Could they be kicked off Medicaid? I'm 23 years old, unemployed, and have been on Medicaid for almost 3 years now. I was told last year that I might needs to see a caseworker this year, but wasn't told what this meeting would entail. I am concerned about this potential caseworker visit. My circumstances haven't changed, but I wonder if someone could get in trouble for being on Medicaid for too long without having found work, or perhaps be kicked off Medicaid, despite still meeting the eligibility requirements? Anybody know anything about this?
Medicaid since its a joint federal & state program but administered uniquely by each state, so each state can set its own qualifiers under an overall federal quideline. Ditto for other needs based programs like SNAP. Both my state (Louisiana) & MS have passed restrictions on needs based programs for those under 60. In order to get SNAP after a period of time (90/120 days) you now have to work, be enrolled in some sort of jobs training program, or have a certified exemption filed. If not and paperwork not all correctly filed & done, you are off snap. You have to work & no more job is not commensurate with your education or experience. Alot of those handicapped are finding their handicap alone is not disqualifying them from holding a job.....MS has already culled snap about 1/4 statewide. I'd bet it ends up over 50% get removed from snap benefits. Unfortunately a lot of those would have been able to get an exemption but didn't get documentation in. Its a new stack of paperwork that required. If your medical certification was done when you were a minor, it may need to be updated too. If you get off a needs-based, you may have to totally do new applications & certifications to get reapproved and all that gets reviewed with lots more scrutiny.
For MS, since Gov. Bryant (R) refused Medicaid expansion under ACA, health care for the poor & near poor is very very limited. Now with the tightening of snap, a lot have limited food as well. MS is probably the poorest state in the US. Why people continue to vote in candidates with policies in direct opposite to their best interest is beyond me.
If your state is going the LA & MS route to be super stringent on "needs based" programs qualification paperwork, find out clearly from your caseworker what's needed and get all in before whatever deadline.
In my state, persons on Medicaid generally get a visit from their caseworker at least twice a year. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the outcome of this potential visit. It is probably routine. And in any case, there is not much you can do to change things, right? If you could get a job you would have one.
Medicaid covers medical costs. What are you doing for housing and food and other expenses?