House Republicans are considering $2.3 trillion in Medicaid cuts as part of a broader deficit reduction plan. One element includes imposing work requirements for eligibility. A bill introduced in February proposes that adults ages 18 to 65 must work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week to qualify for Medicaid, unless they’re exempt.
A new study from UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute warns that this and other changes could result in nearly 2.3 million Californians losing Medi-Cal coverage. More than half of them are Latino. The researchers say many Latinos work in jobs that don’t offer employer-provided health insurance, such as hospitality, health care and construction.
“Almost 1.4 million Latino Medi-Cal enrollees are in these particular industries … they don't necessarily come with employee provided health insurance because these individuals work as independent contractors.” said Arturo Vargas Bustamante, one of the study’s authors. “So Medi-Cal is actually the one that comes as the insurance of last resort to cover these demographics.”
UC San Diego health policy professor Richard Kronick said work requirements won’t increase employment but will lead to coverage loss.
“The evidence is clear that the result is people losing coverage for administrative kind of process reasons,” Kronick said. “The real cost of not having insurance, which is that people are sicker and that more people will die, and we might save a teeny bit of money because of that. But it's a very teeny bit.”
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2 years agoamandasandiegooo
THE TAXPAYERS WILL PAY TRIPLE for emergency care what preventative could have prevented for cheap. I worked at a hospital <10 mi from the border, trust me. The diabetic wound that gets cleaned for $50 turns quickly into an amputation that costs $100k. MEGACORP PE IS TRYING TO BANKRUPT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TO GORDON GECKO THE SCRAPS -> PRICE-FIX/MONOPOLIZE EVEN MORE!! It’s insidious corporate welfare! The taxpayers prop up these poor hospitals with tax breaks - TAXPAYERS WILL PAY 10x MORE BUT WE’LL NEVER KNOW IT
2 years agoserenesirensmiles
So those industries that don’t offer medical, are leeching off the government and now people want the government to stop helping those workers. Good luck finding good workers in those industries!
2 years agotempttherevenant
Republicans often claim to be the pro-life party, but their actions tell a different story that's entirely at odds with reality. They do more than contradict themselves; they actively harm the lives of countless Americans. They demonstrate a troubling desire to inflict suffering on citizens daily, placing control above care and compassion. Representative Darrell Issa's support for work mandates in this instance aligns with an alarming record that includes backing voter suppression initiatives, cutting education funding, undermining the rule of law, and creating obstacles that make it harder for children to access food. It's outrageous that so many Americans struggle to afford healthcare. If Republicans dislike someone for any reason—such as whether they are employed or not—they quickly resort to harmful tactics to deny essential resources to those they consider unworthy. This behavior is not only cowardly and pathetic but also reveals a disgraceful weakness of character. If work mandates are put in place, it won't be long before Republicans want to decide which jobs are considered acceptable. Healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege, for the fortunate few. Nearly everyone desires to live with dignity. Yet, under these harsh and often changing policies, too many people live in constant fear for their health, worried about how they will manage if they become ill or suffer an injury. A thriving, healthy nation should be the goal for all Americans, but Republicans appear intent on pulling us in the opposite direction. Actively seeking to disadvantage Americans is another betrayal of our country that also tip-toes toward treason, and it's time we demand better and hold those in power accountable for their decisions that harm everyday people.
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