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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Medicaid: Trump opens door for states to take away coverage from out-of-work Americans | Medicaid: Trump opens door for states to take away coverage from out-of-work Americans |
| (25 days later) | |
| Millions who rely on Medicaid, America’s biggest public health insurance program, could be required to have a job if they want to hold on to their coverage in the future. | Millions who rely on Medicaid, America’s biggest public health insurance program, could be required to have a job if they want to hold on to their coverage in the future. |
| The Trump administration has unveiled a major policy shift that offers a path for states seeking to tie Medicaid eligibility to work requirements. | The Trump administration has unveiled a major policy shift that offers a path for states seeking to tie Medicaid eligibility to work requirements. |
| Seema Verma, head of the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, said work and community involvement can make a positive difference to people’s health and lives. But the plan is likely to face strong political opposition and even legal challenges. | Seema Verma, head of the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, said work and community involvement can make a positive difference to people’s health and lives. But the plan is likely to face strong political opposition and even legal challenges. |
| Medicaid is the nation’s largest public insurance program, providing health benefits to nearly 74 million Americans, chiefly low-income adults. | Medicaid is the nation’s largest public insurance program, providing health benefits to nearly 74 million Americans, chiefly low-income adults. |
| Many recipients already have jobs that don’t provide health insurance and people are not legally required to hold a job to be on Medicaid. But states traditionally can seek federal waivers to test new ideas for the program. | Many recipients already have jobs that don’t provide health insurance and people are not legally required to hold a job to be on Medicaid. But states traditionally can seek federal waivers to test new ideas for the program. |
| The administration’s latest action seeks to allow states to apply the rules in such a way that would allow them to impose work requirements on “able-bodied” adults. | The administration’s latest action seeks to allow states to apply the rules in such a way that would allow them to impose work requirements on “able-bodied” adults. |
| Ten states, mostly conservative ones, have applied for waivers involving requirements for jobs or community involvement for most Medicaid recipients. | Ten states, mostly conservative ones, have applied for waivers involving requirements for jobs or community involvement for most Medicaid recipients. |
| Advocates for low-income people expressed dismay. | Advocates for low-income people expressed dismay. |
| “It is a very major change in Medicaid that for the first time would allow people to be cut off for not meeting a work requirement, regardless of the hardship they may suffer,” said Judy Solomon of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for poor families. | “It is a very major change in Medicaid that for the first time would allow people to be cut off for not meeting a work requirement, regardless of the hardship they may suffer,” said Judy Solomon of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for poor families. |
| A study from the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that almost 60% of working-age adults on Medicaid are already employed. Most who are not report reasons such as illness, caring for a family member or attending college. | A study from the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that almost 60% of working-age adults on Medicaid are already employed. Most who are not report reasons such as illness, caring for a family member or attending college. |
| “People who participate in activities that increase their education and training are more likely to find sustainable employment, have higher earnings [and] a better quality of life,” Verma said. | “People who participate in activities that increase their education and training are more likely to find sustainable employment, have higher earnings [and] a better quality of life,” Verma said. |
| Seema Verma was appointed to her post by Trump after serving as a senior adviser to Vice-President Mike Pence and she is known as a conservative darling who made her name as a consultant devising the Medicaid plan in his home state of Indiana, known one of the most punitive in the country. | Seema Verma was appointed to her post by Trump after serving as a senior adviser to Vice-President Mike Pence and she is known as a conservative darling who made her name as a consultant devising the Medicaid plan in his home state of Indiana, known one of the most punitive in the country. |