The Trump administration and the new Republican majority in Congress are planning substantial budget cuts to Medicaid and other government-sponsored health programs to fund initiatives like extending tax cuts and bolstering immigration control. These proposed cuts could save up to $2.3 trillion from Medicaid and an additional $1 trillion from Medicare and other health care-related programs. However, a recent poll reveals that Medicaid and other federal health programs are widely popular among Americans across the political spectrum.
Seventy-nine percent have a favorable view of Medicaid, which covers low-income families, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities. Even among those who use or have used Medicaid, approval rates soar to around 90%. When asked about Medicaid funding, 49% of respondents favored increasing it, while 40% supported maintaining current levels.
Only 12% believed funding should be decreased. Specific proposals, such as establishing per-capita caps on federal spending for Medicaid, were unpopular, with only 21% support. Reductions in funding for states that expanded Medicaid were also opposed by a majority.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has also seen an increase in popularity.
GOP plans risk voter backlash
Beyond expanding Medicaid eligibility, the ACA made it illegal for insurance companies to refuse coverage for preexisting conditions and allowed children to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26.
Seventy-three percent of those surveyed now have a favorable opinion of the ACA, including 52% of Republicans. Given the ACA’s popularity, it’s politically safer for Republicans to avoid full repeal attempts and instead focus on budget cuts. However, significant changes to Medicaid and other health programs risk strong public backlash.
The poll results also reveal widespread frustration with high health care costs, with 78% of respondents saying care is unaffordable for most people. Nearly half have incurred medical debt, and more than 4 in 10 have skipped medical care or prescriptions due to cost. As the 2024 campaign season heats up, Republicans will need to tread carefully with their proposed cuts to avoid alienating a majority of voters who depend on and support these programs.
The administration’s actions have raised concerns about the future of Medicaid, and Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has criticized high medical costs and suggested that Americans are dissatisfied with Medicaid, favoring private insurance plans instead. However, the poll results indicate otherwise, with strong support for Medicaid and opposition to significant cuts in funding.
Republicans may face political risks if they proceed with their plans to gut these popular health care programs.