Key Findings. (1) Alabama's proposed work requirement and subsequent coverage losses would disproportionately affect mothers, African Americans and families living in rural communities. Many of these women will likely become uninsured as employer-sponsored insurance for low-wage workers is sparse. (2) The proposal creates a Catch-22: Any parent working the 20 to 35 hours required would make too much money to qualify for Medicaid--but likely not enough to afford private insurance. The state estimates that just under 15,000 parents would be removed from Medicaid by the fifth year of the proposal. This number is likely too low. (3) When their parents lose health coverage, children suffer. The families face increased debt, and children are less likely to visit the doctor regularly and more likely to become uninsured themselves. Children in these families are already disproportionately uninsured.
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