“Unfit” to Work? How Medicaid Work Requirements Hurt People with Disabilities

Executive Summary

Recent proposals show that Republicans in Congress are once again considering adding work requirements to Medicaid. These policies put people with disabilities at serious risk. The evidence on work and Medicaid points to two important conclusions: First, Medicaid coverage helps more people work, particularly people with disabilities. Second, work requirements are failed policies that increase red tape and take Medicaid away from people with disabilities, regardless of exemptions or attempted carveouts. If the goal is to increase employment, providing better health coverage and more employment supports are the proven policy winners.