The NDNRC wants to make sure that people with disabilities are aware of potential changes to their healthcare with the new administration taking office. The disability community utilizes Medicaid, and the ACA Marketplace plans at a higher rate than those without disabilities due to their unique needs.
By updating this newsletter with resources and educational pieces on where disability health policies stand, we hope to ensure that the disability community continues to have access to accessible and affordable healthcare coverage no matter what changes occur in the foreseeable future.
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) polled the public’s view on the Affordable Care Act. As of January 2025, 64% had a favorable “opinion of the health reform bill signed into law in 2010, known commonly as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.”
Another article from KFF found that there is bipartisan consensus on health care pricing transparency rules, stricter limits on chemicals in food supply, and increasing regulation in processes that are used by health insurance companies on approving or denying health services and drugs. While the current administration is aiming to lowering alleged fraud and waste in government health programs to decrease spending, many health policy experts and advocates predict this will lead to a decrease in benefits received from Medicaid programs.
KFF published an overview of how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) directly impacts health and health care, with relevant government organizations that it encompasses. Most relevant departments to this newsletter are the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services which provide health insurance coverage for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Marketplace, and federal regulation of private health insurance.
Open Enrollment officially ended, closing the period in which enrollment or changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans can occur. At this point, if enrollment or changes need to be made, people with disabilities who are looking for a Marketplace plan would need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Common SEPs, but not a definitive list, can be due to changes in:
- Income
- Employment
- Healthcare coverage
- Household size
As a part of our partnership with the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), we have updated Factsheets 1 through 16, excluding Factsheet 6; people with disabilities should read topic and population specific sheets.
The CHIRblog reviewed early signals from executive orders and Congressional budget proposals for Marketplace enrollees. This report review included house committee proposals to decrease Marketplace funding and how it will affect populations that heavily use the Marketplace, such as people with disabilities.
Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) covered budget reconciliation options, such as Medicaid cuts, specifically up to $2.3 trillion over ten years through converting Medicaid as a per capita cap, removing enhanced matching rate for Medicaid expansion, and more.
Overall, KFF reviewed what to watch for Medicaid in 2025, from federal funding cuts, financing reforms, work requirements, waiver and administrative changes, to long-term care workface updates. It is very important that disability advocates continue to follow these updates and changes to ensure that the disability population is up to date on how to obtain affordable and accessible healthcare coverage.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) discussed Medicaid eligibility and enrollment rules, noting that the “main effect of the updated Medicaid rules is to increase enrollment of already eligible people; the rules do not expand Medicaid eligibility.”
CCF released a blog post on Medicaid cuts and how they are essentially a cost shift from the federal government to states and local communities, putting vulnerable populations at risk for loss of health insurance coverage and increased medical debt.
CBPP released fact sheets for each state that participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and how over 41 million Americans utilize the program. SNAP aids in decreasing poverty, increased health and economic outcomes, and providing support for those who receive low wages.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.