Today, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz is scheduled to meet with the “Main Street Republicans” caucus as Donald Trump and Republicans face dismal approval ratings and prepare for historic losses in the midterms. Americans are fed up with Trump and Republicans’ reckless policies that have devastated the economy and driven up costs on everything.
Trump and Republicans made the largest cut to Medicaid in history with their “One, Big Beautiful Bill,” and Republicans have consistently supported cutting the program even more. Then, they refused to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, driving up insurance premiums by an average of 58% and causing millions of people to drop coverage altogether. A new report this week found that enrollment in Medicaid and the ACA marketplace declined by more than five million in the last year as a result of Trump and Republicans’ cuts.
REMINDER: Earlier this month, Oz declared, “We created a program with great danger when we allowed expansion of Medicaid.” Medicaid expansion programs have drastically lowered uninsured rates in rural communities, helped hospitals and health clinics remain open, and helped reduce new and unpaid medical debt.
In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:
“Donald Trump and Republicans have abandoned everyday Americans. After passing the largest cut to Medicaid in history and refusing to extend the ACA tax credits, millions of families are struggling to keep up with high costs or are being forced to forgo care altogether — all so Trump and Republicans can afford their tax handouts for the rich. Voters won’t forget how Republicans turned their backs on them and gutted critical programs they rely on to afford lifesaving care.”
New data last week revealed that fewer than half of Americans can comfortably afford healthcare, the lowest level in years, and nearly three-quarters of adults said healthcare costs were a financial burden for them. To top it off, Trump and his administration now want Americans to take out loans for medical bills they can’t pay.
