Trump’s Tax Bill could cause 51,000 deaths annually, Yale and UPenn researchers warn
Researchers from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania warn that Donald Trump's proposed tax plan could have deadly consequences, estimating over 51,000 annual deaths in the U.S. due to reduced access to public healthcare services.
Public health researchers from Yale and Pennsylvania Universities sent a letter to senior Senate officials this week warning that Donald Trump's bill could cause nearly 51,000 deaths a year if passed.
The letter submitted by the universities points to inaccuracies based on the cost of eliminating key health protections, such as insurance losses and basic cuts to senior housing. This could surely pose a major threat to the project headed by President Donald Trump.
Projections of health care coverage and deaths
The bill warns that nearly 7.7 million people will lose health care coverage through Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which, according to the report submitted by the universities, would result in the deaths of 11,300 people.
Furthermore, eliminating staffing standards for all Centers for Medicare and Medicaid would result in 13,000 deaths, and another 8,811 deaths could result from the failure to extend expanded tax credits previously approved by the ACA, the letter states.
What was the basis for the estimated projections?
Dr. Alison Galvani, director of the Yale Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis, notes that “every data point represents a human life. These cuts would disproportionately harm the most vulnerable communities in the United States, including older adults, low-income families, and people already on the margins of our health care system.”
Donald Trump faces criticism after a Yale and UPenn study warns that his proposed tax bill could result in 51,000 deaths annually in the U.S. due to healthcare cuts. Photo: NBC News
To analyze projected mortality, the research team used peer-reviewed studies that previously analyzed the relationship between various areas such as insurance coverage, access to prescription drug subsidies, and nursing home staffing and overall mortality rates. The estimates were combined with projections released by the Congressional Budget Office last month. It's worth noting that the letter was addressed solely to Senators Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders.
