From rolling back the pandemic-era social safety net, to overseeing the largest inflationary crisis in decades, Biden’s legacy was one of economic despair
by Natalia Marques
46th US President Joe Biden officially leaves office Monday, January 20, to be succeeded by former President Donald Trump. Trump’s promises in the name of “saving American workers” have raised alarm for people across sectors of society, including migrant workers who are gearing up for mass deportations, and unionized workers who are preparing for Trump’s attacks on labor rights. Trump’s loyalty to multi-billionaires has also given the working class of the US great cause for concern. Meanwhile, in contrast, the Democrats have attempted to position themselves as the real defenders of working people. As four years of a Democratic presidency come to an end, it is necessary to ask, what was the true impact of the Biden administration on the working class?
Part 1 - Rollback of pandemic-era social safety net
Biden’s presidency oversaw the massive rollback of pandemic-era social safety net programs and policies, including expanded Medicaid benefits, the Child Tax Credit, and additional unemployment insurance. Research reveals the effectiveness of these programs at reducing poverty levels, with poverty actually lowering in 2021 as compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Instead of working to keep these expanded social programs in place, the Biden administration oversaw their slow, excruciating removal. The so-called “unwinding” of Medicaid is one example. At the start of the pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) included a requirement that states keep people continuously enrolled in Medicaid, the US’s public health insurance program for low income adults and children, until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). States received additional federal funding in order to keep people enrolled in these benefits.
Instead of working to keep these expanded social programs in place, the Biden administration oversaw their slow, excruciating removal. The so-called “unwinding” of Medicaid is one example. At the start of the pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) included a requirement that states keep people continuously enrolled in Medicaid, the US’s public health insurance program for low income adults and children, until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). States received additional federal funding in order to keep people enrolled in these benefits.
Without any intervention by Biden, continuous enrollment ended on March 31, 2023, and states began the process of “unwinding,” or disenrolling millions of people from Medicaid benefits. As a result, over 25 million people, including almost five million children, lost their health insurance coverage, the majority over purely procedural flukes due to states redetermining eligibility for all Medicaid recipients.
A survey of low income adults across Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas, conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, revealed that the vast majority had been disenrolled from Medicaid by late 2023. The study found that “that those who had been disenrolled had significantly worse access to health care compared to those who did not lose their Medicaid coverage,” reporting cost-related delays in care, skipped medication doses, and skipped annual checkups.
A survey of low income adults across Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas, conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, revealed that the vast majority had been disenrolled from Medicaid by late 2023. The study found that “that those who had been disenrolled had significantly worse access to health care compared to those who did not lose their Medicaid coverage,” reporting cost-related delays in care, skipped medication doses, and skipped annual checkups.
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