Congress Is Looking at Medicaid—What to Know

Medicaid serves nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, yet few know how it works. Here are the basics.

Medicaid, the state and federal program that provides health coverage for millions of low-income Americans, has taken center stage in Congress’s bid to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda.

In simplest terms, Republicans want to reduce the cost of the $816 billion program as part of a long-term plan to cut federal spending and implement Trump’s tax cuts and his border and energy measures.