Medicaid and Work Requirements

Posted on April 20, 2017 by admin

• Under Trump, states may demand work for Medicaid, By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar (AP), April 20, 2017, San Francisco Chronicle: “Work requirements for Medicaid could lead to major changes in the social safety net under President Donald Trump. It sounds like a simple question: Should adults who are able to work be required to do so to get taxpayer provided health insurance? The federal-state Medicaid program for low-income and disabled people covers more than 70 million U.S. residents — about 1 in 5 — including an increasing number of working-age adults. In a break from past federal policy, the Health and Human Services department under Secretary Tom Price has already notified governors it stands ready to approve state waivers for ‘meritorious’ programs that encourage work…”
• Medicaid may require work, payments from the poor, as Indiana tried, By Jayne O’Donnell, April 18, 2017, USA Today: “Katie Josway is a liberal musician and massage therapist in a conservative state that gave her health care coverage two years ago. She has to make monthly payments and can lose her plan if she misses one. She’s fine with that. There’s a ‘common misperception’ that people who need government assistance are looking for a handout, she says. ‘We are all doing the best we can,’ says Josway, who turns 31 Wednesday. ‘Instilling a little bit of accountability and cutting people a break where needed will lead to a better functioning and happier society.’ Far more people may also have to adjust to the new reality of formerly free health coverage through Medicaid: It will cost money…”