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Simona Combi
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simona.combi@ncoa.org

July 3, 2025, Arlington, VA—The following is a statement from Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), on the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is expected to be signed into law.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will make life much more difficult for the average older adult, especially vulnerable older Americans. About 27 million households with adults age 60+ cannot afford their basic living needs. The act’s drastic cuts to the programs they rely on to make ends meet means more older Americans fall into poverty.

"One in five older adults gets their health insurance through Medicaid, including 5 million who are enrolled in Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Ending that coverage means these struggling older adults will lose access to afford doctor visits, medicine, and more. 

“The Act also extends work requirements for individuals age 50-64 in order to qualify for Medicaid.

This creates an additional burden on older Americans who already face ageism, have caregiving responsibilities, or have chronic conditions or disabilities that make it difficult for them to find and maintain employment.

“The Medicaid cuts also directly impact Medicare, specifically the programs Congress enacted to help low-income older Americans afford their Medicare premiums and copayments. Many paid and unpaid caregivers for older adults also rely on Medicaid for their own health coverage.

“Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through time limits, stricter eligibility requirements, and shifting the cost to states will leave millions of older Americans at risk of hunger. Seven million older adults already lack access to sufficient healthy food.

“We believe every American deserves to age with dignity—and that requires affordable access to the basics of life such as food and health care. This act would put that further out of reach for millions of older Americans in need.”

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging.