Expert debunks Democrat claims on Trump’s Medicaid reform bill

Democrats are peddling a tired narrative about President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” but one expert is calling their bluff. Claims that the budget reconciliation package slashes Medicaid for the poor don’t hold water, according to Jim Agresti, president of Just Facts, who spoke to Fox News Digital. The bill’s reforms aim to curb fraud and waste, not punish the needy.

Trump’s bill, debated in Congress, targets Medicaid inefficiencies while preserving benefits for low-income Americans, workers, and citizens. Democrats, joined by some Republicans, argue it cuts coverage, citing Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates of 14 million losing insurance. Supporters counter that the CBO’s numbers include policies not in the final legislation.

The bill introduces work requirements, stricter eligibility checks, and mandatory copayments to ensure Medicaid serves those truly in need. It doesn’t touch benefits for those below the poverty line, workers logging at least 20 hours weekly (without childcare duties), or American citizens. “The bill doesn’t cut benefits for anyone who has income below the poverty line,” Agresti told Fox News Digital.

Reining in Wasteful Spending

Agresti’s analysis exposes the bill’s focus on fraudsters and unauthorized migrants, not the working poor. “It cuts out illegal immigrants who are not Americans and fraudsters,” he said. That Democrats call this a “death sentence” for the poor is, in his words, a claim with “no basis in reality.”

Medicaid’s growth tells a story of its own. Since its 1966 inception, enrollment has ballooned from 3% of the U.S. population to 29%, despite a stagnant poverty rate of 11% to 15%. Today, 2.5 times more people are on Medicaid than live in poverty, raising questions about program oversight.

Democrats lean on CBO reports to stoke fears of mass coverage losses. Yet, the White House and Republicans clarify that not all CBO-evaluated proposals made it into the House-passed bill. The actual impact, they argue, would affect far fewer than the 16 million cited, including those losing enhanced ACA tax credits.

Copayments and Accountability

The bill’s copayment changes have sparked heated debate. It mandates copayments for Medicaid beneficiaries above the poverty line, lowering the maximum from $100 to $35 per visit. “The bill does not raise copayments on anyone who’s below the poverty line,” Agresti emphasized, dismantling Sen. Bernie Sanders’ claim that it burdens the poor.

Sanders called the bill a “death sentence for the working class” over these copayments. His office told Fox News Digital that a family of four earning $32,150 doesn’t deserve to lose help. Agresti fired back, noting those in poverty aren’t eligible for the ACA subsidies Sanders referenced, calling the argument “laughable.”

Work requirements are another flashpoint. The bill demands workers earn at least $15,650 annually—roughly full-time minimum wage—for ACA tax credits. Agresti argues this incentivizes self-reliance, saying, “If you want to do better in life, and you want this Medicaid coverage, then you have to earn it.”

Fraud and Program Integrity

Fraud and waste plague federal health programs, and the bill seeks to address this. The Government Accountability Office reports hundreds of billions in annual waste, with some programs no longer checking assets. “You could be a lottery winner sitting on $3 million in cash and still get children’s health insurance,” Agresti noted.

Such inefficiencies drive up costs without improving health outcomes. Agresti cited studies showing that without “skin in the game,” some beneficiaries overuse emergency rooms for minor issues, racking up bills. “It’s just wasteful,” he said, advocating for reforms to ensure accountability.

In Missouri, where 1.3 million rely on Medicaid and CHIP, Sen. Josh Hawley defends beneficiaries. “These are people who are working,” he said, noting they can’t afford private insurance or lack employer coverage. He argues it’s unfair to strip their access, a point critics of the bill echo.

A Balanced Approach?

Democrats like Rep. Jasmine Crockett amplify fears, agreeing on CNN that Republicans “want poor people to die.” Agresti’s data-driven rebuttal suggests otherwise, pointing to safeguards for the truly needy. The bill’s reforms, he insists, aim to lift people out of poverty, not trap them.

Still, Sanders’ team accuses Agresti of downplaying the bill’s impact. “Mr. Agresti’s facts here are simply incorrect,” said Anna Bahr, Sanders’ communications director. Agresti retorted that they failed to provide any evidence showing cuts to poor, working Americans.

With the Capitol Building as a backdrop on August 9, 2024, this debate rages on. Trump’s bill isn’t about punishing the poor but about ensuring Medicaid’s sustainability, supporters argue. Critics, however, see it as a step too far, leaving the working class vulnerable.