New GOP Bill Could Force Medicaid Recipients to Work or Lose Benefits — Starting Soon

If you or someone you love is on Medicaid, there’s a major change being talked about in Congress right now that you’ll definitely want to know about. It has to do with new work requirements — and it could mean millions of people losing their health coverage in the coming years.

Let’s break it down in simple, real-world terms.

So, What’s Actually Happening?

A new Republican-led bill — yep, it’s really called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — is trying to make some serious changes to Medicaid. One of the biggest pieces? Forcing certain adults on Medicaid to work, volunteer, or take part in job training for at least 80 hours a month.

The idea is to cut federal spending and encourage people to be more “self-sufficient.” But the truth is, this kind of rule could be really hard on folks who already have unstable jobs, face health issues, or just don’t have access to the support they need.

Who Would Have to Follow These New Rules?

This wouldn’t hit every Medicaid recipient, but it would affect adults between 19 and 64 who aren’t:

• Pregnant or recently had a baby

• Officially disabled

• Taking care of someone else who depends on them

If this bill passes, these folks would need to prove they’re working or doing some kind of approved activity — and they’d have to report it twice a year.

When Would All This Happen?

Not right away. The plan is for this to kick in starting January 1, 2029. But that’s only if the bill passes in the House and then gets through the Senate — which is still a big “if.”

What Could This Mean for You?

Here’s the scary part: experts say this could lead to about 7.6 million people losing their Medicaid coverage by 2034.

We’ve seen this before — back in 2018, Arkansas tried a similar plan. More than 18,000 people lost their health coverage, and it didn’t even lead to more people working. A lot of them just got caught in confusing paperwork or didn’t even know they had to report anything.

So even if you are working, you could still lose your benefits if you miss a form or deadline.

Other Changes in the Bill

There’s more than just work requirements. The bill also includes things like:

• Co-pays: If you make over the poverty line, you might have to pay up to $35 per doctor visit (except emergencies or basic care).

• Asset limits: If you own a home worth more than $1 million, you wouldn’t be eligible.

• Immigration rules: States that give Medicaid to undocumented immigrants could lose 10% of their federal funding for the program.

Is This Definitely Happening?

No — not yet. The bill passed a committee and is headed for a full vote in the House. But it’s already facing pushback from some Republicans and a lot of Democrats, especially because of how many people it could hurt.

What Can You Do Right Now?

The best thing to do is stay informed. Changes aren’t happening tomorrow, but if this bill gets passed, it’s going to affect a lot of people.

• Make sure your contact info is current with your state Medicaid office

• Keep an eye out for updates — or sign up for alerts

• Ask questions if you’re unsure whether you’d be affected

This bill isn’t law yet, but it’s moving through Congress. And if it does pass, it could seriously change how Medicaid works for millions of people. Even if you’re doing all the right things, new rules and red tape could cause problems.

We’ll keep watching it and let you know what happens. But for now, if Medicaid matters to you, this is definitely something to keep on your radar.