On Tuesday, February 24, President Donald J. Trump delivered the annual State of the Union address to the nation. Nora Suric, President of the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, offers this response:
In his State of the Union speech, President Trump covered several topics, including tariffs, tax cuts, and immigration. Unfortunately, during a time when millions of Americans are poised to lose access to comprehensive health coverage, he spent only 3 minutes and 8 seconds talking about health care.
Here’s what we would have liked to hear from the president in his State of the Union:
- How to keep people enrolled in life-saving health care and nutrition programs – H.R. 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will impose arduous new eligibility requirements that are expected to force millions of people off both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This will hurt families and individuals as well as the safety net providers that receive Medicaid reimbursement for services.
- A well-thought-out proposal to close the coverage gap and ensure all people have comprehensive, affordable care – We believe everyone deserves comprehensive, affordable health insurance that prioritizes preventive care. Significant gains to coverage were made thanks to the Affordable Care Act. We would like to see a reinstatement of the enhanced premium tax credits so that more people can afford care.
- How to keep safety net providers thriving – Federally Qualified Health Centers provide critical care to communities from rural to urban, but new initiatives, including H.R 1 and potential changes to the 340B program, are putting them at risk. These providers deserve fair reimbursement and strong investments to ensure they can continue to be a lifeline for people across the country, no matter their income or insurance status.
We are committed to an approach that expands and safeguards access to quality, affordable health care for all of us. Our hope is that the United States Congress can work closely with the Executive Branch to create initiatives to advance, not diminish, health equity in our country.
You can learn more about some of the key health care issues for 2026 from KFF.
