California will open Medicaid to everyone, even if you don’t have papers. Free, free, free! Well, “free.” We all know someone pays for it.
Georgia had the common sense of adding a work requirement to obtain Medicaid. Gov. Brian Kemp also limited the expanded coverage to those earning up to 100% of the federal poverty line: $14,580 for a single person and $30,000 for a family of four.
Kemp thought 31,000 people would sign up for the new program, which started in July.
But only 1,800 have enrolled, according to Politico.
Chris Pope at the Manhattan Institute said, “It’s a mountain of paperwork, and it’s burdensome for people who are in a tough spot.”
Beneficiaries will be required to report compliance with qualifying hours and activities on a monthly basis through methods consistent with the requirements in 42 CFR 435.907(a), such as: in-person, over the phone, online, or by mail. The state will allow beneficiaries who have reported compliance with the qualifying hours and activities requirement for six consecutive months an exemption from the monthly reporting requirement until they are reevaluated for eligibility during the annual redetermination period. Beneficiaries exempt from the reporting requirements are required to report changes in employment or other qualifying activities that may affect their eligibility.
But Kemp is also not wrong:
Kemp has argued full expansion would cost too much money. State officials and supporters of Pathways say the work requirement will also help transition Medicaid recipients to better, private health insurance, and working, studying or volunteering leads to improved health.“I’m excited we’re moving forward in this direction,” said Jason Bearden, president of CareSource Georgia, one of the state’s Medicaid health plans. “This is good progress.”
It has only been six months. I doubt Kemp expected to hit 31,000 right away.
Republican Rep. Buddy Carter thinks “people need to be educated” about the program because few know about it. Therefore, we shouldn’t “read too much into” it right now.
Do the stats show that people just want to rely on the government? It’s possible:
For those on the right who have long wanted to limit Medicaid, the low enrollment numbers are proof that too many people are content to rely on government help that they don’t need instead of finding employment or going to school.“As so few able-bodied adults are willing to work, train or volunteer even part time to qualify for the Pathways program, it’s clear that a full expansion would discourage employment for those who can work and risk resources meant for the truly needy — low-income children and people with disabilities,” said Jonathan Ingram, vice president of policy and research at the Foundation for Government Accountability.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY