RICHMOND, VA – Governor Abigail Spanberger announced that nearly 300,000 Virginians enrolled in Medicaid are at risk of losing their healthcare coverage due to significant federal cuts imposed by President Donald Trump’s H.R.1, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The announcement coincides with the 61st anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid becoming law, prompting the Spanberger administration to launch new dashboards to monitor the impact and implement state-level protections.
H.R.1 is projected to cut Medicaid by a trillion dollars nationwide over the next decade, with Virginia alone facing an estimated loss of $1.8 to $2.6 billion in federal funds annually starting in 2028. Additionally, the bill weakens Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices, a measure Governor Spanberger previously supported. The Trump Administration also recently ended a Medicare Part D subsidy program, impacting nearly 690,000 Virginia seniors who rely on it to keep premiums low.
Governor Spanberger expressed concern, saying, "In 2026, this peace of mind is under threat. The Trump Administration and Republicans in Washington have made the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program’s history, threatening the health and well-being of 300,000 Virginians." She affirmed the Commonwealth's commitment, stating, "Our Commonwealth will continue to use every tool at our disposal to contend with these reckless federal cuts and work to protect Virginians’ access to care."
To mitigate the federal changes, Virginia’s biennial 2026-2028 budget includes nearly $1 billion in investments. This includes $150 million for targeted premium assistance on the Marketplace and $350 million to establish a Medicaid Reserve Fund. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marvin Figueroa emphasized, "No state can fully undo what Washington has done, but Governor Spanberger and our administration will use every tool we have to protect Virginians from higher cost and keep as many Virginians covered as possible." The administration is also engaging public and private partners through roundtables and listening sessions to leverage resources and protect access to care.