by Paul Hoppe – 7-21-2025
You might have heard about new Medicaid cuts that Congress recently passed. Medicaid is the program that helps low-income people and families get health care. But what many don’t realize is that the worst parts of these cuts are set to happen after the 2026 elections. And that’s no accident.
Here’s what’s going on in plain terms:
- Most of the serious changes—like people losing coverage because of new rules or states tightening who can qualify—won’t start until 2027 or later. That means before the 2026 elections, most folks won’t feel the full effects.
- Why? Because politicians, especially Republicans pushing the bill, want to avoid angry voters coming after them next year. If lots of people started losing health coverage or struggling to pay for care before the election, it could hurt their chances of staying in office.
- News outlets and experts have pointed out this strategy. One analyst said the “pain is postponed” so lawmakers don’t face backlash when people go to the polls.
- Unfortunately, this means millions could lose Medicaid coverage, and many will face more health problems—but that wave of harm is being delayed until after the election. So voters may not see how severe these cuts really are until it’s too late to vote them out based on this issue.
In short, the Medicaid cuts are designed so that the hardest parts won’t hurt politicians at the ballot box in 2026. But for the millions who rely on Medicaid, the struggle is coming soon—and that’s something everyone should be paying attention to.