The Independent
· collected 2026-10-10 · by Mikella Schuettler and Fatima Hussein
New restrictions have stripped Medicaid coverage from certain legal immigrants, including refugees and victims of human trafficking, as part of broader federal changes to the health insurance program that are expected to force millions off their coverage.
asserted
that → strip → coverage
The change effective Oct. 1 cut from Medicaid what is estimated to be hundreds of thousands of people who legally immigrated to the United States, many of whom work and pay taxes, in the latest Trump administration policy to target foreigners.
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many → cut → foreigners
The move is part of sweeping changes to Medicaid under President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax cut and policy law, with many set to take effect early next year.
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many → set → effect
The Medicaid changes are projected to result in 7.5 million fewer people with health insurance, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s 2025 estimate.
uncertain
changes → project → estimate
Advocates say that without Medicaid, people will not be able to afford private insurance and will either delay care or end up in emergency rooms, adding pressure to strained health system.
asserted
people → say → system
For immigrants, the cuts could be felt more acutely, compounding the effects of other administration efforts to restrict their access to public assistance as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
“This is about telling every immigrant in the United States that they are not welcome here and that they should leave,” said Ben D’Avanzo, a senior strategist at the National Immigration Law Center, which has pursued litigation against the Republican administration over its immigration agenda.
uncertain
which → feel → agenda
Refugees, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking and domestic violence are among those who have lost coverage.
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who → lose → coverage
Green-card holders were not impacted.
asserted
holders → impact → ?
Lauren Bis, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement that “immigrants must be able to support themselves without taking from overburdened benefits programs paid for by hard-working American taxpayers.”
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immigrants → say → taxpayers
D’Avanzo said many people who have lost coverage will likely only realize when they need medical care.
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they → say → care
But for some, the change has been felt immediately.
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change → feel → some
In Tucson, Arizona, María Chacon has been caring for her son Jesus for almost five years since a car accident at 17 left him unable to breathe on his own.
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accident → care → own
He requires a ventilator, a feeding tube and daily medication, and must be turned once every two hours to stop sores from forming.
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He → require → sores
Chacon said he sometimes opens his eyes.
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he → say → eyes
The family is originally from Mexico and entered the U.S. on a T visa, offered to victims of human trafficking, in 2018.
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family → enter → 2018
Chacon said Medicaid has helped cover almost $25,000 per month of care for her son, which includes a small stipend for her and her husband as compensation for being long-term caregivers.
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which → say → compensation
She said doctors have explained that even if they both worked 24 hours a day, they would not be able to cover the cost of his care.
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they → say → care
“Since that day I haven’t been able to sleep.
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I → sleep → day
We haven’t been able to eat or anything.
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We → eat → ?
We're wondering what we’re going to do?” Chacon said.
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Chacon → wonder → what
Jesus takes medication that Chacon estimates costs $7,000 a month.
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Chacon → take → 7,000
The supply runs out in mid-October.
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supply → run → October
Without coverage, she does not know how her son is going to survive.
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son → know → coverage
Chacon found out just days before the cuts that she was losing care.
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she → find → care
She called the state's Medicaid offices to appeal.
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She → call → offices
Although she is in the process of obtaining a green card, Medicaid coverage would only kick in five years after she is approved.
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she → obtain → card
Steven Camarota, research director for the Center for Immigration Studies, a right-leaning think tank that seeks less immigration, said the administration “is trying to nibble around the edges” with the Oct. 1 cuts, finding piecemeal ways to curb immigration into the U.S.
Camarota believes the government should screen legal immigrants for income potential and education, reducing the number who might rely on public benefits once they cross the border.
uncertain
they → lean → border
“You need immigrants who are unlikely to need welfare,” he said, or those with high educational attainment.
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he → need → attainment
The administration recently revived a federal rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits that could include food stamps, Medicaid, housing vouchers and others.
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that → revive → stamps
Chacon believes the cuts to Medicaid coverage are part of the administration’s clampdown on immigrants.
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cuts → believe → immigrants
She said her son is in no condition to travel.
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son → say → condition
“I know that’s what he’s doing, but, as my son is, I couldn’t go to Mexico,” Chacon said.
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Chacon → know → Mexico
Millions more will be dropped from Medicaid
Medicaid, jointly funded by states and the federal government, has become a political focal point during Trump’s second term.
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Medicaid → drop → term
The president has pushed to root out what he describes as fraud in the program.
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he → push → program
In July, the administration deferred over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota, claiming there was suspected fraud; critics argued the move targeted Democratic-led states.
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move → defer → states
As more people are cut from Medicaid, the federal government is predicted to reduce program spending by $911 billion, according to healthcare research nonprofit KFF.
uncertain
government → cut → KFF
In Arizona, officials said 29,000 legal immigrants were cut from Medicaid rolls on Oct. 1.
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immigrants → say → Oct.
Overall, more than 281,000 immigrants from nine states and the District of Columbia are estimated to lose Medicaid coverage, according to KFF.
uncertain
immigrants → estimate → KFF
As more states implement various restrictions to coverage, 7.5 million people are expected to lose coverage by 2034, according to analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.
uncertain
people → implement → Office
Without coverage, people will turn to emergency rooms for care.
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people → turn → care
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
