Key Takeaways:
- Republican lawmakers plan to cut health care and food assistance for Ohio’s poorest residents.
- The proposed cuts would cost Ohio $31 billion in health funding and $9.5 billion for hospitals.
- Over 770,000 Ohioans could lose Medicaid coverage, and millions more could lose food benefits.
- Advocacy groups are urging Republican senators to reject the cuts and vote against the tax plan.
Ohioans Could Lose Billions in Health Care Funding
Republican lawmakers in Washington and Columbus are pushing for budget cuts that would hurt Ohio’s poorest residents. These cuts are part of a plan to lower taxes for the wealthy. If passed, Ohio could lose $31 billion in health care funding, according to a recent analysis.
The biggest hit would come from slashing Medicaid, a program that provides health care to low-income families. Ohio’s hospitals would lose $9.5 billion, and many people would lose their health insurance. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 16 million Americans could become uninsured by 2034.
Mike DeWine, Ohio’s governor, has proposed ending the state’s Medicaid expansion. This would leave 770,000 Ohioans without health coverage. Most of these people are working but still can’t afford private insurance.
Food Assistance for Millions at Risk
The cuts don’t stop at health care. Republicans also want to reduce funding for food assistance programs like SNAP, which helps low-income families buy groceries. If the plan passes, nearly $300 billion would be cut from SNAP over the next decade.
This would leave millions of people struggling to afford food. In Ohio, foodbanks say they can’t fill the gap if these cuts happen. Families already dealing with high food prices would suffer the most.
Ohio Among the Hardest Hit States
Ohio would be especially hurt by these cuts. A recent study found that Ohio would be one of the top five states affected by the Medicaid cuts. The state already struggles with poor health outcomes, ranking 30th in the nation for health system performance.
Ohio has high rates of infant mortality, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities between Black and white residents. Cutting Medicaid would make these problems worse.
Tax Cuts for the Rich, Higher Costs for Everyone Else
The cuts to health care and food assistance are part of a larger plan to lower taxes for the wealthiest Americans. The proposed tax plan would give $250,000 in annual cuts to the top 1% of earners. Meanwhile, low- and middle-income families would see their costs rise.
The plan also includes tariffs, which economists say will cause inflation. This means everyday items like groceries and gas could become even more expensive.
Advocacy Groups Push Back
A group called Families Over Billionaires is urging Ohio’s Republican senators to vote against the plan. They recently launched a $5 million ad campaign in seven states, including Ohio, to raise awareness.
The ads highlight the impact of the cuts: 16 million people losing health care, 18 million kids losing food assistance, and higher costs for 80 million families. The narrator says, “They’re kicking millions off health care, taking food from kids, and driving up costs—all to give the super-rich a tax cut.”
A Call to Action
The proposed cuts would hurt Ohio’s most vulnerable residents, from low-income families to rural hospitals. Advocacy groups are calling on Ohio’s senators to reject the plan and protect Medicaid and food assistance.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the stakes for Ohioans are high. If the cuts go through, the state’s health care system, economy, and communities will feel the pain for years to come.