Nebraska's Medicaid Work Requirements: A Test Case

0:00On April 28, Nebraska kicks off as the first state enforcing work requirements for new Medicaid applicants starting Friday, eight months ahead of the federal deadline. Folks aged 19 to 64 on the expansion plan got a log at least 80 hours a month working, volunteering, or studying half time with eligibility checks every six months instead of yearly. This stems from a tax law signed by President Trump last year, pushed by Republican Governor Jim Pillan to get able-bodied residents contributing. The state boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates at 3.1% back in February, and they're aiming to cover exemptions for the medically frail or those in treatment. Advocates are sounding alarms that the rush rollout could leave eligible people without coverage due to paperwork snags and unclear rules. Health Centers report tons of confusion from clients, like whether certain apprenticeships count or how far travel for care qualifies as an exemption. Officials say they're ready, matching most of the 70,000 expansion enrollees with existing

1:03data on jobs or exemptions, so only 20,000 to 28,000, plus a few thousand new applicants monthly might need to submit proof, like paced of showing at least $500, $80 for minimum wage hours. Experts from groups like KFF are eyeing Nebraska closely as a test case for other states, especially with federal guidance dropping in June that might. Force tweaks. It'll show what works and what trips folks up in real time. I'm Cory with The Story, and you've been listening to US News Today, AI-powered National