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Protect Health Care Programs

Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provide critical health coverage and financial protections to millions of older adults, people with disabilities, and families with low incomes. Together, these programs help pay for hospital and outpatient care, prescription drugs, long-term services and supports, and other essential needs. The Medicare Rights Center opposes harmful cuts and structural changes that would undermine access to care, increase costs, or reduce benefits. We support policies that strengthen and protect these programs for current and future generations.

Back to Policy

What the Affordable Care Act Means for Older Adults

April 8, 2026

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strengthened Medicare and Medicaid and created important coverage avenues and consumer protections for people of all ages. Despite these successes, the health law continues to face opposition from some policy corners in Congress, the states, some presidential administrations, and the courts.

Read More »

What Medicaid Cuts Mean for Older Adults and People With Disabilities

April 8, 2026

With the passage of HR 1, Congress is cutting around $1 trillion from Medicaid over the course of the next 10 years. The cuts will affect Medicaid at every level, restricting eligibility and enrollment, driving up the cost of covered services for beneficiaries and states, and damaging the health care system nationwide. These cuts harm the people who rely on the program, including millions of older adults and people with disabilities who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as people nearing Medicare eligibility who have coverage through expansion Medicaid.

Read More »

What the Affordable Care Act Means for Older Adults

April 8, 2026

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strengthened Medicare and Medicaid and created important coverage avenues and consumer protections for people of all ages. Despite these successes, the health law continues to face opposition from some policy corners in Congress, the states, some presidential administrations, and the courts.

What Medicaid Financing Means for Older Adults and People With Disabilities

April 8, 2026

Medicaid is financed and administered through a federal-state partnership. Under current law, the federal government matches state Medicaid spending based on a statutory formula, without a pre-set limit. If state spending increases, for example due to increased enrollment or unexpectedly high program costs, then federal spending increases as well.

What Medicaid Cuts Mean for Older Adults and People With Disabilities

April 8, 2026

With the passage of HR 1, Congress is cutting around $1 trillion from Medicaid over the course of the next 10 years. The cuts will affect Medicaid at every level, restricting eligibility and enrollment, driving up the cost of covered services for beneficiaries and states, and damaging the health care system nationwide. These cuts harm the people who rely on the program, including millions of older adults and people with disabilities who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as people nearing Medicare eligibility who have coverage through expansion Medicaid.