Texas Medicaid laws leave many at risk of losing coverage

Families and individuals in Texas who rely on seasonal or temporary work are vulnerable to losing Medicaid coverage depending on the month, according to NPR.

The state has one of the strictest Medicaid verification systems in the country, including regular checks on family finances to ensure participants are still eligible to participate in the program. The checks are meant to save the program money by withholding Medicaid benefits from those who make enough money to pay for their own coverage. However, for those with seasonal jobs, monthly income spikes could make them temporarily ineligible for Medicaid even though their total annual income remains below the program’s cap.

In June 2016, nearly 23,000 Texas children experienced Medicaid coverage gaps as a result of the state’s verification policies.

The AHCA would expand states' ability to dictate their own Medicaid policies, though some experts argue that cuts in federal funding to the program would lead states to institute potentially harmful cost-cutting measures, such as those implemented in Texas.

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