Washington D.C. – As today kicks off Medicaid Awareness Month, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK-AL) would prefer to keep the public in the dark on the grave damage the Trump-GOP Big Ugly Law has done to the largest health insurance program in the country that provides health care for over 68 million Americans, including 197,629 Alaskans as of November 2025.
With the help of Senator Sullivan and Rep. Begich, Donald Trump slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid to pay for another wasteful tax giveaway for billionaires and big corporations that never seems to trickle-down to working people. The consequences have touched nearly every household in Alaska with many families now forced to choose between seeing a doctor, filling a prescription, and putting food on the table. Republicans are forcing rules which will choke millions of Americans in red tape designed to rip away their coverage, and imposed a sick tax on over 20 million low-income people nationwide who rely on Medicaid, hitting them with an average of $1,650 in new bills each year. Hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities across Alaska are cutting services and at risk of shutting down completely in the wake of these draconian cuts, driving up wait-times and costs and stranding entire communities without essential care.
“Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich gave Donald Trump a permission slip to rob Medicaid to reward billionaires and big corporate donors with a trillion dollar tax break they didn’t need,” said Brad Woodhouse, President of Save My Care.“Now Alaska is suffering under this raw deal with catastrophic losses of health coverage, hospitals on the brink of collapse, seniors worried sick over losing long-term nursing care, families choosing between food and treatment, and shortchanged local economies that lead to pink slips. You won’t hear Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich talk about any of the dire human costs of Republicans gutting health care because they have absolutely nothing to show for it other than an economy barreling towards recession.”
HOW ALASKA IS IMPACTED BY THE HISTORIC TRUMP-GOP CUTS TO MEDICAID TO BANKROLL TAX BREAKS FOR BILLIONAIRES, BIG CORPORATIONS:
- In just four months, between July and November of 2025, 1.8 million Americans lost their Medicaid coverage.
- Republicans are burying working Alaskans in red tape designed to rip away their Medicaid coverage, causingan estimated 28,000 Alaskans to lose health care coverage.
- Republican plans don’t stop here though, by 2034 thanks to the nearly $1 trillion cut from Medicaid, 15,000 additional Alaskans are expected to lose coverage, contributing to 5 million people losing Medicaid coverage nationwide.
- Local economies will also suffer under Republican cuts to Medicaid, with estimates suggesting that Alaska will lose $476 million from their Medicaid fund over the next decade.
- With funding losses comes a deflated economy and without vital Medicaid funding Alaska is likely to experience around 1,100 job losses in just the health care industry by 2029, amidst an already volatile employment market.
- Alaskans will be experiencing growing pressures on hospital systems throughout the state including $63,134,115 in hospital funding These hospitals provide some communities not only with lifelines in regards to health, but hold up local economies and employment markets:
- AT RISK: Cordova Community Medical Center
- AT RISK: Ketchikan Medical Center
- AT RISK: Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center
- AT RISK: Providence Seward Medical & Care Center
- AT RISK: Providence Valdez Medical Center
- FACILITY CLOSED: Interior Community Health Center
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) opened the door for states to expand Medicaid, and the results are clear: Medicaid expansion works. In addition to providing coverage for over 20 million people, Medicaid expansion has resulted in healthier people, communities, and economies. Study after study shows that Medicaid expansion increases access to care, improves financial security, and leads to better health outcomes for people with disabilities. Medicaid is now a crucial source of quality and affordable care for kids, seniors, and people with disabilities, paying for over half of all long-term care in the United States. Protecting access to Medicaid is essential for ensuring that Alaskans get the care they need.
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