24-04-2025
Questions and concerns raised by Iowans worried about work requirements for state health benefits
URBANDALE, Iowa — Just eight days ago, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced that she was directing the state department of health and human services to request a waiver from the federal government. That waiver seeks permission for the state to add work requirements as a contingent for receiving state health benefits.
The governor's office estimates that around 100,000 'able-bodied' adults are on the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, known as the state's Medicaid expansion, that are not working. The waiver asks permission for there to be a 100 hour per month work requirement for those who are able.
Wednesday marked the first of two public comment periods, with people meeting at the Urbandale Public Library to raise concerns to state employees. From worrying about family members, clients and themselves, members of the public explained how the waiver could impact their life.
'Just trying to find jobs where I can work from home and take care of her at the same time. It's just a real hassle because there just aren't the jobs out there,' said Heather Sanders from Ankeny. Sanders told WHO 13 News that she has applied to hundreds of jobs, but has not had any luck because of barriers she describes as age, and her need to work from home. Sanders takes care of her elderly mother full time and needs to find work that is flexible for appointments for her mother during the day.
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'They kind of view it as just like numbers on a page and they don't look at the people that are affected by it,' said Lori Hunt from Des Moines. Hunt is not currently enrolled in Medicaid, she gets her health coverage from a tax credit through the Affordable Care Act. She said that finding work is difficult, as when she hits a certain income threshold she would be dropped from her coverage.
Some Iowans at the hour-long public comment portion came to speak about family members or clients they have had in the past; and concerns they have about individuals having work required when they may not be able.
'Our legislators only care about their pocketbooks, not our pocketbooks. They care about what they're getting. They don't care about any of us, the want us ground down,' said Terry Anderson from Ankeny. Terry has a disabled son who is in his thirties, and he wanted to let out his frustrations at the hearing today for his son.
'I truly think people that are legislating do not have a clue, do not understand, haven't been there, haven't worked with these individuals and don't see them day to day,' said Karen Maass from Urbandale. Maass is a retired physical therapist who has worked for public schools and home health visits. She expressed worry for clients she used to work with who are on state Medicaid coverage and may be required to work when they can't.
The 100 hours a month requirement, if accepted, will be enforced starting January 1, 2026. Those who are 19 to 64 years old on the state program and are not exempt from work requirements will wait to see what happens with the work requirements bill floating through the statehouse. The bill requires only 80 hours of work a month compared to the 100 in the initial waiver request.
The next public comment period is in Marshalltown at the public library from 2-3 p.m. on April 29.
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