Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute contributes another unflattering review of Arkansas’ implementation of a work rule for expanded Medicaid coverage, with the headline on the thousands who’ve lost vital coverage just as the holidays arrive.
The article says the bad news is both in the past and in the future.
Looking ahead to next year, the news for Medicaid beneficiaries in Arkansas will be mixed at best. In early January, thousands more will lose coverage. But, for those who lost coverage in 2018, they could reapply as long as they are aware of this – which is a big if. These “lucky” people would have to jump through all the hoops to apply again – the state is not conducting automated renewals – and if they continue to struggle to meet the work reporting requirements, they stand to lose coverage again beginning April 1. At that point, they would be locked out for the remainder of 2019.
To make matters worse, Arkansas is set to expand these requirements to a whole new group of beneficiaries starting in January. Initially, the requirement to report at least 80 hours of work per month was limited to individuals ages 30 to 49, but in 2019 the state will expand the requirement to those ages 19 to 29. With more beneficiaries subject to the work reporting requirement next year, we can expect the coverage losses to continue to mount.
As with prior months, the most recent data show that only a tiny fraction (less than one percent) of those subject to the work reporting requirement are actually reporting new work.
The article refers to the findings by Kaiser of the nightmarish experiences of people trying in vain to meet the reporting requirement, only recently no longer by computer only.
Important point:
As we approach the holidays it’s important to remember that this is not just about compliance with the law or an academic exercise to test a hypothesis, these coverage loss numbers represent real people. KFF released a report this week documenting the experience of beneficiaries subject to the new work reporting requirements. They found that most beneficiaries are unaware of or confused by the new requirements, and for those that were aware and tried to comply, they found it difficult to navigate the process to set up an online account. Participants in the focus groups also reported that they continue to face the same challenges with work such as unstable or unpredictable work hours and few job opportunities in rural areas. The new requirements just add to their anxiety and stress.
Georgetown concludes with a sad “we-told-you-so” about the policy, under challenge in federal court.