Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income Americans, currently covers over 70 million individuals and is facing significant changes due to President Trump's proposed legislation, known as 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill.'

The proposed legislation includes over $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, which could take effect as early as July 4, 2025, as part of a broader effort by Senate Republicans to fund tax cuts while addressing national debt concerns.

The House and Senate versions of the bill propose slashing Medicaid funding by hundreds of billions of dollars, potentially causing nearly 12 million adults to lose their health insurance over the next decade, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

The CBO estimates that the Senate's proposed changes could leave approximately 11.8 million uninsured by 2034, while other estimates suggest the figure could reach 20 million.

This estimate indicates that the Senate bill would result in nearly 1 million more individuals losing coverage compared to the House's version of the tax bill, which projected around 10.9 million would be affected.

Of the 11.8 million projected to lose coverage, approximately 1.4 million are individuals classified as having 'satisfactory immigration status' according to the CBO.

The significant cuts to Medicaid are primarily due to the introduction of a strict nationwide work requirement, despite most working-aged adults on Medicaid already being employed.

The bill introduces controversial work requirements for Medicaid recipients, which could complicate access for those already facing challenges in maintaining employment.

Healthcare providers and clinics that rely on Medicaid funding express concern that cuts would reduce their revenues, limiting their ability to provide services and potentially leading to facility closures and job losses in the community.

Protests against the Medicaid cuts have occurred, including demonstrations by seniors and disabled individuals, highlighting the public outcry against the proposed reductions.

Public support for Medicaid remains high, with over 80% of Americans viewing the program positively, according to a recent survey.

In contrast to the proposed cuts, North Carolina's recent bipartisan support for Medicaid expansion illustrates the critical role the program plays in community health, having significantly improved healthcare access for over 600,000 residents since its expansion.