Iowa City, Iowa — Federal lawmakers have yet to reach a deal on lifting the debt ceiling, which according to some could impact some Iowans’ health care.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns if lawmakers don’t come to an agreement, the US could be unable to pay its bills as soon as June 1st. Josephine Gittler, director of the National Health Law and Policy Resource Center at the University of Iowa College of Law, says this could impact federally-funded health programs like Medicare.
In addition to Medicare, Gittler says a federal government default could affect Iowans who rely on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act subsidized health plans.
Gittler says it’s unclear what will happen if lawmakers don’t reach an agreement because the federal government has never defaulted on its debt before.
