A recent study from Harvard Medical School and City University of New York Hunter College warns that cuts to Medicaid, proposed under President Trump’s budget plan, could result in over 16,500 deaths annually.
The proposed reductions, which are part of a broader budget plan aimed at offsetting tax breaks, could also leave millions more Americans without health insurance, according to the study.
The report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, reveals the potentially deadly consequences of slashing Medicaid funding by $790 billion over the next decade.
The study estimates that such cuts would strip health coverage from 10 million Americans and severely limit access to critical healthcare services. Medicaid, which provides coverage to low-income individuals, is a vital resource for tens of millions of Americans.
Rising Health Risks Due to Reduced Access to Care
Medicaid cuts are likely to exacerbate health inequalities, particularly among low-income and vulnerable populations. According to the research, around 1.9 million individuals could lose access to a primary care physician.
The study also highlights the risk of missed preventive screenings, with 380,000 women at risk of not receiving vital mammograms, a procedure that has been proven to detect early-stage breast cancer.
As Dr. Adam Gaffney, a key researcher, explains, the loss of healthcare coverage may lead patients to avoid essential medical visits, prescription drugs, and even emergency care, ultimately resulting in preventable deaths.
“When patients lose health coverage, they go without all types of care — visits to the doctor, prescription drugs, routine tests, and procedures. In fact, they may even avoid the emergency room when faced with serious issues, given fears of medical bills. Such delays can be deadly,” he told Newsweek in an email statement.
Doctors argue that access to routine healthcare services is crucial for early detection and management of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.
Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a primary care physician, stated that modern medical care has been shown to significantly improve survival rates, particularly when conditions are detected in their early stages.
Economic and Social Fallout
Beyond the health risks, the proposed Medicaid cuts could have far-reaching economic and social consequences. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill, which aims to balance the federal budget, could lead to a $50 billion reduction in federal Medicaid funding for rural hospitals, which often rely heavily on the program.
In states like Louisiana, where a large portion of the population is dependent on Medicaid, the economic and social impacts of these cuts could be devastating. These hospitals, struggling with reduced funding, could face closures or a decrease in the quality of care, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable.
The bill’s proponents argue that the cuts are necessary to reduce the federal deficit. However, critics warn that these cuts could result in higher long-term healthcare costs due to untreated conditions, as well as exacerbate health disparities. Whether the cuts will pass remains to be seen, as the “big beautiful bill” continues to be debated in the Senate.
