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News
Legal immigrants losing Medicaid — including refugees and trafficking victims — starting this month. State data reveal that over 281,000 immigrants across nine states and D.C. are at imminent risk of losing Medicaid coverage under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The law is expected to strip far more people of health benefits than originally estimated, with broader cuts to ACA subsidies and Medicare access coming in 2026.
Hundreds of thousands of lawfully present immigrants are losing Medicaid coverage this month under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Trump's 2025 signature legislation. Those affected include refugees fleeing war, asylees, victims of sex trafficking, and Afghan interpreters who aided U.S. forces — all legally in the country with federal permission. Green card holders and children under 19 are among the few groups spared.
State-level data paint a stark picture: more than 281,000 immigrants across nine states and D.C. are at imminent risk of losing coverage. Florida leads with nearly 177,000 affected enrollees, followed by North Carolina (~29,000), Arizona (~28,000), and New Jersey (15,000–25,000). A handful of states — California, New York, and Pennsylvania — are using their own funds to temporarily bridge the gap.
Why it matters: Without Medicaid, affected immigrants lose access to doctors, medications, and most medical services — with emergency care as the only remaining safety net. Advocates warn the coverage loss poses a broader public health risk, noting that reduced healthcare access can accelerate the spread of infectious diseases across entire communities.
