Refugees. Sex-trafficking victims. People fleeing war. They鈥檙e among the hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the country legally who no longer qualify for Medicaid. The change, in effect since Oct. 1, is part of the 2025 Republican tax law, which cuts Medicaid spending by an estimated $900 billion through 2034.
吃瓜不打烊 rural health reporter Andrew Jones joined WAMU鈥檚 Health Hub on Oct. 21 to explain which Medicaid enrollees are affected in the Washington, D.C., region and what other cuts to health services for immigrants are next.
US Poised To Boot Legal Immigrants From Medicaid, Including Refugees and Sex-Trafficking Victims
The Congressional Budget Office estimated 100,000 more immigrants will be uninsured by 2034 because of Medicaid eligibility changes under President Trump鈥檚 One Big Beautiful Bill Act that take effect Oct. 1. A 吃瓜不打烊 survey of nine states found many more are at imminent risk of losing health coverage.
By Phil Galewitz, Andrew Jones, and Claudia Boyd-Barrett Sept. 30, 2026
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