The Trump administration released official guidance outlining exemptions for its new Medicaid work requirements, which take effect on January 1. Under the new rules, eligible adults must participate in work, school, or volunteer activities for at least 80 hours a month to maintain coverage, though exemptions are carved out for pregnant women, parents of young children, disabled veterans, and individuals deemed "medically frail" (such as those with cancer or substance use disorders). To ease the transition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow enrollees to self-attest to these exemptions during the first year before transitioning to a strict verification system in 2028. However, policy experts warn that despite these temporary flexibilities, the policy's rapid implementation timeline and administrative hurdles are projected to cause roughly 5 million people to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034.

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