to it’s employees, you can go to the marketplace place what they call a health benefit exchange and if you meet the eligibility guidelines you can purchase a plan with what’s known as a tax credit subsidy which will help defray the cost of you purchasing that coverage plan,” Walker said.
Experts say the bill bars premium tax credit eligibility for those enrolled in a plan using an income-based special enrollment period. This could increase healthcare premiums for those needing a more affordable option.
Some top Virginia Democratic leaders say more than 300,000 Virginians will likely lose health insurance, and Virginia hospitals could lose nearly $26 billion in funding.
However, earlier this month, Governor Youngkin disagreed with this data, saying in part, ”They use extreme assumptions in every measure, and I firmly believe it is one they created for political purposes.”
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