WHAT MEDICAID MEANS FOR PWDs
The NDNRC wants to make sure that people with disabilities (PWDs)are aware of potential changes to their healthcare with the new administration taking office. The disability community utilizes Medicaid, and the ACA Marketplace plans at a higher rate than those without disabilities due to their unique needs.
By updating this newsletter with resources and educational pieces on where disability health policies stand, we hope to ensure that the disability community continues to have access to accessible and affordable healthcare coverage no matter what changes occur in the foreseeable future.
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a topical issue brief on the importance of Medicaid coverage for people with disabilities, as well key facts on Medicaid eligibility for adults over the age of 65 and people with disabilities. The main takeaways from key facts of Medicaid coverage for PWDs are that:
- More than 1 in 3 people with disabilities have Medicaid. That is over 15 million people!
- Over 1 in 5 Medicaid enrollees have a disability
- Of the Medicaid enrollees with disabilities, more than half have multiple difficulties
- 2 out of 3 of Medicaid enrollees with disabilities do not get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medicaid enrollees with disabilities frequently use long-term care services
The American Association on Health and Disability published a weekly newsletter that contained statistics on preserving Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for adults with disabilities, complied by H. Stephan Kaye through the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2019 to 2023. This data noted that Medicaid covers 1 in 3 of working-age disabled adults and produces better health outcomes for this community through accessible, sustainable, and affordable coverage through Medicaid and the Marketplace.
KFF’s news release on a congressional proposal to cut federal spending on the ACA’s Medicaid expansion highlights negative impacts on those who rely on this coverage. This elimination would decrease total Medicaid spending by almost $1.9 trillion, over a 10-year period, and would also result in over 20 million people losing coverage. KFF also released an issue brief on a state-by-state estimate for each state’s Medicaid program if this proposal were to go through, as well as a general tracker for Medicaid expansion decisions.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) posted a blog on how taxes for enrollees in the ACA Marketplace would increase with talks of using a similar proposal from 2017. This would eliminate repayment caps that most marketplace enrollees receive to help pay for their premiums
CBPP also covered reasons why lawmakers should not pass Medicaid per capita caps, as stated below:
- Initial caps would be based on each state’s previous spending and then would grow each year at a rate that does not match with per-person health cost spending
- Per capita caps make states pay unexpected costs
- Per capita caps would decrease federal funding to all states
Community Catalyst posted about Medicaid work requirements and how they would negatively affect Medicaid enrollees. The article noted that “64% of adult Medicaid enrollees under 65 are already working full or part-time,” as per a 2023 KFF Report. A supplemental video and toolkit was posted for other organizations to post on social media for further awareness.
The National Health Law Program (NHelp) posted resources on the impacts of Medicaid cuts on the workforce. This piece highlighted that many Medicaid enrollees work low-wage jobs that do not provide employer-sponsored health insurance, in turn making Medicaid their main option for health coverage.
NHelp also released a factsheet on how the new Eligibility & Enrollment Final Rule streamlines the process for states of determining Medicaid eligibility and enrolling people in their Medicaid programs. This new rule helps save time and money for state Medicaid programs.
As an FYI for those who missed Open Enrollment, if enrollment or changes need to be made, people with disabilities who are looking for a Marketplace plan would need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Common SEPs, but not a definitive list, can be due to changes in:
- Income
- Employment
- Healthcare coverage
- Household size
As a part of our partnership with the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), we have updated Factsheets 1 through 16, excluding Factsheet 6; people with disabilities should read topic and population specific sheets.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.