Medicaid's Work Requirement Crunch Arrives

Medicaid beneficiaries in states implementing new work requirements are beginning to face coverage losses as eligibility rules take effect, increasing the risk of insurance disruptions for eligible enrollees.

Nebraska, the first state to enforce the requirements ahead of the Jan. 1 national deadline, expects about 200 people to lose coverage this week, while projections estimate up to 7 million people nationwide could lose Medicaid coverage by 2028.

Patients with serious illnesses, including cancer, and clinicians report concerns about reporting requirements, exemption processes, and administrative burden. The rollout highlights implementation challenges that could affect access to care and continuity of coverage as states adopt the new rules. Read more in Axios here.