“As a result of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ 15 million Americans have been thrown off the healthcare that they need,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, capturing a stark reality for many. In Ohio, where health disparities between racial and ethnic groups persist, recent funding cuts and policy changes threaten to exacerbate an already fragile system.
The Commonwealth Fund’s report highlights that racial disparities are among the most persistent and well documented in the U.S. health care system. Ohio ranks poorly—33rd overall for white individuals, 10th-worst for Black people, and 16th-worst for Hispanics when it comes to health system performance. These statistics paint a grim picture of access to adequate healthcare.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama, aiming to reduce the number of uninsured Americans. By 2016, that number had dropped from 47 million to 27 million. But with nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts looming as part of the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, experts warn that these gains are at risk.
Key facts about recent healthcare changes:
- 10 million people projected to be newly uninsured by 2034 due to policy changes.
- 4 million people expected to lose expiring tax credits that subsidized their coverage.
- Ohio ranks poorly in health system performance across various racial groups.
Joseph Betancourt emphasizes, “We know you cannot fix what you cannot measure.” This rings especially true as states grapple with how these funding cuts will impact their most vulnerable populations. The expiration of enhanced marketplace credits from the Affordable Care Act is expected to worsen health disparities significantly.
This is a big fucking deal, said Joe Biden, referring to the urgency of addressing these issues. As millions face losing their health insurance coverage in the coming years, Ohio stands as a critical battleground for healthcare access and equity.