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Nebraska rushed Medicaid work rules. Then a cancer patient was told he'd lost coverage
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Eli McCreary, diagnosed with kidney cancer and multiple chronic conditions, was told by a Nebraska hospital that his Medicaid coverage was canceled due to new work requirements, forcing him to delay critical cancer treatment.
- Nebraska implemented Medicaid work requirements starting May 1, ahead of most states, requiring about 70,000 adults to prove 80 hours of work or qualifying activities monthly, with exemptions for disabilities and serious health conditions.
- The state spent $8.2 million on contractors to implement the work requirements and related Medicaid changes, but advocates report widespread confusion, misinformation, and increased call wait times for enrollees seeking assistance.
- Despite state claims of a successful rollout, many Medicaid recipients have faced coverage disruptions, and enrollment declined by 1.4% since May, with denials mostly due to unsubmitted paperwork amid complex new rules.
- McCreary’s case highlights challenges in navigating Medicaid changes during health crises, with experts noting his medical conditions should have exempted him from work requirements; he eventually transitioned to Medicare and underwent surgery in November.
