Consistent health coverage is needed

A real path out of poverty is not paved in red tape. Consistent health coverage helps people on Arkansas Works be healthy enough to work and make a better life.

Op-Ed (Arkansas)

Kevin de Liban
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
February 17, 2019
READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Tags: Medicaid, Work Requirements

Organizations mentioned/involved: Legal Aid of Arkansas (LAA) (Jonesboro, AR)


DETAILS

Despite evidence showing that nearly everyone on the program works or has a major barrier to work, Arkansas in 2018 became the first state to put work reporting requirements in Medicaid. Congress did not approve these requirements, which makes them illegal and the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. Legalities aside, these burdensome red tape requirements are termination traps that strip away health insurance and leave people less able to get ahead.

***

Legal Aid works with thousands of low-income Arkansans in all sorts of situations. Whether it’s someone fleeing domestic violence, an aunt taking care of a child who’s not her own, an older person trying to get out of a debt collection scam, or a construction worker trying to get wages owed, our clients do the best they can with what they’ve got.