Threats to Medicaid and Medicare: Potential Impacts on Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations
Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA
Senior Policy Advisor
Introduction
As we prepare for the transition to power of the incoming Trump administration, there is near certainty that critical and essential safety-net policies and programs— Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security — are in serious jeopardy of major budget cuts and diluted protections. These programs serve over 83 million Americans . Moreover, the services and financial assistance provided support millions of vulnerable people— including communities of color, low-income people, senior citizens.
As advocates for vulnerable and marginalized populations, social workers are stakeholders —along with like-minded organizations — in keeping the social safety net intact. If left unchallenged, the planned huge cuts to Medicaid and Medicare will leave a gaping hole in the safety net.
A first step for the social work profession, in anticipation of the Trump administration and Congressional leadership moving forward with budget cuts, is to become more informed about the implications of the budget and policy changes planned by the incoming administration (and Congress). The following articles will be helpful in getting a deeper analytical understanding of the threats to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) budget and to vulnerable populations:
Threats to Medicaid
Efforts to Cut Medicaid Often Follow Large Tax Cuts for the Wealthy
State Efforts to Take Medicaid Health Coverage Away From People Likely to Resurface in 2025 | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
State Efforts to Take Medicaid Health Coverage Away from People Likely to Resurface in 2025
State Efforts to Take Medicaid Health Coverage Away From People Likely to Resurface in 2025 | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Imposing Work Requirement Policies That Take Medicaid Away From People by Increasing Red Tape
State Efforts to Take Medicaid Health Coverage Away From People Likely to Resurface in 2025 | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
False Claims Create Climate for Anti-Medicaid Policies
State Efforts to Take Medicaid Health Coverage Away From People Likely to Resurface in 2025 | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Demonizing Medicaid Enrollees Sometimes Used to Justify Cuts
State Efforts to Take Medicaid Health Coverage Away From People Likely to Resurface in 2025 | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Social Security
Should the Social Security Retirement Age Be Raised? No. | The Ripon Society
Raising the Retirement Age for Social Security Would Cut Benefits by Thousands of Dollars Each Year - Center for American Progress
House Republicans Actively Considering Deep and Damaging Cuts to Medicaid – Center For Children and Families
Trump’s Return Puts Medicaid on the Chopping Block - KFF Health News
Repealing Inflation Reduction Act Would Devastate Vulnerable Communities
Others
Huffpost
Big Cuts To Medicaid Reportedly On The Menu For House Republicans
MSN
'Slashing welfare': GOP eyes chopping $5 trillion to pay for Trump priorities — like tax cuts