Fact Check: Trump's policies will leave up to 17 million people without health insurance.

Fact Check: "Trump's policies will leave up to 17 million people without health insurance."

What We Know

Recent analyses indicate that proposed changes in legislation associated with President Donald Trump's administration could lead to significant increases in the number of uninsured Americans. According to the Washington Post, nonpartisan estimates suggest that at least 17 million people would lose their health insurance due to the Senate version of Trump's tax and immigration spending plan. This plan aims to unwind many key components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has historically increased access to health insurance for millions.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the Senate bill alone could result in approximately 11.8 million additional uninsured individuals by 2034, primarily due to cuts in Medicaid (source-2). Furthermore, the expiration of pandemic-era subsidies for ACA marketplace insurance could lead to an additional 4.2 million people losing coverage (source-1). Other estimates suggest that a combination of various policy changes could push the total number of uninsured to around 17 million (source-5).

Analysis

The claim that Trump's policies could leave up to 17 million people without health insurance is supported by multiple credible sources, including the CBO and health policy experts. The AP News outlines that the proposed legislation would implement stricter eligibility checks for Medicaid and ACA enrollees, which could lead to unintentional loss of coverage for many individuals, particularly those in vulnerable situations.

Moreover, the Kaiser Family Foundation corroborates these findings, indicating that the cumulative effect of the proposed legislation and other policy changes could indeed result in about 17 million more people being uninsured. The estimates are based on a combination of factors, including cuts to Medicaid and the ACA, which have been critical in expanding health coverage since their inception.

However, some sources, such as Snopes, also highlight that the estimate of 17 million includes individuals affected by various Trump administration policies beyond just the current legislative proposal. This suggests that while the claim is valid, it is essential to recognize the broader context of ongoing policy impacts.

The reliability of the sources cited is generally high, as they include analyses from established news organizations and health policy research institutions. The CBO is particularly noted for its nonpartisan assessments, making its projections a cornerstone of the argument.

Conclusion

The claim that Trump's policies will leave up to 17 million people without health insurance is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources indicates that the proposed legislative changes would significantly undermine the ACA and Medicaid, leading to a substantial increase in the uninsured population. The estimates provided by the CBO and other health policy experts support this conclusion, highlighting the potential risks associated with the proposed cuts and changes.

Fact Check: Trump's policies will leave up to 17 million people without health insurance.