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A sweeping new reconciliation package, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is poised to create significant hardship for vulnerable Georgians who rely on critical social safety nets like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Experts warn that understanding the bill’s implications is essential to mitigating the potential damage to health, food security, and economic stability across the state.
“This law essentially makes deep cuts to programs that are the foundation of health, food security, and economic stability for hundreds of thousands of Georgians,” stated a strategic communications manager at Georgians for a Healthy Future. “It’s easy to talk about these programs in terms of numbers and budgets, but behind every number is a family. So, at the core of this conversation are those families and what we can do to protect their health and their dignity at a time when the programs that they depend on are at risk.”
The repercussions of the budget allocations will be far-reaching, impacting not only individuals and families but also the healthcare system, agricultural sector, and broader economy. Hospitals and public health systems could face strain, while farmers and grocers may experience decreased demand as more families struggle with food insecurity. Individuals currently benefiting from affordable health insurance through Georgia Access may see premiums rise or lose coverage altogether.
Organizations like GEEARS are working to clarify the complexities of the legislation and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Medicaid Cuts Pose Threat to Georgia’s Children
The changes to Medicaid are particularly concerning for the state’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens. A senior health policy manager at GEEARS illustrated the potential consequences with a poignant story: “Last year in Gwinnett County, a baby girl was born with stage five renal disease,” she recalled. “She spent months in the hospital before her family learned about and applied for Katie Beckett Medicaid, which helps children with complex medical needs. Medicaid covers medical bills incurred in the three months prior to application, coverage that protected this family from overwhelming debt and made it possible for her to continue the therapies she still needs to grow and thrive.”
The new law reduces the retroactive coverage window for Medicaid from three months to two, potentially leaving families responsible for a larger portion of their children’s medical expenses. Furthermore, delays in streamlining Medicaid applications and renewals could disrupt care for children during their critical developmental years.
A weakened Medicaid program also raises the specter of hospital closures, particularly in rural areas. “This bill has far-reaching implications for children, not just because it could harm them directly, but also because children live in families and communities,” the policy manager explained. “Children rely on the adults around them—parents, teachers, neighbors, extended family—to keep them safe, healthy, and fed. While the bill may exempt parents of young children from work requirements, it does not shield the broader network of caregivers who help raise them. In other words, when adults lose access to healthcare, children also experience that loss.”
Economic Impact of Medicaid Changes
The financial implications of the Medicaid changes extend beyond individual families, impacting the state’s economy as a whole. According to a director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, the changes – including freezing provider taxes and restricting supplementary payments – will result in an estimated loss of $8 billion in federal funds over the next decade.
“Shifting costs to the state,” she explained, “means the state could be forced to make changes to who gets covered and what kind of benefits they receive.” She warned that the healthcare provisions in the bill “threaten the health and economic security of Georgia’s low-income families and really pushes Georgia’s rural healthcare system to the brink,” potentially leading to reduced access to care, increased medical debt, and job losses.
“Disguised Cuts” to SNAP Threaten Food Security
Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are also raising alarms. A director of economic justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute emphasized the program’s effectiveness: “SNAP is one of the most effective and efficient anti-hunger programs we have in this country. SNAP reduces food insecurity by about 30% and improves health and economic security across the board. It reaches about 1.4 million Georgians, or 700,000 households.”
Currently fully funded by the federal government, SNAP faces a significant shift under the new law. Starting in federal fiscal year 2028, states that fail to reduce administrative payment errors below a certain level will be required to cover between 5% and 15% of SNAP benefits, potentially costing Georgia between $162 million and $487 million annually.
“If Georgia leaders believe they cannot afford the new cost because they cannot or do not want to use available reserves, raise revenue, or cut other state programs,” the director warned, “they may reduce access to the SNAP program by increasing the administrative burden to access the program or they could opt out of the program entirely.”
Further curtailing access to SNAP, the law expands work requirements to include individuals aged 18 to 64 (previously 54) and parents and caregivers with children between the ages of 14 and 17. Research consistently demonstrates that work requirements do not significantly increase wages or access to quality jobs, but rather serve to cut people off from essential assistance. More than 150,000 Georgians are now at risk of losing SNAP benefits due to these stricter requirements. Additional changes include ending SNAP access for legally present immigrants who are refugees or have been granted asylum, freezing future benefit increases, and eliminating the National Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program (SNAP-Ed).
Affordable Care Act Marketplace Faces Instability
Georgia’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, Georgia Access, which currently serves over 1.5 million residents – 90% of whom receive financial assistance – is also facing uncertainty. A director of health policy at Georgians for a Healthy Future outlined the potential consequences:
- The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of the year will lead to premium increases for many Georgians.
- More individuals will fall into a coverage gap, earning too much for Medicaid but too little to afford marketplace premiums.
- Reduced funding for Georgia’s reinsurance program could destabilize the marketplace.
- The elimination of auto-renewals for tax credit recipients could create administrative hurdles and reduce enrollment.
These experts’ sobering assessments, grounded in data and real-world examples, underscore the potential for widespread hardship across Georgia. However, they also emphasize the power of informed advocacy. GEEARS encourages individuals and organizations to utilize their action alerts to contact representatives about upcoming state and federal budget legislation.
To view the press conference where these experts shared their insights, click here.
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