As work requirements kick in for Medicaid, some states are taking a tougher stance
Summary
Starting in January, some states are enforcing new work rules for people on Medicaid, a health program for low-income adults. While federal rules allow people to say they are too sick to work without proof during the first year, at least six states are requiring medical documents right away to prove this.Key Facts
- New Medicaid work requirements begin in January for some low-income adults without children at home.
- Beneficiaries must work, volunteer, or attend school to keep coverage, with exceptions for serious medical conditions.
- Federal rules allow self-attestation (saying you are too sick without proof) for the first year, but six states require medical documents immediately.
- Republican-led states like Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio have stricter rules against self-attestation.
- Democrats in 25 states are suing, saying these rules are too strict and could harm people needing Medicaid.
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates these changes will save the federal government $887 billion over ten years but cause 7.5 million people to lose coverage.
- Advocates worry that people who are too sick to work might not get medical proof because they cannot afford doctors before getting Medicaid.
- Some policymakers argue that stricter proof is necessary to prevent fraud, while others warn it may create barriers for people who genuinely need help.
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