The 12.5 million Americans who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid could see their benefits slashed as states grapple with massive funding reductions under recent federal legislation.
Amber Christ, a senior attorney at Justice in Aging, says the $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and SNAP funding over the next decade—the fallout of H.R.1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Act—poses a number of interlocking threats. The challenge is particularly acute because nearly all the services dual eligibles depend on through Medicaid are optional for states to provide.
“You’re going to cut provider rates, you’re going to cut eligibility, or you’re going to cut benefits,” Christ explains. “Those are your three choices, and none of those are acceptable.”
