The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work.

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:24:21 GMT

hdunagan@mastodon.social — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:24:21 GMT

@SeanCasten Yeah, tons of major employers have their employees on Medicaid. Either the base pay is too low, or the companies refuse to let employees work more than X hours a week to avoid paying benefits. Walmart and Amazon are huge offenders.

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:35:24 GMT

vatvslpr@c.im — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:35:24 GMT

@SeanCasten
Medicare work requirements, like so much of our policy, are built around the flawed idea that poverty is caused by laziness. If we just make poverty miserable enough, poor people will finally wise up and start working hard enough to stop being poor. It's demonstrably false, but well-off people want to believe it because it flatters their egos and absolves them of moral responsibility for dealing with poverty.

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:00:50 GMT

emma@orbital.horse — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:00:50 GMT

@SeanCasten I judge the voters, who knew full well this would happen, and couldn't be bothered to cast a ballot against these ghouls.

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:54:30 GMT

seancasten@mastodon.social — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:54:30 GMT

And again: Every Republican knew this when they voted for the Big Ugly Bill. Trump knew it when he signed it into law. They did it anyway. Judge them by their works, not their words. /fin

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:53:33 GMT

seancasten@mastodon.social — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:53:33 GMT

What that does practically is evil. I met a constituent who's adult son has special needs and accesses Medicaid day programs. If he can't get that coverage, his mom can't work during the day anymore. So less coverage, fewer jobs and a whole lot of meanness.

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:52:47 GMT

wendigo@metalhead.club — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:52:47 GMT

@SeanCasten It should be noted as well that the VA doesn't provide dental care to most disabled veterans, so Medicaid helps there as well...

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:51:31 GMT

seancasten@mastodon.social — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:51:31 GMT

The obvious answer: it says "this coverage only applies if you get a job that (a) doesn't provide healthcare and (b) pays so little that you still qualify for Medicaid". Do those jobs exist? Sure. Does anyone want that job? Not especially.

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:49:36 GMT

seancasten@mastodon.social — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:49:36 GMT

But even without the CBO, it's basic common sense. Medicaid is designed to provide health coverage to those who aren't old enough for Medicare, aren't a Veteran and don't have an employer or personal wealth to access private insurance. What does a work requirement do to that population?

Reply to The purpose of Medicaid work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill was not to get more people to work. on Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:47:44 GMT

seancasten@mastodon.social — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:47:44 GMT

We know this first because the non-partisan CBO told us. They were very clear that these rules would not increase employment, but would cut the number of people insured. Republicans voted for it anyway. https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-06/Wyden-Pallone-Neal_Letter_6-4-25.pdf