The NDNRC wants to make sure that people with disabilities are aware of potential changes to their healthcare as the current administration proposes major funding cuts to federal healthcare programs. The disability community utilizes Medicaid, and the ACA (Affordable Care Act) 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) covered in a policy watch how the reconciliation package that was passed by the House would change the ACA and Medicaid. These changes could result in over 16 million people losing healthcare coverage by 2034.
KFF has a comprehensive tracker for Medicaid and the ACA during the federal reconciliation bill – an important tool for health policy advocates in the disability community.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reviewed research on how the reconciliation package mentioned above is being passed to the Senate with even more federal funding cuts. These cuts will directly impact low-income populations and the disability community who rely on federally funded public health programs like Medicaid for health coverage.
KFF released an issue brief on the Medicaid changes in the House and Senate reconciliation bills – they would increase healthcare costs for over one million low-income Medicare beneficiaries, also known as “dual-eligible” individuals.
KFF has an interactive poll to review the public’s view on the ACA, breaking each opinion down into “favorable,” “unfavorable,” and “don’t know.” As of June 2025, 66% of adults polled viewed the ACA as “favorable.” These public opinions are important for health policy advocates to reference in their advocacy materials.
Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms reviewed in a blog post how the reconciliation bill will remove flexibility for states to manage their ACA programs, new cost mandates, and decrease their funding.
KFF polled the public’s view on the enhanced premium tax credit that is offered for ACA enrollees. These tax credits allow people to enroll in the ACA at a lower cost, decreasing affordability barriers that many people with disabilities face. This poll found that 77% of those polled want Congress to extend these credits that are due to expire in 2026.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.