Proposals to repeal the Affordable Care Act have been a part of the Trump administration’s policies since 2017. Since President Donald Trump’s reelection, budget cuts have been proposed by House Republicans that would affect the Medi-Cal budget under the ACA, according to NBC News.

Medi-Cal is the in-state version of Medicaid that offers low-cost healthcare to Californians, according to the California Department of Healthcare Services.

The budget cuts proposed by House Republicans have yet to be finalized, as both the Senate and House of Representatives need to approve a budget before it can go into effect, according to NBC.

Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income individuals and almost 15 million Californians receive health insurance through Medi-Cal, according to CalMatters.

Anthony Essie, an 18-year-old automotive major, said he is concerned about what might happen to people if they could not receive the proper health care they need.

“I used to have Medi-Cal, I don’t anymore. When I got COVID it was fine, I just took some medicine,” Essie said. “But I do get scared of you know, breaking a bone, I would have nowhere to go.”

College Nurse Michelle Barkley said the ACA has been a good thing for many people, offering children coverage up to 26 years old under their parents insurance.

“That would devastate me if that changed. I’ve seen it benefit more people than not,” Barkley said.

“If they want to make budget cuts, I guess it’s out of my control,” Essie said.

Since a budget has not been approved, beneficiaries are unclear what this could mean for their future health coverage.

“Health insurance is always something you’re going to need, and if people can’t afford it, it all goes downhill from there,” said Lola Saetern, an 18-year-old pre-health major.

Given the high cost of living in California, students are concerned about what the impact of budget cuts could mean for those on Medi-Cal.

“It’s crazy how many people in California alone might not have access to affordable health insurance, California is already such an expensive place to live in,” said Katie Thao, a 20-year-old chemistry major.

During the 2024 presidential election, Trump referred to the Affordable Care Act as Obamacare, according to NPR.
Some students believe many voters were not aware of what the ACA entailed.

“I think if most people really knew what the affordable care act was, they wouldn’t have voted for him, there was a lot of misinformation out there and I think the outcome would have been different if people had known more,” Saetern said.

Students feel that the usage of Obamacare instead of the Affordable Care Act may have caused confusion for some voters.

“People might not have done their research, and using the words Obamacare swayed more people than just saying the Affordable Care Act,” said Thao.

If budget cuts are made, Cosumnes River College students will still have access to health services and resources on campus.

“I feel like everyone should be entitled to health insurance and healthcare,” said Xian Liu, a 20-year-old chemistry major.

The Health Services Office offers care to prevent illnesses and keep students informed about their health.

Services are offered on campus through the college nurse by appointment.

“Students who are facing problems with insurance can come into the health services office for help finding resources and understanding health coverage,” Barkley said.

Students can make mental and physical health appointments on the CRC website.