Hundreds of thousands of Connecticut Medicaid recipients must comply with new federal work requirements starting Jan. 1; demonstrate that they are exempt; or risk losing health coverage. Here’s what you need to know. What is the HUSKY D program and who is at risk? Connecticut’s HUSKY D is a state and federal Medicaid program that provides health coverage to low-income adults, ages 19 to 64, without dependent children. Recipients cannot earn more than 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. That caps yearly earnings at about $22,025 for an individual and $29,863 for a household of two. Congress and President Donald Trump revised work requirements and other eligibility rules in an omnibus federal budget bill enacted last July. The bill cuts $1.1 billion from healthcare and food assistance programs by 2034 to help finance $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over that period. Officials with the Connecticut Department of Social Services estimate roughly one-third of the 316,000 recipients of HUSKY D — about 110,000 — are at risk of losing their benefits due to federal rule changes. Critics say the revisions won’t bolster employment, but will instead strip coverage from some of the nation’s most vulnerable residents. How many hours must HUSKY D recipients work? Federal law mandates that, starting Jan. 1, Medicaid recipients must work 80 hours per month, or meet that standard through some combination of work, job training, volunteering and enrollment in higher education, technical school or a high school equivalency program. Volunteers should be prepared to provide the address of the charity or program they serve, as well as written confirmation of participation from a supervisor. Individuals also can fulfill the work requirement by earning at least 80 times the federal hourly minimum wage, which currently represents an income of $580 per month. The law does provide other types of exemptions from work requirements. What are the medical and other exemptions to the new work rules? One exempt category involves individuals facing “medical frailty.” This includes patients suffering from blindness, other disabilities, those diagnosed with chronic substance use disorders, serious mental illness and other medical conditions including cancer and HIV. Connecticut social services officials had estimated that roughly 57,000 of the 316,000 HUSKY D recipients were exempt from work requirements due to the “medical frailty” provision. But recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicated states cannot establish this exemption simply using prior diagnoses and medical records. They also must prove that this condition “significantly impairs” a person from fulfilling work requirements, according to the federal centers. Officials in Connecticut and other states still are trying to determine how to ensure that two-pronged “medical frailty” definition has been met, which may require new rounds of doctor review and assessment. HUSKY D recipients also are exempt from new federal work requirements if they are pregnant, a native American or Alaska native, or between the ages of 19 and 25 and were in foster care. Where can Medicaid recipients turn for help? Recognizing that the new system is confusing, Connecticut social services officials have said their department will spend the coming months trying to help as many HUSKY D recipients as possible preserve their eligibility. For those unsure about their status, the Department of Social Services also has an online “toolkit” that outlines key changes in federal policy. The state is working with regional, nonprofit community action agencies to provide free assistance to HUSKY D recipients, including those filing application renewals. The agencies also can help individuals find job training, education and civic engagement programs. The Connecticut Association for Community Action provides an online, interactive tool to help visitors identify the closest regional action agency. The association also can be reached at (860) 832-9438. For doctors and other medical providers who need help navigating the federal changes, the Connecticut Hospital Association also has posted online guidance. ...read more read less