SoapZone Community: Politics Message Board

(warning: LONG and possibly rant-y)

I no longer recall when, exactly, I applied for Medicaid and was approved, but it was some time between the summer of 2023 and summer of 2024. Getting on Medicaid was a struggle in its own right; at first I thought I didn't qualify because I didn't meet any of the various requirements (over 65 and not on Medicare, disabled, caring for a dependent, etc.) but then someone who works in the health insurance industry informed me that as long as I was seeking just health insurance and didn't need housing assistance or food assistance, I was good to go. She sent me the forms I needed to fill out, I did so and now I'm on Medicaid.

I've not really given my Medicaid much thought because a) I don't go to the doctor (I didn't go to the doctor when I *had* decent health insurance...but that's a rant for a different day) and b) I never expected to stay at a job that didn't offer benefits. But then I hired on part-time at Chico's...and stayed. Because getting a full-time job as an older adult who isn't in a specific field is tough (and it's probably tough for older adults who ARE in a specific field...but that's a rant for another day). I noted with mild concern the portion of HR1 that spoke to changes in Medicaid, but as I'm working 80+ hours a month, I'm figuring I'm good to go. For now.

A few weeks ago, I got a notice from <my county> Jobs and Family Services( let's abbreviate that to JaFS) informing me that I needed to mail them 4-6 weeks' worth of pay stubs to ensure I still qualify to Medicaid. Which, fine, but I no longer receive pay stubs. I have direct deposit (like so many of us do) and everything else goes through the Dayforce App on my phone. I hate that stinkin' app...but that's a rant for another day. I went in to work the next day and asked my store manager how to print out my pay stubs...Dayforce was down that afternoon so she said it would have to wait until the next time she and I both worked together, which was a couple days later. Only a couple days later, we both forgot until the very end of the day, when SM was rushing out the door. So the pay stubs didn't get printed until Wednesday, which felt a bit late to get them in the mail in time (they're due August 31st).

Not a big deal. I'm off today and the building housing JaFS is only a 20 minute drive away. I was going to just go over and hand them my pay stubs but then yesterday, I got not one but two notices in the mail from JaFS informing me that I've been approved to remain on Medicaid. I was set to forget about the pay stubs but then I noticed that the section of my information listing my income was blank. So now I needed to inform Medicaid that I am indeed working and meeting the 80 hour/month work requirement. This morning, I was thinking again about driving over--my county is not that big, and the one other time I was in the JaFS office, not only was nobody else there needing attention, I had not one but two bored employees come out to help me--but I decided to call them instead, just in case things have changed (plus I'm always mildly chastising Dad about just popping into places of business expecting them to have time to take care of him).

So I called and of course got the options menu. Medicaid queries were not one of the options, so I punched "0" to talk to someone. I almost immediately got a person on the line who transferred my call to the office handling Medicaid issues. After a few seconds of wait music, I got a recorded message from a rather angry sounding man informing me that <paraphrasing a bit here> they've had a high number of inquiries and please leave a message--but just ONE because otherwise it clogs up their system and reduces efficiency or whatever--with my name, case number and a brief explanation of why I'm calling and they'll get back to me...oh, probably in 2 business days. Ugh. So I left all my information plus my phone number and asked for a call back, not expecting one until Tuesday (since Monday is Labor Day).

They called me back almost immediately. BUT for some reason, my phone didn't ring; it sent the call straight to voice mail. It's been doing that sporadically, and for no apparent reason, for a while now...but that's a rant for another day. I listened to the voicemail; it was a woman--I thought she said her name was Jill--telling me I needed to call and give her my work info. BUT...she didn't give me her extension. She just gave me the number I'd called in the first place. So I called back and got the same options menu. When I reached the actual person, I explained I'd just called but my phone sent the return call to voicemail and could she just connect me directly? She asked who called me, I said Jill...she didn't have a Jill working there. So she said she'd connect me directly to Sharon, who is a case coordinator...she connected me instead to the same message informing me to leave my information and they'd get back to me in 2 business days. So I gave my information AGAIN, and this time, after leaving the message, my phone rang almost immediately...but my phone for some reason didn't register that I'd hit "accept" and wouldn't let me get to a place where I COULD answer. I should've called on Dad's flip phone.

So I had to call JaFS a third time. But before I did so, I listened again to the message and realized the person who called was JOSIE, not JILL. So when the (fortunately amused) person answered yet again, I told her I needed to talk to Josie. This time, she was able to connect me directly to the person and I was able to just give her all my information over the phone. Which...feels a bit wrong. I'm not sure if she's checking somewhere online to see if I am indeed employed at Chico's or if she's just taking my word that I'm doing so.

So...I think everything is settled? I told Dad that best case scenario--and I think this is what will actually happen--is that I'm still approved for coverage until fall of 2026 and won't have to do anything further. Middle case scenario: I'm not approved and will not have any health care coverage at all. Worst case scenario: Medicaid decided I'm somehow frauding the system by not reporting earlier that I have a job now and I lose coverage AND have to pay a penalty (highly doubtful but my mind often makes up worst case scenarios). I also told Dad it was a good thing I did my blood pressure check earlier in the morning, before this whole phone fiasco.

Anyways...eff Trump and eff HR1. amirite?