This week, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, a sweeping legislative package that’s drawing headlines for its tax and spending provisions. But behind the soundbites is a sobering reality: this bill includes deep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs that individuals living with autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses rely on for everyday stability.

For Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, these changes will have an outsized impact. That’s why The AIP BIPOC Network is speaking out.

Why This Bill Hurts Our Community

Medicaid is essential—not optional.

Nearly 1 in 3 Native American and Alaska Native people, 30% of Hispanic/Latino adults, and 20% of Black adults are enrolled in Medicaid, well above their share of the population. When that access is reduced or made harder to maintain, it directly affects our community’s ability to manage illness and stay in treatment.

Food insecurity compounds illness.

27% of Black households and 20% of Hispanic households rely on SNAP to help put food on the table. Cutting this support makes it harder to afford the nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods many of us need to manage autoimmune symptoms and support long-term healing.

The burden of chronic illness is not equal.

Communities of color face higher rates of conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and long COVID. These conditions are often diagnosed later, with fewer resources available for management, especially in states that have not expanded Medicaid.

The Numbers Behind the Impact

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the Medicaid and ACA-related provisions in this bill could lead to up to 10.9 million people losing Medicaid coverage and a total increase of 16 million uninsured Americans by 2034. These changes would hit communities of color the hardest, especially those living with autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses who already face barriers to care.

NPR further reports that the bill includes $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, imposes strict new work requirements, and reduces SNAP benefits by 20%, the largest rollback in the program’s history. This could push 2 million people off food aid, compounding challenges for families managing chronic conditions that require consistent nutrition.

Despite this, President Trump has continued to claim that Medicaid will not be affected, even as Vox reports his administration has endorsed deep cuts in the very legislation he’s promoting. This disconnect between messaging and policy only reinforces the need for transparent, community-centered advocacy that names what’s really at stake.

What It Looks Like in Real Life

When essential supports like Medicaid or SNAP are cut, the consequences aren’t abstract, they’re deeply personal, especially for people living with autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses. Here’s what that looks like:

• Treatment plans are interrupted
  Doctor visits, labs, therapies, and specialist follow-ups are missed or delayed.
• Prescriptions are delayed or skipped
  Life-sustaining medications, from immunosuppressants to thyroid support, become harder to access.
• Financial stress intensifies
  Families are forced to choose between groceries, utilities, or medications.
• Diet quality declines
  Nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods become unaffordable, worsening symptoms and flares.
• Mental health suffers
  The emotional toll of managing chronic illness without reliable support fuels anxiety and depression.
• Flares become more frequent and severe
  Without early intervention, manageable symptoms escalate into hospitalizations or long-term disability.
• People fall through the cracks
  Especially in BIPOC and rural communities where care is already limited or under-resourced.
• Employment and caregiving are disrupted
  Missed work, job loss, or the inability to care for loved ones becomes a reality when health destabilizes.

These are not hypothetical outcomes, they’re the daily realities for many in our community. Protecting access to care is not just a policy issue. It’s about preserving stability, dignity, and quality of life.

Our Commitment

At The AIP BIPOC Network, we remain committed to protecting and advocating for the health of BIPOC individuals navigating autoimmune disease and chronic illness. We believe in policies that prioritize access, equity, and the lived realities of those who are too often overlooked.

We’ll continue to speak out, and we invite you to stand with us.

What You Can Do to Push Back Against the “Big Beautiful Bill” Impact

✅ Share Your Story
Personal stories have the power to change minds. Help others understand how these cuts impact real lives.
🔗 Submit your story here

✅ Join Our Online Community
The AIP BIPOC Community (ABC) is a space for connection, education, and collective action for those navigating autoimmune and chronic illness.
🔗 Join the ABC Community

✅ Call, Email, or Tag Your Lawmakers
Tell Congress how these cuts affect people with autoimmune disease and chronic illness, especially in BIPOC communities. Use your story to demand protection for Medicaid, SNAP, and long-term care access.
🔗 Find your representatives here

✅ Raise Awareness
Share this blog post and trusted resources with your network via social media, group chats, or email. Most people don’t know how deeply these cuts reach — until they’re affected. The more people who understand the stakes, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

✅ Get Involved and Support Advocacy
Join advocacy groups (like The AIP BIPOC Network) organizing for equitable healthcare. Whether you sign a petition, attend a webinar, donate, or amplify their message. Your support fuels the movement.
🔗Donate to The AIP BIPOC Network

✅ Support Each Other Locally
Community care matters. Share resources, help with transportation, assist with insurance appeals, or check in with someone struggling. These small acts help reduce harm when systems fall short.

✅ Correct the Narrative
Push back when you hear terms like “entitlement programs” or “dependency.” These are lifelines, not luxuries — especially for disabled, chronically ill, and low-income people. Speak truth and share facts.

✅ Stay Ready and Informed
Laws change quickly. Stay connected with trusted advocacy organizations and be ready to act when urgent calls to action arise. Your voice matters — more than ever.

Final Thoughts

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” may be moving through Congress—but so are we. Our voices, our stories, and our collective action can shift the narrative and protect what matters most. This is more than politics. It’s about people. And together, we will keep pushing for care that truly includes us all.

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References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lupus Data & Statistics.
   https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/data-research/index.html
2. Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus Facts and Statistics.
   https://www.lupus.org/resources/lupus-facts-and-statistics
3. Lim, S.S., et al. (2021). Epidemiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the US from the 2008–2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. PubMed.
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33474834/
4. Rheumatology Advisor. Race, Ethnic Disparities Seen in Age-Adjusted Prevalence of Arthritis.
   https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/race-ethnic-disparities-seen-in-age-adjusted-prevalence-of-arthritis/
5. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). How Will the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Affect the ACA, Medicaid, and the Uninsured Rate?
   https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-will-the-2025-budget-reconciliation-affect-the-aca-medicaid-and-the-uninsured-rate/
6. NPR. Senate GOP Budget Plan Includes Sweeping Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
   https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5453870/senate-republicans-tax-bill-medicaid-health-care
7. Vox. Trump Keeps Saying He Won’t Cut Medicaid. His “Big Beautiful Bill” Does Exactly That.
   https://www.vox.com/politics/418843/trump-medicaid-cuts-promise-big-beautiful-bill