Claim by Kevin Hassett (White House Economic Adviser)
On July 6, 2025, Kevin Hassett claimed on CBS‘ Face the Nation that about 5 million people projected to lose Medicaid coverage under President Trump’s budget law “have other insurance,” so “if they lose one, they’re still insured.”
Explanation
Hassett was referencing a June 24 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, which estimates that 2.9 million people who lose Medicaid may still have other insurance, such as Medicare or coverage in another state.
But to approach Hassett’s “5 million” figure, you must include another 1.6 million people who could obtain other coverage but aren’t currently enrolled. These individuals would need to actively sign up for new insurance and afford it, which isn’t guaranteed.
Experts like Harvard’s Benjamin Sommers and George Washington University’s Leighton Ku argue that these individuals should not be counted as already insured. Additionally, CBO’s own data includes uncertainty around people supposedly insured through Medicaid in another state, many of whom may be affected by administrative record cleanups rather than Trump’s bill.
Even those with dual coverage (Medicare and Medicaid) will face reduced benefits. Medicare alone lacks caps on out-of-pocket costs and doesn’t cover long-term care, meaning the loss of Medicaid significantly impacts affordability.
Conclusion
Fact or Fiction? Mostly False. While approximately 2.9 million Medicaid recipients may retain some coverage, the rest would lose their insurance and need to find and afford new plans. Hassett’s claim distorts the data and overlooks key context.
Read More
Do you appreciate our work? Please consider one of the following ways to sustain us.
or
Last Updated on July 12, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check