- Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Its Effects on Senior Healthcare
- What Is the One Big Beautiful Bill?
- Medicare Cuts: What Seniors Need to Know
- Medicaid Reductions Impact on Older Adults
- Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Delayed
- Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Enrollment Changes
- Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities
- Particular Impact on Older Women's Health
- What Older Adults Should Do Now
- Timeline of Key Changes
- Conclusion
Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Its Effects on Senior Healthcare
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law on July 4, has sparked significant concern among healthcare experts regarding its impact on older Americans. The legislation, officially known as House Resolution 1, is set to reduce federal healthcare spending by $1 trillion over the next eight years, potentially affecting millions of seniors who rely on Medicare and Medicaid.
What Is the One Big Beautiful Bill?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents a major overhaul of federal healthcare spending in the United States. This tax cut and spending bill, approved by Congress, will reduce funding across multiple health-related programs through 2034. Experts estimate that these cuts will result in at least 10 million people losing health insurance coverage over the next nine years.
Medicare Cuts: What Seniors Need to Know
How Medicare Will Be Affected
While the bill doesn’t directly mention Medicare cuts, more than 66 million older Americans enrolled in Medicare could face significant challenges. Under the PAYGO budget mechanism, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation could trigger $500 billion in Medicare cuts between 2026 and 2034.
These reductions will primarily target provider reimbursements—the payments Medicare makes to doctors, hospitals, and healthcare facilities. Healthcare experts warn that reduced reimbursements may cause providers, particularly specialists and rural facilities, to stop accepting new Medicare patients or discontinue Medicare coverage entirely.
Changes to Medicare Eligibility
Starting January 1, 2027, new eligibility requirements will take effect. Some non-citizens who previously qualified for Medicare through work history or residency length will no longer be covered. This represents a significant policy shift from historical Medicare eligibility standards.
Additionally, the bill imposes a nine-year ban on implementing improvements to Medicare Savings Programs, which help lower-income Medicare beneficiaries afford premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Medicaid Reductions Impact on Older Adults
The bill includes a staggering $790 billion cut to Medicaid over the next decade—the largest reduction among all affected programs. Approximately 22 million people aged 50 and older who currently rely on Medicaid could be affected by these cuts.
Dr. Kanwar Kelley, a specialist in otolaryngology and CEO of Side Health, explains the predicament: “This bill boasts savings, but at the expense of decreasing access to care, especially in a population that is closest to retirement. The cuts in funding will restrict their access to care and cause changes in planning for retirement.”
Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Delayed
Impact on Cancer and Specialty Medications
While the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 gave Medicare the authority to negotiate prices for high-cost medications, the new bill delays negotiations for several critical drugs:
- Keytruda (cancer-fighting medication) will face delayed price negotiations
- Darzalex (myeloma treatment) will be excluded entirely from Medicare negotiations
- Orphan drugs for rare diseases are carved out from the negotiation process
Higher Costs for Low-Income Seniors
About 40 percent of Medicare beneficiaries receive low-income subsidies through Medicare Part D to make prescription drugs more affordable. The bill reduces premium support for these beneficiaries, meaning they’ll pay more out-of-pocket for their medications.
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Enrollment Changes
More than 5 million people ages 55 to 64 currently receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The bill makes several changes that will affect this population:
- Shortened enrollment periods making sign-up more difficult
- New documentation requirements adding bureaucratic barriers
- Elimination of automatic re-enrollment requiring manual renewal
- Expired premium tax credits not extended beyond this year
Enrollees with incomes above four times the poverty level will lose subsidy eligibility entirely, while those between 100% and 400% of the poverty level will receive smaller tax credits. This particularly impacts adults aged 50-64, who typically face higher premiums due to increased healthcare needs.
Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities
Reduced Funding and Staffing Standards
The bill will significantly impact nursing home care in several ways:
- Reduced federal funds for nursing care facilities
- Blocked staffing requirements from the Biden Administration aimed at improving care quality
- Moratorium on provider taxes affecting nursing facilities in 46 states
- New limits on state-directed payments to nursing facilities
Impact on Home Care Services
Substantial cuts to federal Medicaid spending could lead to reduced home care services, which provide long-term care in people’s homes and communities. During previous federal spending reductions, many states responded by serving fewer people or cutting benefits and payment rates.
Dr. Kelley warns: “Restricting or removing access to this care will be difficult with a growing aging population. The bill also delays staffing requirements, which will worsen gaps in care for the same aging population.”
Particular Impact on Older Women’s Health
Women’s health researcher Miller Morris highlights unique concerns for older women, who comprise the majority of nursing home residents due to longer life expectancies.
“Women’s unique healthcare needs do not end at menopause,” Morris explains. “Cancer screening, menopause care, and blood pressure and chronic condition monitoring are all crucial services for women over the age of 50.”
The bill reduces funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides many of these essential health services to older women. Combined with blocked minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, older women face disproportionate risks to their healthcare access and quality of care.
What Older Adults Should Do Now
Immediate Action Steps
- Review your Medicare coverage and understand potential changes to provider networks
- Check your prescription drug coverage and anticipate possible cost increases
- Explore ACA enrollment options before the shortened enrollment period
- Plan for long-term care needs considering potential service reductions
- Consult with healthcare providers about maintaining continuity of care
Long-Term Planning Considerations
Given the significant changes ahead, older adults and those approaching retirement should:
- Reassess retirement budgets to account for increased healthcare costs
- Consider continuing employment longer to maintain employer-sponsored coverage
- Research alternative healthcare options in your community
- Stay informed about implementation timelines and state-level responses
Timeline of Key Changes
- Now through 2025: Planning and transition period
- January 1, 2027: New Medicare eligibility requirements take effect
- 2026-2034: $500 billion in potential Medicare cuts under PAYGO
- Through 2034: $1 trillion total reduction in health-related program spending
- October 1, 2034: Medicare Savings Program improvements remain blocked until this date
Conclusion
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” represents one of the most significant changes to federal healthcare spending in recent history. With $1 trillion in cuts over eight years, older adults face potential challenges in accessing affordable healthcare, prescription medications, and long-term care services.
While some impacts won’t be felt for years, others could directly affect people’s lives within the next year or two. Staying informed and planning proactively will be essential for older adults navigating these healthcare changes.
As implementation continues, it’s crucial for seniors and their families to monitor developments, understand their rights, and advocate for their healthcare needs in this evolving landscape.