LTE: Proposed Medicaid changes would hurt ag workers
I work seasonally on ranches outside of Helena. My employers are unable to offer insurance, so I enrolled in Medicaid to make sure I have health care. Working with horses, cattle and heavy equipment includes substantial risk – I wanted to make sure I’d be OK if I got into a bad accident. Jobs in ranching are cornerstones of Montana’s way of life. Medicaid enrollees like me should not be subjected to work and online reporting requirements.
Ranching is a solid, honest job, but it can also have volatile hours and varying seasonal durations that make us eligible one month and short the next. These jobs also don’t have sick leave, so when workers get sick or have a family emergency, we risk losing coverage.
On the ranch, access to the internet or computers can be limited, so I definitely can’t submit online reports on what hours I have worked. I want my government to spend tax dollars on something useful – not more paperwork and bureaucracy. Any work requirement added to Medicaid expansion would have the unintended consequence of taking coverage away from people like me who are contributing to Montana’s agricultural industry.
Kate Clyatt
Helena