Georgia’s New Medicaid Program Requiring Applicants to Have a Job Experiencing a Slow Start
Only 1,800 have enrolled since the program started in July.
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.
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Comments
the single most effective anti poverty program since the great depression was “ending welfare as we know it” enacted during the clinton adminstration at the behest of the republican congress.
The current democrat party is extremely opposed to any program that is effective.
I actually dont’ mind giving Clinton credit in that regard because his legacy is so problematic for Democrats.
He is the only reason Dems can claim a modicum of success on economic matters of state in the modern era and they hate how it was done.
Shrillary would have never gone bipartisan.
These clowns think manual labor is the Spanish ambassador.
I can hear the pronunciation in my head!! LOL!
End all Federal welfare assistance of any type to any able bodied adult. Provide in kind food assistance to minor children via public school breakfast, lunch and a go bag meal for dinner. For non school age children 4 and younger, use assigned schools as distribution point for in kind food assistance boxes picked up and signed for by the Parent; sort of an extended WIC. Get rid of the other cash assistance programs.
Do not underestimate the power of peanut butter.
As of August 2023 the Georgia Chamber of Commerce reports that the status on employment:
Employers have a surplus of 130,000 job openings compared to February 2020. On the downside, Georgia is grappling with a workforce shortage, evident by the fact that there are only 54 available workers for every 100 open job positions in the state.
Obviously Gov. Kemp is on the right path. After having to get everything for free for 18 months, it appears those who haven’t returned to the work force have taken on the idea of entitlement. Why work when you can get services for no cost as they continue to use Hospital Emergency services rather than take responsibility for their own health care.
“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.””
That is a FEATURE and not a BUG.
Added benefit: Those capable of working but preferring to be on the dole will more often seek greener pastures in some blue State – like CA as the author noted above.
DLTDHYOTWO
It’s not like they don’t have the time.
I”m not sure I understand this. Is the Gov saying that a person who makes $300 week is not eligible? It’s no wonder the enrollment numbers are low.
Yep. $300 a week is in excess of the max income for a single person to be eligible.
See that this is much of a problem, we don’t really want people using these programs anymore than necessary. If they find it more to their favor to find their health care elsewhere, that’s fine. Then the rest of us won’t have to pay for it.
Using, and in particular, abusing.
The regulations might sound “burdensome” but they are necessary to get past the unemployment scammers that are out there. Take a job three months then get fired, rinse, repeat. Due to training and onboarding costs and their abysmal job performances, they are at least as big a drain on productivity as those who refuse to participate altogether.