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Insider’s Report: Seniors at Risk as Senate Takes Up Largest Medicaid Cut in Program’s History |
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In a move that has sent shockwaves through the senior advocacy community, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 1 — legislation that includes nearly $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid. These devastating reductions are being proposed to help offset the cost of massive tax breaks, the majority of which would benefit wealthy individuals and large, profitable corporations.
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Now, the fight has shifted to the U.S. Senate, where GOP leaders are working behind closed doors to craft their own version of the bill. And they’re moving fast — aiming to pass it before July 4th. What’s worse, because the bill adds trillions of dollars to the national debt, federal law would automatically require devastating Medicare cuts to help offset the staggering cost of their megabill. |
Why Seniors Should Be Alarmed
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If passed, this legislation would result in the largest Medicaid cuts in the history of the program — with older Americans among the hardest hit. Medicaid isn’t just a program for low-income families; it is a critical lifeline for millions of seniors who depend on it for long-term care, home health services and assistance with daily living.
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Some of the most serious consequences for seniors include:
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Closure of nursing homes and home care agencies, making it harder for seniors to remain independent or receive necessary care.
Loss of cost-sharing assistance for 1.4 million low-income seniors with Medicare, making doctor visits and medications unaffordable for many.
Cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which help seniors afford groceries and avoid malnutrition.
Worsened health outcomes for older adults, leading to more emergency room visits, hospitalizations and ultimately higher long-term costs for taxpayers.
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This bill sacrifices seniors’ health and independence to finance tax cuts that will mainly benefit the wealthiest Americans. It’s an assault on our most vulnerable citizens, and we must stop it. |
What Comes Next — And Why It Matters
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The National Committee and other advocacy groups across the country are mobilizing to stop this legislation in its tracks. We are meeting with lawmakers and their staff, sounding the alarm through media channels and urging grassroots supporters like you to speak out before it's too late. |
And there's more at stake than just Medicaid. If this bill passes and adds trillions to the national debt, National Committee President & CEO Max Richtman warns that Social Security and Medicare could be next on the chopping block. Already, some lawmakers are hinting at “reforms” that would mean deeper cuts and structural changes to these vital programs. |
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The Senate must hear from Americans who are unwilling to trade seniors’ health and dignity for tax breaks that will mainly go to the wealthy. Time is running out, and your voice could make all the difference. |
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The National Committee rejects the “Fiscal Commission Act” (H.R. 3289), a bipartisan bill that is designed to give individual members of Congress political cover for cutting Americans’ earned benefits. Any changes to Social Security and Medicare should go through regular order and not be relegated to a commission and rushed through Congress before most seniors would know their severity. |
If the aim of a fiscal commission is to address the federal debt, members of Congress should be aware that Social Security and Medicare Part A are fully self-funded and do not contribute to the debt. The biggest drivers of the debt are ‘tax expenditures’ — giveaways to the wealthy and large corporations like the Trump/GOP tax cuts of 2017 that Republicans insist be extended.
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Ask Us! |
Whether you’re retired or approaching retirement, our team of experts in the field of Social Security policy is available to answer your questions about benefits.
You can either search our archives for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns or submit your question here.
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This week’s question is: My son, daughter and I receive Social Security survivor benefits since my husband’s death. My son will turn 18 in April and will no longer receive a check. Will my daughter’s check increase at that time? I have a part-time job but have a $54,000 income limit for my own benefit. It will be a challenge to stay within that limit and still care for a young child and college student. |
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A free subscription, keeps you on top of the latest news about your earned benefits. |
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Your support sustains our campaigns in Washington to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. |
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Learn more about the Social Security program and the policies the National Committee supports that would strengthen your earned benefits. |
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Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, warned that DOGE cuts to the SSA were harmful and “have already hindered our members and supporters (mostly seniors, people with disabilities and their families) from collecting the benefits they have paid for.” (Updated May 29, 2025, Newsweek, Suzanne Blake) |
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“It isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility that some states might eliminate their SNAP programs” because of Republican budget cuts, said Anne Montgomery, a health policy expert at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. (May 30, 2025, Investopedia, Jordyn Bradley) |
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Congressional Republicans are weighing billions in Medicaid cuts to fund tax breaks, risking nursing home closures and reduced care quality just as aging baby boomers drive up demand for long-term services. (May 30, 2025, PBS, Hannah Grabenstein) |
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Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is a reverse-Robin Hood nightmare. It steals from the poor to give to the rich. The 1,038-page version that passed the House will also balloon the deficit by nearly $4 trillion. (May 31, 2025, Rolling Stone, Time Dickinson) |
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The Social Security Administration's new AI-powered phone bot is coming, whether you're ready for it or not — and apparently whether it's ready or not, too. The system has been struggling to handle seemingly simple tasks for people calling in with questions. (May 29, 2025, CNET, Blake Stimac) |
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The Social Security Administration’s 12% staffing cuts under the Trump Administration have led to long wait times, overwhelmed field offices and growing frustration among the public unable to reach help by phone or in person. (May 29, 2025, Marketplace, Nancy Marshall-Genzer) |
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If you default on federal student loans, the government can automatically garnish up to 15% of your Social Security benefits — though the first $750 is protected — so it’s crucial to act early by seeking hardship relief, loan rehabilitation or consolidation to avoid financial strain in retirement. (May 26, 2025, YAHOO!, Chris Clark) |
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Member contributions to the National Committee, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization, are not tax-deductible. |
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