Racial disparities are among the most persistent and well documented in the U.S. health care system, as highlighted by a recent Commonwealth Fund report. In Ohio, recent funding cuts and policy changes threaten to exacerbate these existing inequalities.
Health disparities affect various ethnic groups differently. For instance, Ohio ranks 33rd overall for health system performance for white people but drops significantly for minorities: it stands 16th worst for Hispanics and 10th worst for Black people. This context matters because it illustrates how systemic issues lead to unequal health care access.
The expiration of enhanced marketplace credits from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected to worsen these disparities further. Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, part of the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, threatens to strip away vital health insurance coverage from millions. As Senator Bernie Sanders pointed out, “As a result of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ 15 million Americans have been thrown off the healthcare that they need.” This staggering number underscores the potential fallout.
Statistics reveal a troubling trend: the Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2034, an additional 10 million people will be uninsured due to these legislative changes. In 2010, there were 47 million uninsured Americans; by 2016, this number dropped to 27 million because of the ACA’s implementation. Yet now we face a reversal.
Joseph Betancourt emphasizes that “We know you cannot fix what you cannot measure.” This statement rings true as health disparities persist largely due to inadequate tracking and understanding of their root causes. Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in determining who receives quality care and who does not.
Looking forward, experts worry about how these trends will affect vulnerable populations. The expiration of tax credits alone could lead to 4 million people losing their subsidized coverage, while enrollment in ACA plans is expected to decrease by 1 million from 2025 to 2026. Such shifts would only deepen existing inequities.
This situation is indeed a big deal—Joe Biden himself remarked, “This is a big fucking deal.” The stakes are high as policymakers grapple with how best to ensure equitable health care access amidst these challenges.