It’s about time we got serious about cleaning up the swampy mess that is our bloated welfare state. According to a recent report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), taxpayers are footing a $14 billion bill every single year because nearly 3 million people are double-dipping on government-funded health care. That’s not a typo—$14 billion, flushed down the drain annually, because people are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in more than one state, or simultaneously enrolled in Medicaid and an Obamacare Exchange plan.

This is the kind of systemic waste that Americans are sick and tired of. It’s why we elected President Trump. It’s why we demanded the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. And it’s why we’re finally seeing the federal government take real steps to stop paying twice for the same person’s health insurance.

Let’s break down the numbers. Investigators found that in 2024, about 1.2 million individuals were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in more than one state. Another 1.6 million were enrolled in both Medicaid or CHIP and a subsidized Obamacare plan. That’s 2.8 million people getting double coverage—coverage that doesn’t provide them with double care, but does cost taxpayers double the money.

Here’s the kicker: most of these people are in managed care plans. That means the government pays private insurers a flat fee every month to cover them. So if someone is double-enrolled, the government pays that fee twice. No extra benefit for the patient—just extra profit for the insurance companies and an extra burden on you, the taxpayer.

Some of this is unintentional, the result of people moving from one state to another and failing to cancel their previous enrollment. But a lot of it is due to bureaucratic incompetence and outdated systems that were allowed to fester when Democrats ran the show. During the pandemic, the Biden administration suspended the basic fraud-prevention checks that would have caught many of these cases. The result? A free-for-all that lasted years.

Now, under the Trump administration, that’s changing. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn’t mince words: “Under the Trump Administration, we will no longer tolerate waste, fraud, and abuse at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens.” That’s the kind of leadership we need—bold, unapologetic, and focused on protecting the American taxpayer.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, who now heads the CMS, made it clear that the agency is resuming regular checks of enrollment data and putting new systems in place to flag dual enrollees. States will be notified when someone appears to be signed up in multiple places, and the individuals themselves will be told to choose one plan or explain the discrepancy.

This is basic accountability, and it shouldn’t be controversial. But the left is already complaining. Progressive think tanks like the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities are predictably whining that new work requirements and eligibility checks will “lead to coverage losses.” That’s the point. If you’re not eligible, you shouldn’t be on the program. If you’re not legally in the country, you shouldn’t be receiving taxpayer-funded health care. If you’re capable of working, you should be contributing in some way.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act takes exactly these steps. Starting in 2027, Medicaid enrollees will have to verify eligibility every six months instead of once per year. Illegals will be screened out. And able-bodied adults without dependents will be required to spend at least 20 hours a week working, studying, or participating in community service.

These are common-sense reforms that nearly 90 percent of Republicans and even a majority of Democrats support. Why? Because Americans know that government assistance should be a safety net—not a lifestyle.

In 2025, we’re spending over $618 billion on Medicaid. We owe it to every hardworking American to make sure that money goes to those who actually need it—and not to those gaming the system. President Trump and his administration are doing what Democrats refused to do: restoring integrity, efficiency, and fairness to our welfare programs. It’s long overdue—and it’s just the beginning.