Governor Spanberger: “300,000 Virginians at Risk” on Anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid

RICHMOND, VA - On the 61st anniversary of the signing of Medicare and Medicaid into law, Governor Abigail Spanberger and her administration are working to keep as many Virginians covered as possible in the wake of the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program's history imposed by H.R.1, President Donald Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill."

According to new dashboards the Spanberger Administration launched to closely monitor the impact of these federal cuts, President Trump's cuts threaten healthcare coverage for 300,000 Virginians who currently receive coverage through Medicaid. The so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" cuts Medicaid by a trillion dollars over the next 10 years nationwide, with an estimated $1.8 to $2.6 billion per year at minimum in lost federal funds in Virginia alone beginning in 2028. Additionally, H.R.1 weakens Medicare's authority to negotiate prescription drug prices - which Governor Spanberger voted to establish while serving in Congress.

This week, the Trump Administration announced it will end a Medicare Part D subsidy program which is used by nearly 690,000 seniors across Virginia - and tens of millions of seniors across the country - to keep prescription drug premiums low, impacting some of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable citizens.

"On this day sixty-one years ago, Medicaid and Medicare became law - extending quality, affordable healthcare to Virginians across the Commonwealth and Americans across the nation," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "Thanks to this landmark law, millions of seniors, children, and families from all walks of life have trusted in these critical lifelines to live, grow, and age with dignity, no matter the challenges they face."

Governor Spanberger continued, "In 2026, this peace of mind is under threat. The Trump Administration and Republicans in Washington have made the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program's history, threatening the health and well-being of 300,000 Virginians. While we cannot undo all the harm Washington is inflicting, our Commonwealth will continue to use every tool at our disposal to contend with these reckless federal cuts and work to protect Virginians' access to care."

The Spanberger Administration is working to protect Virginians' access to care in the wake of these devastating cuts, including by removing administrative barriers to keep their coverage. Virginia's biennial 2026-2028 budget includes nearly $1 billion in investments to contend with the worst of the impacts - including $150 million to provide targeted premium assistance on the Marketplace to support Virginians losing access to affordable healthcare coverage, and $350 million to establish a Medicaid Reserve Fund to help Virginia prepare for potential federal Medicaid cuts and protect access to care for the hundreds of thousands of Virginians who rely on the program.

"Medicare and Medicaid are more than government programs. They are how millions of Virginians see a doctor, fill a prescription, and care for a loved one," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marvin Figueroa. "No state can fully undo what Washington has done, but Governor Spanberger and our administration will use every tool we have to protect Virginians from higher cost and keep as many Virginians covered as possible."

Earlier this month, Governor Spanberger launched a series of roundtables and listening sessions to hear directly from Virginia patients, providers, healthcare leaders, community-based organizations, and philanthropies. The Spanberger Administration is engaging public and private partners to leverage every resource at the Commonwealth's disposal to protect Virginians.

Virginians concerned that their Medicaid or Medicare coverage could be affected by H.R.1 should visit the Department of Medical Assistance Services for more information on the law's changes to Medicaid coverage.

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