Subject: Re: 20M to lose health insurance
Are they able-bodied and thus able to work?
(1) It doesn't matter
(2) We will never know because of HIPPA
(3) If indeed they are, the burden they would put on the Medicaid system is near zero
(4) Just because they have, or get a job doesn't mean they get other health insurance
(5) In an emergency, they will still get care in the ER, and the hospital will pass those costs onto others. This is part of what makes health care costs so opaque.
(6) if Medicaid is currently covering medications for chronic conditions, stopping those medications (even for a short time) can be catastrophic.

There are a few GOP senators fairly upset about this provision in the bill. This may be the straw that breaks the bill.
This provision has a much greater impact on red states than the blue ones. Interesting times.
Alan