KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION: What Could Medicaid Work Requirements Mean for People with Disabilities Waiting for Medicare Coverage?
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application process and subsequent mandatory 24-month Medicare waiting period can leave many people with long-term disabilities at risk of going without health coverage, with over 1 in 4 relying on Medicaid expansion in the interim. However, upcoming federal work requirements for Medicaid expansion enrollees threaten this safety net starting in January 2027. Because SSDI applicants and individuals waiting for Medicare are generally unable to work due to their disabilities, they will likely need to rely on medical frailty exemptions to maintain coverage. Although federal guidance provides frameworks for states to verify medical frailty using claims data, strict documentation and verification rules could still create significant administrative hurdles, putting vulnerable individuals at risk of losing their health insurance..
