The Republican members of Congress are pushing for healthcare reform, according to the latest estimates from the office of Governor Hochul of New York and the Greater New York Hospital Association. If the bill passes, it could lead to as many as 1.2 million New York residents losing their healthcare coverage (commonly known as Medicaid). Additionally, the SNAP program is facing budget cuts, potentially affecting over 90,000 families living in Chinese enclaves.
These reforms include requiring beneficiaries aged 19 to 64 to work, participate in community service, or engage in educational programs for a minimum of 80 hours per month, with eligibility verification required twice a year. Additionally, applicants with property valued over one million dollars will also be deemed ineligible.
These changes will have a significant impact on low-income groups, immigrants, and minority communities in New York City. Residents in Chinatown Manhattan, Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and Flushing in Queens, where many Chinese immigrants reside, may see up to one hundred thousand people losing their Medicaid coverage.
Similarly, the SNAP program is facing federal funding cuts and will shift significant operational costs to state governments. Under current regulations, able-bodied adult SNAP recipients without dependents are exempt from the 80-hour work requirement as long as they have children under 18 in the household. However, the new bill lowers the age threshold for dependent children to seven years old.
These changes could result in over 46,000 families in the Tenth District where Chinatown Manhattan and Sunset Park are located, and more than 47,000 families in the Sixth District, including Flushing, losing some or all of their SNAP benefits.
The non-profit organization Citizens’ Committee for Children has provided an interactive tool for residents to look up their Congressional districts to understand the potential impacts of Medicaid and SNAP reforms. Additionally, the New York City Department of Social Services is offering information on the Medicaid and SNAP eligibility reassessment through its website for residents to stay informed.