President Trump recently signed into law a bill that will slash billions from Medicaid and New York’s healthcare system — the single largest cut to healthcare in American history. But this isn’t just about numbers in a budget. It’s about your local hospital. Your doctor. Your coverage. Your care.
Buried in this “one big bill” are sweeping changes that will immediately affect how millions of New Yorkers get care. And as devastating as these Medicaid cuts are, they’re only part of the story. In the coming weeks, Washington will decide on changes to the Affordable Care Act that would drive up monthly premiums for working families — forcing New Yorkers to pay more for less coverage.
These changes, combined with the Medicaid cuts already signed into law, will have a devastating impact on both the health and financial security of millions across the state. At a time when many New Yorkers are already struggling to make ends meet, these decisions could push basic healthcare even further out of reach.
Here’s what New Yorkers face:
Costs will go up for working families
Medicaid beneficiaries have a new co-pay up to $35 for their care
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace premiums will rise an average of $228 a month for a couple, a 38% raise
1.5 million New Yorkers will become uninsured, and far likelier to have to pay for healthcare out of pocket and incur medical debt
Working families may have to choose between a doctor’s visit and buying groceries
New York’s healthcare system will be devastated
Hospitals will lose $8 billion in annual funding, which may force them to cut services and some may even close
New York could lose 34,000 hospital jobs, harming workers and impacting care for all patients
Local communities will lose $14.4 billion in economic activity, through hospital-related jobs, goods and services
Services like mental health care, psychiatric care, and emergency care could all be impacted for every patient, even those on private insurance
When will changes go into effect?
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January 1, 2026
January 1, 2026
ACA marketplace premiums rise an average of $228 a month for a couple
500,000 legal immigrants lose their Essential Plan coverage
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January 1, 2027
January 1, 2027
Work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries go into effect
225,000 legal immigrants who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid lose their Essential Plan coverage and become uninsured
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October 1, 2027
October 1, 2027
Federal funding for hospitals begins to shrink, first by gradually reducing provider taxes, then by reducing state-directed payments (starting January 1, 2028)