Schmeeka Simpson of Omaha works as a patient navigator for the American Civil Liberties Union and an administrative assistant at Nebraskans for Peace, plus picks up shifts at a Dunkin' shop.
Still, even with three jobs, she worries about losing her health coverage as Nebraska, starting Friday, May 1, becomes the first state to require certain Medicaid enrollees to work, train, or go to school under a rule mandated by congressional Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Simpson, 46, has relied on Medicaid since her divorce in 2014. None of her employers offers health coverage. She said she lost her government food assistance after technical problems caused her to miss renewing in time, and she worries that similar problems will happen again.
"Adding more barriers won't make the program work any better," she said.
Nebraska Medicaid officials say they are trying to make it as easy as possible for enrollees to comply, so people don't lose their coverage for administrative reasons, such as failing to file the proper paperwork.
Enrollees with one of thousands of health conditions detailed by the state would be exempt.
"Our top priority is making sure members clearly understand changes to the program and how to maintain their coverage," Drew Gonshorowski, the state's Medicaid director, said in an early-April news release.
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