Mark Warner Proposes Health CARE Act to Reverse 2025 Medicaid Cuts

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) has introduced a major legislative package aimed at expanding federal health insurance and dismantling core components of a 2025 law that reduced Medicaid funding. The Health CARE Act of 2026, introduced on Sept. 24, represents a significant policy shift for the three-term senator as he prepares for a 2026 reelection campaign that may serve as his final term in the chamber.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a public insurance option and would add hearing aid coverage to Medicare, a long-standing goal of healthcare advocates. It also aims to make Affordable Care Act tax credits permanent, providing a buffer against recent legislative changes that have narrowed eligibility for federal subsidies.

Provisions include adding hearing aid coverage to Medicare and making ACA tax credits permanent.

A Legislative Shift Against 2025 Cuts

Warner’s proposal is positioned as a direct response to H.R. 1, a budget reconciliation law signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025. That law is projected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by approximately $1 trillion over the next 10 years. A critical provision of H.R. 1 includes mandatory Medicaid work requirements, which are scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

By introducing the Health CARE Act now, Warner is attempting to block the implementation of those requirements before they take effect.

2026 Election Dynamics

The legislative push comes as Warner faces a challenge from Republican Bert Mizusawa, a retired Army major general. Mizusawa has criticized the senator’s healthcare proposal as “political theatre,” arguing that Warner is only pursuing these expansive goals now after 18 years in the Senate to satisfy voters during an election cycle.

Despite the criticism, Warner maintains a substantial lead in the race. Polling from late September 2026 shows Warner with 51.6% support compared to Mizusawa’s 31.7%. The incumbent’s focus on reversing the 2025 Medicaid cuts appears intended to shore up his base and appeal to low-income voters who may be affected by the upcoming 2027 work requirements.

As the campaign moves into its final weeks, the debate over the Health CARE Act is expected to center on the national debt and the long-term sustainability of federal health programs. While Mizusawa emphasizes the rising debt during Warner’s tenure, the senator has framed the current battle as a necessary intervention to preserve the safety net established by the ACA and Medicaid.

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