Medicare, Medicaid Cuts Would Force Half of Patients to Delay Care: Poll – Newsweek

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Suzanne Blake is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on consumer and social trends, spanning from retail to restaurants and beyond. She is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and joined Newsweek in 2023. You can get in touch with Suzanne by emailing s.blake@newsweek.com. Languages: English

Suzanne Blake

Reporter, Consumer & Social Trends

Half of those on Medicare and Medicaid would have to delay or skip their medical treatments if the programs face major cuts under the Republican House budget, according to a new Everly Health survey.

The polling of 1,000 U.S. adults found more than 60 percent of Americans are worried about Medicare and Medicaid cuts under the new budget.

Why It Matters

The Republican House budget asks the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid and Medicare, to cut $880 billion in spending over the next decade.

More than 72 million people across the country were covered by Medicaid last year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. And Medicare, which serves seniors, is responsible for the health coverage of at least 66 million Americans.

What To Know

The House budget calls for $2 trillion in spending cuts. While none of that is specified for Medicare or Medicaid, the budget does outline that the House Energy and Commerce Committee would need to make the $880 billion in cuts over the next decade. The health care programs account for a bulk of the committee’s funding.

While Trump has promised there will not be cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, an analysis by The New York Times found the committee would be $600 billion short even if it cuts everything besides health care.

In the Everly Health survey, half of those on Medicare and Medicaid would have to delay or skip their medical treatments if the programs faced major cuts.

Another 60 percent said they feared changes in federal health leadership would affect their access to health care, and 70 percent of those expecting a negative shift have a chronic illness.

What People Are Saying

Kevin Thompson, finance expert and founder/CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: “Given the massive cuts to entitlement spending and reform, it’s clear why there’s concern. An $880 billion reduction to a program that was previously assured as ‘untouchable’ is alarming—especially since the details haven’t been fully presented. People should be concerned not just about this program but about potential cuts to others in the future.”

Michael Ryan, finance expert and founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “When people delay medical care due to cost concerns, they’re not being stubborn. They’re making painful kitchen table decisions between medicine and mortgage payments. You know how it goes – when funding gets tight, something’s gotta give.

States might tighten eligibility requirements, essentially pulling the healthcare rug out from under millions. Then there’s the ripple effect on benefits; fewer covered services or higher out-of-pocket costs. And let’s not forget about doctors potentially dropping Medicaid patients altogether due to lower reimbursement rates.”

Chris Fong, a Medicare specialist and the CEO of Smile Insurance Group, told Newsweek: “Imagine needing to get an exam that costs $400 but not having any insurance to help pay for the exam. A lot of people will choose not to have the exam and wait for it to get to an emergency which will likely result in more medical expenses of which they may or may not be able to afford. This will put more pressure on the medical system with the unpaid medical bills.”

What’s Next

Low-income families would likely face difficult choices in navigating their health care if the cuts take effect.

“Seniors and people with disabilities who depend on long-term care services would be left scrambling. And kids might lose access to the very care that gives them a healthy start in life,” Ryan said, adding that health insurance premiums would also likely increase.

If the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are approved, Thompson said, underserved, rural communities and older adults are most vulnerable, as they already have more limited health care access and telehealth options.

“Initially, I thought these cuts were unlikely, but the growing push from Republicans to pass their tax bill suggests otherwise,” Thompson said. “It’s possible these cuts will be packaged subtly—like reducing state funding through block grants and adding more barriers to program accessibility. Medicaid, being a significant cost factor, is likely to face the most pressure.”