Proposed Medicaid cuts under consideration by the U.S. Congress could have deadly consequences, according to two recent peer-reviewed studies. A 2025 study published in Annals of Internal Medicine estimates that more than 17,000 preventable deaths could occur annually if access to Medicaid is significantly reduced. The study focused on low-income adults under 65 and found that states which expanded Medicaid experienced substantially lower mortality rates than those that did not.
“Medicaid is not just a safety net—it’s a lifeline,” said Dr. Benjamin Sommers, the study’s lead author. “Our findings show that even modest reductions in access could lead to real and devastating losses of life.”
The study compared mortality trends in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act with those that did not. In states with expanded coverage, deaths dropped significantly, particularly among Black residents and people living in poverty.
The findings come as Congress debates significant changes to federal healthcare funding, with some lawmakers calling for cuts to reduce spending. However, advocates argue that scaling back Medicaid could disproportionately harm the most vulnerable populations, including children, people with disabilities, and older people.
The potential cuts could also exacerbate existing health disparities and increase pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, which are already strained by high demand.
Researchers hope the study will inform policy decisions by quantifying the human cost of reducing access to public health insurance. “This isn’t just about budgets—it’s about people’s lives,” Sommers said. “Medicaid saves lives, and that needs to be part of the conversation.”