Too many Americans do not get the healthcare they need because it’s either inaccessible or unaffordable. The healthcare provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed in July 2025 only made things worse.

• 5M lost Medicaid coverage in the year ending April 2026, with another 2.5M projected to lose it by 2034.

• 5M people dropped Affordable Care Act health insurance for 2026 largely due to skyrocketing premiums from the loss of subsidies.

• Hospitals face $466B of uncompensated care costs due to additional uninsured patients and lower Medicaid payments. 446 hospitals may close.

• 4.5M people have already lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Federal SNAP cuts of $187B over 10 years are expected from shifting costs to states, and new work and eligibility requirements.

Photo from National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics

To address long-standing health access problems, the Act did include $50B in funds for rural health, but that will only modestly offset losses caused by implementing other provisions of the law. States have some flexibility regarding rural health funding as well as the health-related exemptions and work provisions people must meet to be covered by Medicaid under OBBBA.

Elected officials at all levels create and implement health policies, allocate budgets, and set rules for everything from how medical research is funded and conducted to how much health insurance and healthcare services cost. The White House and elected officials at all levels will continue to develop policies and laws that affect all aspects of health and access to healthcare. Vote during the Midterm Elections for candidates at local, state, and national levels based on their positions on these vital health and medical care issues.

To make your voices heard and your votes count, please consult the resources below!

CLASSACTION RESOURCE LINKS:

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ON THE BALLOT

Illustration by Rose Wong, from commonwealthfund.org

CLASSACTION 1: Register to vote, check your registration status, research candidates’ positions, make a plan to vote, and VOTE! Encourage friends to do the same! See ClassACTion Voting Alert 1: To Vote or Not To Vote.

CLASSACTION 2: Learn how policies affect the healthcare and access environment. Some non-partisan resources that communicate and analyze policies are:

• American Medical Association analyzes changes to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and other aspects of health care.
• National Academy for State Health Policy analyzes policy impacts at state levels.
• League of Women Voters provides information about the healthcare system and reforms
• KFF, Kaiser Family Foundation, is a vital resource for research on health policy.
• The Commonwealth Fund supports independent research on healthcare issues, and makes grants to increase access, quality, and efficiency.

CLASSACTION 3: Follow Congressional Action: For active bills and floor votes, search the Congress.gov Legislative Database using keywords like "health care access," "prescription drugs," or "price transparency."

Monitor Congressional Committees: Access Committee on Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee websites to watch hearings, often with administration officials, discussing health priorities and proposed rule changes.

CLASSACTION 4: Call or write to your local, state, and federal elected officials. Urge them to ensure that everyone has access to the healthcare they need at a reasonable cost. Be concise and specific, focus on how healthcare access or costs impact your life and community, share a personal story, and clearly state the actions or legislation you want them to support.

Some tools to reach them:

• Use USA.gov Elected Officials directory to find federal, state, and county representatives based on your address.
• You can contact a Congressperson through the representative's official website. Find your Representative via House.gov and your Senators at Senate.gov.
• Call your representative or senators.
• • Here’s a link to the phone numbers of Congressional Representatives.
  • Here’s a link to the phone numbers of U.S. Senators.

CLASSACTION 5: For rural health concerns, contact the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, an informal group of House members. Advocate for increased funding. Check out the Rural Health Information Hub for information, opportunities, and resources, including state and federal contacts.

CLASSACTION 6: Direct people concerned about getting healthcare or insurance for themselves or their families to state and local organizations that can support them with information and options. These include:

• Federally Qualified Health Centers - community-based clinics that provide comprehensive primary, dental, and behavioral health care to everyone
• State Health Insurance Programs - a federally funded network that provides free, unbiased, and personalized Medicare counseling
• Healthcare.gov – official marketplace for many states for Affordable Care Act insurance
• Medicare.gov
• Medicare Rights Center- works to ensure access to health care for older and disabled persons
• National Council on Aging for help in understanding Medicare
• Patient Advocate Foundation provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with serious illnesses.

2026 VOTING ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITIES SPREADSHEET

Created by Marilyn Go '73, this spreadsheet lists non-profit organizations that focus on voting and voter participation. The list includes national and state organizations as well as those that concentrate on particular areas of interest.

Don't forget to check out our Previous alerts below!

ClassACTion Voting Alert 3: Protect Our Democracy, Protect Your Right to Vote

August 11, 2026

ClassACTion Voting Alert 2: Vote for the Arts!
July 13, 2026

ClassACTion Voting Alert 1: To Vote or Not To Vote
May 15, 2026