Now that the big ugly bill is the law of the land, what are the health consequences?
This year, veterans will have a longer wait time for treatment and may have to travel further to get it. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the number of veterans living in Berks County is 7,719. Cuts made to nutrition benefits are hitting children, people with disabilities and seniors the hardest. In Berks there are 8,185 recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The biggest cuts will come from Medicaid, and 17,967 Berks Medicaid beneficiaries may find their health insurance ripped from them in 2026. The Congressional Budget Office estimates higher premiums for the Affordable Care Act will push 4.7 million off that plan. The GOP bill does not include the Biden subsidies for the ACA, which will eliminate another 4 million from the program. Nationwide the bill is projected to remove 18 million from the health care rolls.
Why are the health care cuts taking effect after the 2026 election? While this bill was being prepared the Republicans claimed they could achieve President Donald Trump’s promised savings by eliminating “fraud, waste, and abuse.” It was a lie, of course, but it kept the voters confused.
Once voters find out how badly they were betrayed, it will be too late to take their anger out on the Republicans in 2026. Many GOP leaders believe as Sen. Mitch McConnell stated “that the voters would forget about it” come the 2028 election. Rep. Dan Meuser and Sen. Dave McCormick are hoping they do.
Tom Posey
Yardley, Bucks County
Source: Berkshire mont