See below for key takeaways from the report: Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements Would Harm Women’s and LGBTQ+ People’s Health and Economic Security to Fund Tax Breaks for the Rich.

MOST MEDICAID ENROLLEES DO WORK: Data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities confirms this: Nearly 65% of non-elderly Medicaid adults work, with most working full-time. Most who didn’t reported an incompatibility with work, such as an illness or disability, caregiving responsibilities, or pursuit of an education.

WORK REQUIREMENTS DO NOT LEAD TO MORE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION: Rather, they cut coverage and discourage eligible individuals from applying by imposing burdensome reporting and red tape. Cases studies from Arkansas and Georgia back this up.

MEDICAID COVERAGE ACTUALLYS HELPS SPUR EMPLOYMENT: It can help people, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals, deal with health problems that would otherwise make it harder for them to become employed, including by providing access to preventive care, treatment for health problems before they become more serious, and assistance managing chronic conditions.

SNAP “WORK REQUIREMENTS” ARE ALSO NOT EFFECTIVE: Research on work requirements for SNAP — also known as “food stamps” — similarly indicates little success (“work requirements” for SNAP are actually a misnomer for time limits on program eligibility dependent on work or training documentation). SNAP time limits failed to increase employment and significantly decreased participation in SNAP. Other studies found that these requirements, on average, reduced income across all recipients and reduced benefits more than they increased people’s earnings. Read more about the impact of work requirements for SNAP here: Gender and Racial Justice in SNAP 

The communities that would be most hurt by work requirements for Medicaid:

  • Women & LGBTQ+ Community Make Up Majority of Medicaid Recipients: Women make up the majority of nonelderly Medicaid enrollees, with LGBTQ+ individuals also more likely to rely on Medicaid.
  • Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements Don’t Consider Unpaid Caregiving: Many women on Medicaid struggle to meet required work hours due to responsibilities like child care, family caregiving, or involuntary part-time work, risking loss of coverage due to administratively burdensome exemptions processes.
  • Restrictions on Medicaid Make Underserved Communities Sicker: Low-income women and LGBTQ+ individuals without insurance are less likely to access regular care, preventive services, or wellness check-ups. This can then lead to higher medical bills and puts an even greater strain on our health care systems. Medicaid is also the primary coverage source for adults living with HIV and transgender individuals with disabilities.