04.25.2023 / Statement

Families USA: Imposing work-reporting requirements on Medicaid enrollees will leave health care for millions in limbo 

Washington, D.C. – Frederick Isasi, Executive Director of Families USA, issued the following statement on the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, a proposal from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy and his Republican colleagues’ proposal to take Medicaid coverage away from people who do not meet new work reporting requirements, in exchange for voting to raise the debt ceiling. 

“At a time when 40% of Americans don’t have $400 in the bank to cover emergency expenses on any given month, House Republican leadership has decided to further threaten the financial security and health of millions of families by using paperwork under the guise of so called “work requirements” to cut-off people from health care to pay-down the deficit. Instead of ripping health care away from families to address our national deficit, House Republican leadership should focus on ending corporate loopholes and giveaways.  

“Make no mistake, work requirements are simply a way to cut states’ Medicaid funding and kick families off their health insurance – many of whom are from communities of color or live in rural areas. The truth is Medicaid work reporting requirements don’t create efficiency and don’t generate savings. So-called “work requirements” only serve as administrative red tape and barriers to health insurance without meaningfully increasing workforce participation. 

“Setting up a maze of confusing, bureaucratic red tape for people to verify their eligibility or work hours is bad for families, no matter if they vote red, blue or purple. No one should lose their vital health coverage because of political games.” 

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