Study: Federal work requirements could cut Ohio Medicaid expansion enrollment in half, despite many

Federal Medicaid work requirements and more-frequent eligibility checks could cause half of Ohio’s Medicaid expansion population to lose their coverage, despite many having a job, going to school or acting as a caregiver, according to a new report (Source: “As many as 356,000 Ohioans will lose health coverage under Trump spending law, new reports says,” Ohio Capital Journal, March 31).

The work requirements in HR 1 will likely take health coverage away from many who meet exemption requirements, according to an Urban Institute analysis published last week. In fact, it could take coverage away from a full half — or 356,000 — of those who get coverage under a 2014 expansion of Medicaid eligibility as part of the Affordable Care Act, according to the report.

The losses are in addition to at least 113,000 Ohioans who have already lost health coverage this year after tax credits in Affordable Care Act marketplaces expired. That number is expected to grow, and nearly half of those losing coverage work for, or own, small businesses, KFF analysis found.