Columbus, OH – On Tuesday, The Buckeye Institute filed public comments to Ohio’s Department of Medicaid supporting the state’s waiver application that, if approved, will allow the state to implement work and education requirements for healthy adult Ohioans younger than 55 who receive Medicaid benefits.

“As anyone who has been unemployed knows, the longer you are out of the workforce, the harder it becomes to find a job. That is why Ohio must do everything it can to help people stay connected to the workforce and find good paying jobs,” said Rea S. Hederman Jr., vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute. “Medicaid work and education requirements, which only apply to healthy working-age adults, do just that.”

As highlighted in the public comments, “the additional lifetime earnings for working Medicaid recipients are significant.” The Buckeye Institute’s own research shows that a young Medicaid recipient who works and transitions off the government program could earn close to $1 million over a lifetime. Even recipients who remain on Medicaid their entire working life could receive hundreds of thousands more as a result of working.

The Buckeye Institute offered three recommendations for improving Ohio’s waiver application. 

• Improve Data Collection. The state should improve the accuracy of its data collection to more easily verify Medicaid eligibility and ensure that eligible recipients receive their benefits.
• Emphasize the Importance of Work. Since more work experience results in higher skills and wages, Medicaid recipients will experience long-term financial benefits if they work. The waiver application should explain how additional work will benefit enrollees.
• Define “Employed.” The proposed waiver will make “employed” recipients eligible, but it does not explicitly define the term or distinguish between being employed for one hour or 40 hours a week. The waiver should define employment to mean working a minimum of 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month.

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