More than 11,000 Washington state residents are losing access to healthcare and food benefits today due to changes under the federal law known as H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Act.
Those losing coverage under Apple Health, the state’s Medicaid program, include certain refugees, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, members of federally recognized tribes, and others who are legally living in the United States through various immigration pathways.
The law, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, includes $1.3 trillion in nationwide cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs. While SNAP benefits will temporarily increase by a small amount, stricter eligibility requirements are expected to take effect later.
The law also prevents many immigrants from purchasing government-subsidized health insurance plans beginning in 2027. For many families, full-price health insurance plans are expected to be out of reach financially.
Health policy experts warn the loss of coverage could place additional strain on local governments and public health systems.
“People who lose access to Medicaid, who lose access to behavioral healthcare don’t simply get better on their own,” said Mark Ritacco, a senior policy advisor with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP. “They end up showing up for county services more often than they would otherwise.”
Originally, about 14,000 Washington residents were expected to lose coverage. However, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed state-level protections that allowed roughly 3,000 people to keep their insurance.
And additional changes are on the way.
Starting Jan. 1, more than 600,000 Washington residents enrolled in Apple Health will be subject to work requirements for the first time to maintain coverage. Participants will also be required to renew their eligibility twice as often.
Advocates opposed to the cuts are planning a protest at Hing Hay Park in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 10:30 a.m.
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