From The Columbian
Article & Photo By Kimberly Cortez, Columbian Staff Reporter
With new Medicaid work requirements set to take effect in January, the Washington Health Care Authority is urging Clark County residents to stay alert, update their information and keep an eye out for important notices through mail or email that could affect their health coverage.
At a Thursday community panel hosted by Columbia River Mental Health Services, Heather Chrzan, Medicaid eligibility policy manager for the Washington Health Care Authority, said adults on Apple Health must meet work requirements unless they have an exemption. A list of exemptions can be found on the Health Care Authority website.
The requirements are part of a slew of cuts and changes to Medicaid as part of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” also known as H.R. 1. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 21,654 people in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District could lose Medicaid coverage by 2034 due to H.R. 1. Nationally, H.R. 1 would reduce Medicaid enrollment by more than 11 million and increase the number of people without insurance by 7.5 million in 2034, according to an analysis from KFF, an independent public health nonprofit. Those estimates, however, do not account for Medicaid changes related to work requirements.
New requirements
Work requirements or an exemption must be met in the month before applying, or in any of the six months before renewing coverage. Work requirements are met when a person has at least $580 in monthly household income or an average of that amount over a six-month period for seasonal workers.
