The Republicans invite Medicaid RIFE with the fraudsters. This man sees no choice but to break the rules.

Missola, Mont. -With the final touches on Republicans in Congress, the requirements for the work of medical aid in the budget bill, Donald Trump, a man who relies on this government -backed health coverage was trying to persuade his old car to start after an eight -hour working attack.

James asked to use his middle name only to tell his story so that he does not lose health coverage or accuse him of fraud in medical aid. He was annoyed by his food service a few weeks in the addiction treatment program. The man said in the late thirties that his boss “did not disappoint.”

“I am a good factor.”

James can obtain prescribed medications that help him stabilize his life and raise this function through the Medicaid program, which is the government insurance program and the doctor covering people with low incomes or disabilities. These medications curb his desire for alcohol and treat long conditions that exacerbate their addiction, including bipolar disorders and insomnia.

But he was not qualified for the program for months, since his work hours increased and received an increase of about one dollar per hour. It exceeds the maximum capacity of its income of $ 21,000 per year by about $ 50 per week.

James said that despite his lifting, he is struggling to cover routine expenses, such as keeping his car operating and paying his phone bill. He said that he could not bear the care he needs even in the cheapest insurance plan available to him through the market of the care law at reasonable prices or through the health insurance plan for his job. Even paying $ 60 a month for sleep medications – one of six recipes takes it daily – is very expensive.

“I only saw one option,” James said. “Fudge numbers.”

James has not reached his new income for the state. This puts it unavoidable with Republicans in Congress who justified the addition of obstacles to Medicaid by claiming that the system suffers from waste, fraud and abuse. But James is not someone sitting on The sofa plays video gamesMike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson and other people, said they would target when requesting work requirements.

Medicaid provides health coverage and long -term care for more than 70 million people In the United States. Those who study safety network systems say it is extremely rare for fraud to take advantage of this coverage. In fact, the research appears Areas of qualified people who are not registered In medicaid, it is more likely that the system is very confusing. Nearly two thirds of the people in Medicaid in 2023 were jobs, According to the analysis by KFFIt is a non -profit health information that includes KFF Health News.

Those who move from Medicaid may qualify to obtain other supported or low -priced health plans through reasonable care law market. However, as in the case of James, these plans can have gaps in what is covered for care, and the most comprehensive special plans may be expensive. So James and an unknown number of other people find themselves trapped between working a lot to qualify to get Medicaid, but they earn a very little to pay for their health care.

James considers himself as a patriot and said that people should not “use government financing to be just lazy.” It is agreed with the Republican argument that, if you can, people must work if they receive Medicaid. He disguises him hiding working hours from the government, especially since he feels that he should lie to reach the medical care that enables him to work.

“I don’t want to be a fraud. I don’t want to die,” said James. “These two only options should be.”

On July 4, Trump signed the major tax and spending draft law that makes it difficult for low -income workers to obtain medicaid. This includes the demands of the beneficiaries to work or go to school and add papers to prove every six months, and Willin is less than hours in the job.

He said: “People will harm, whether they play with the rules or not.” Bin SumerEconomic expert at Harvard University. “We see this justification for people who work very hard, they really struggle and benefit from a program that helps them survive.”

James said that he initially refused to raise it because he was concerned about the loss of Medicid. It was previously launched from the coverage about a month from the rehabilitation program after finding work. James said that to stay in the sober living program that he could not tolerate, he dropped enough hours at work to eradicate medicaid, then chose hours again. He said that if he does not earn more, he has no opportunity to save enough money to find housing after graduating from the treatment program.

James said: “They will give you a bone if you stay in the mud,” James said. “But you have to stay there.”

This problem – To become fair Successful enough to lose medicaid suddenly – common. He said that he is called a cliff of benefits Pamella flockThose looking for government aid at the University of Michigan.

“It is not logical that someone gets the dollar salaries and suddenly loses all access to his health insurance,” Hurd said.

She said that partial reform is called continuous eligibility, which ensures the individual’s medical coverage for a specific period, such as one or more year. The goal is to give people time to adapt when they earn more money. Continuous eligibility also helps to maintain the coverage of low -income workers who have unexpected hours and whose salaries are changing from the month.

But Congress has moved in the other direction. Under the new law, policy makers are restricted to eligibility to adults who have physical enjoyment every six months. Herd said that this would put more people on the eligibility of the program, as they must decide between loss of access to coverage or the dropping of working hours.

“It will be a nightmare,” Hurd said.

These federal changes will be particularly difficult for people with chronic conditions, such as James in Montana.

Not so long ago, James did not break the rules to reach Medicaid because his mandate had a continuous eligibility for 12 months. But in 2023, Montana began asking the registrants to report any change in their income within 10 days.

James is proud of his arrival. About a year ago, his body was collapsing. He could not carry a spoon for breakfast without whiskey – his hands shook severely. He had alcohol attacks. He said that his memories of his unhealthy time come in flashes: put on a stretch, an anxiety face, the ambulance lights in the background.

James recently graduated from his treatment program. He resides with one of the comparisons to save money as he and his girlfriend tries to find an affordable place to rent – although with medicaid, finding the housing seems to be an extension of it. It takes part -time lessons to become a licensed advisor. His dream is to help others survive from addiction, and he also sees that this profession is a way out of poverty.

James, all its progress rides on maintaining medicaid for a little longer.

He said: “Every time I get a piece of mail, I feel terrifying that I will open it and say that I no longer have medicaid.” “I am constantly afraid to disappear.”

As of mid -July, officials did not notice an additional $ 50 that he does every week.