LTE: Taking health care from people doesn’t help them find a job
Proposals to add work requirements to Montana’s Medicaid eligibility are alarming and shortsighted. People aren’t on Medicaid because they won’t, or don’t want to, work. The vast majority of Medicaid recipients do work, are ill or disabled, are in school or are taking care of family members.
If lawmakers are concerned with helping more Montanans find steady work, there are better ways — high-quality job training, child care, affordable transportation, higher education and a decent minimum wage. One solution could be to increase investment in Montana’s Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Link (HELP-Link), which provides services such as career counseling and on-the-job training. Of the 3,000-plus Medicaid clients who completed DLI workforce training programs in 2016, 70 percent were employed after finishing their training.
Lawmakers cite other states’ requirements as examples, but it is important to note that harsh requirements in other states provide no support for accessing work either. Work requirements only serve to kick people off their health care. Taking health care coverage from people doesn’t help them find a job.
Medicaid covers one in 10 Montanans and is working well. Let’s not lose our momentum in providing proper care for thousands of Montanans.
Reginald Hageman
Helena