Republicans’ health care agenda is producing political consequences earlier than expected. The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act implemented its tax cuts immediately but postponed controversial cuts to Medicaid (U.S. public health coverage) and other health care programs until after the midterm elections. Democrats had worried last year that the delay would weaken their campaign attacks, but millions of people have since lost Obamacare insurance after Covid-era subsidies expired, while premiums for many remaining policyholders have risen sharply.