The 2025 Budget Reconcilliation Bill and What It Means for over 13M Americans

 I’ve been in a weird headspace since the House passed the budget bill that will make massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and snap. For those unaware, the proposal is for $200B in cuts to snap and $600B cuts in Medicaid that would also tie in Medicare within that budget as well. 

As a matter of fact, that was the first thing I heard when I woke up Friday morning, and I cried for hours. 

You see, both my sister and I are on disability for having multiple chronic illnesses and let me tell you right now for people who think that disability pays too much out- that’s absolute horseshit. The money that I make monthly barely covers all the medical expenses that I have as someone who is chronically ill and cannot handle traditional work (because contrary to popular belief, I’m still responsible for bills, including insurance even while on disability) and let me make it clear, the money I receive does not sustain me outside of what I pay monthly in medical costs and some food expenses.

So how exactly am I surviving if I cannot live off what I receive from the government?

Honestly, if it weren’t for the love that my mother has for her children, I would not be alive at this point because I would not be able to thrive in the world on the amount of money I get each month. Even as someone who worked hard and had a great income through her teenage years and 20s, SSI simply does not stretch super far.

Listen, I understand all the arguments and that there are some that abuse the system, but how does abolishing the programs as a whole or even decreasing the budget by an insane amount really benefit anybody? Have a better process in place for those applying, do a massive overhaul of those already on assistance to make sure that they truly need to be on those programs, but cutting these budgets and continuing to allow a large portion of those that truly need the benefits to continue to live in poverty is absolutely disgusting. 

Does the system need an overhaul? Abso-fucking-lutely. It took me seven years to get approved for disability. Seven years of being unable to work, being sick as a dog and not being able to get consistent medical treatment because I couldn’t work and make money or get insurance. Seven years of having to depend on the sacrifices my mother was willing to make along with me selling all of my life possessions that I had worked so hard for just to be able to pay to see specialist out-of-pocket which ironically made it even more difficult to be on disability because I had spotty medical history. As a matter of fact, I don’t know a single person in the chronic community that doesn’t have a similar story about their disability journey.

Yes, clearly the programs need an overhaul but let’s be realistic here, this isn’t about a program that’s failing, this is about rerouting money to other ventures that benefit certain parties. Cutting budgets that predominantly affect the chronically ill and seniors is insane (both of which are largely considered lower income classes)

You want to know what else is wild? The fact that Trump’s top pick to lead Social Security had to GOOGLE what Social Security was when he was offered the job. See that’s the problem when we continue to allow old rich white men to run this country and allow people who already have power seek more power-they do just that and have no real concern for those that voted for them to begin with along with no real understanding of what a large portion of middle and lower class communities face daily. 

Now I understand that these bills still have a long way to go, but the fact that it is already past one hurdle doesn’t leave the millions of people who rely on these benefits to survive feeling confident in their futures. It’s a terrifying concept, not knowing if you’ll have access to affordable care in the future, and to be punished for something that so many of us had absolutely no control over makes me feel so small and insignificant in the world. I know I’m not alone in this because I’ve talked to other friends in the same boat that also feel this way.

I’m not here to preach liberals versus conservatives. Honestly, at this point, I think that we’re far past that and we are looking at a human issue here. This is a problem that’ll affect everybody across the board because it doesn’t just hurt those with disabilities. Most of the seniors who receive benefits don’t receive much. The only reason that most of them can survive is because their homes are paid off along with SSI and yes, sure for those that were lucky enough to have a good retirement, they’ll be fine, but most within the retirement age bracket won’t be. 

You want to make sure that the money is being used on things that are important, I 100% get that and respect it because I want the same. Are we all going to have the same viewpoint on what the important things really are? Of course not. That is part of the beauty of being in this country, it allows us to have opinions and voice them and in times like these fight for them.

But where is the line drawn? And more importantly, why the fuck are we allowing a bunch of geriatrics that have no idea how the economy is hurting people to be the one with all the power? 

Listen, I don’t know what the right answers are in terms of how to fix the economy and allow everybody to thrive and get what they need within reason, but I do know that this right here, this isn’t it. We are a generation that can’t afford the housing market and are in massive amounts of school loan debt only to be working lower income jobs even with a degree, so how are we supposed to also save for a solid retirement when the basics of today are barely being covered by our incomes? Not only that, but just because you are healthy does not mean that you are promised good health. Heaven forbid something happen and you end up in a situation like I was in or like millions of other people have found themselves in. What then? What do you do when even sitting up for a few hours and typing on the computer each day brings about a massive amount of pain? What do you do when you have brain fog so severe that you can’t even remember the password you have had since you were a child for the debit card you use daily let alone all the other information you’re required to keep in your head while at work. What about the fatigue that’s so severe it escalates all the symptoms you have that already impair your ability to hold down a job?

Hopefully you never have to find out but what if you do and there’s nothing in place to help you? I’m not above trying to appeal to the selfish nature of humans if basic human rights aren’t your jam- you don’t want to vote against it for everyone else’s sake, sure ok, fine. What about your own future? Are you willing to bet against your own health or the health of your loved ones? If the answer is no, then I hope you’ll consider writing to your senators and urge them to vote against this bill.

$800 BILLION in cuts to this program would be absolutely devastating to the welfare of over 22 million people that buy their health insurance on the marketplace and a projected 13.7 million would become uninsured. It will strip low-income Medicare beneficiaries of critical financial assistance, impose new out of pocket cost requirements on Medicaid enrollees, and would target other policies aimed at specific populations and reduce affordability and access to care for them (you know the people who need this sort of assistance the most)

I am genuinely terrified of what these changes could mean for my family but more than anything, I am worried about what the next 4 years will look like if we aren’t even 6 months in to this administration and they are already cutting programs the way they have been.  THIS proposed bill though? This is something we won’t be able to come back from though.  This proposed bill will ensure that not everyone survives. Dramatic? Maybe, but when you take away access to things needed for one’s health, especially those in the chronic community, that is what you are saying- that their life doesn’t matter. You make it impossible for us to get affordable medications, to have life altering procedures, pain management… the list goes on and on. 

This Bill right here? It is shouting from the rooftops that this administration does not care about the people they serve.

I hope you’ll consider fighting against the Bill and tell your Senators to reject harmful cuts.

A few suggestions on how to reach out:

1.    1. You can reach out on the Medicare Rights website. It creates a pre-generated letter to be sent to those serving your state.

2.    2. Call 866-426-2631 to contact your Senators.
Use this call-in line provided by SEIU and convey these talking points:

·       Tell your Senator: No Cuts to Medicaid. Whether it’s work requirements, eligibility changes, or reduced funding—a cut is a cut and will have devastating consequences.

·       Medicaid and Medicare Work Together. A cut to Medicaid is a cut to Medicare. These programs are interconnected, ensuring older adults and people with disabilities receive the care and support they need.

·       Cuts Have Real Consequences. Any reduction in Medicaid funding means fewer services, higher costs, and loss of access to essential health and long-term care for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers.

·       Millions Rely on Medicaid. Over 7 million older adults and 12 million people with Medicare depend on Medicaid. Slashing the program would cause serious and lasting harm.