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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require certain adults enrolled in Medicaid to meet a work or volunteer requirement in order to keep their coverage each month. Starting January 1, 2026, states would not be allowed to give Medicaid medical assistance for a month to an “able-bodied adult” unless that person works at least 20 hours a week, on average each month, or volunteers at least 20 hours a week, on average each month. The bill also spells out who does not count as an able-bodied adult, including people who are too young or too old, people with a medical condition that keeps them from working, pregnant people, certain parents or caregivers, people already receiving unemployment benefits and following those rules, and people in drug or alcohol treatment programs.
- Applies to Medicaid coverage for able-bodied adults beginning January 1, 2026.
- To keep coverage for a month, a person must either work at least 20 hours per week or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, based on a monthly average.
- “Able-bodied adult” does not include people under 18 or over 65, pregnant people, people certified as unable to work, and certain parents or caregivers of young children or children with serious medical conditions or disabilities.
- The exemption also covers people receiving unemployment compensation and following those requirements, as well as people taking part in a drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program.
Official Summaries
Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act
This bill establishes work requirements under Medicaid for able-bodied adults.
Specifically, the bill requires individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 65 and who are not otherwise unable to work due to a medical condition, family situation, or other listed reason to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, based on a monthly average, in order to qualify for Medicaid.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 447 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 447
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to implement a minimum
work requirement for able-bodied adults enrolled in State Medicaid
programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025
Mr. Kennedy (for himself and Mr. Schmitt) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to implement a minimum
work requirement for able-bodied adults enrolled in State Medicaid
programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid
Act''.
SEC. 2. WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR ABLE-BODIED ADULTS.
Section 1902 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(86);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(87) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (87) the following
new paragraph:
``(88) beginning January 1, 2026, not provide medical
assistance with respect to a month to an able-bodied adult (as
defined in subsection (uu)(2)) that has not met the work
requirement described in subsection (uu)(1) for such month.'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(uu) Work Requirement for Able-Bodied Adults.--
``(1) Work requirement described.--For purposes of
subsection (a)(88), the work requirement described in this
subsection with respect to an able-bodied adult and a month is
that such adult satisfies at least one of the following with
respect to such month:
``(A) The adult works 20 hours or more per week,
based on a monthly average.
``(B) The adult volunteers for 20 hours or more per
week, based on a monthly average.
``(2) Able-bodied adult defined.--In this subsection the
term `able-bodied adult' means any individual who is not--
``(A) under 18 years of age or over 65 years of
age;
``(B) medically certified as physically or mentally
unfit for employment;
``(C) pregnant;
``(D) the primary parent or caretaker of a
dependent child under 6 years of age;
``(E) the primary parent or caretaker of a
dependent child with a serious medical condition or
disability, as determined by the State agency
established or designated to administer or supervise
the administration of the State plan;
``(F) receiving unemployment compensation under
State or Federal law and, as applicable, complying with
work requirements under such State or Federal law; or
``(G) participating in a drug or alcohol treatment
and rehabilitation program (as defined in section 3(h)
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008).''.
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