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Policy & oversight

Medicare Rights Center Says New Medicaid Work Requirements Rule Threatens Low-Income Medicare Enrollees

A CMS final rule implementing Medicaid work and reporting requirements drew sharp criticism from the Medicare Rights Center, which warns that dual-eligible beneficiaries could lose the Medicaid coverage that helps them afford Medicare premiums and cost-sharing.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamAugust 5, 2026

The Medicare Rights Center published a sharp critique on August 6, 2026, of a CMS final rule establishing federal Medicaid work and reporting requirements. The rule implements provisions of the 2025 budget reconciliation law, HR 1, which requires certain Medicaid expansion enrollees to document work, job training, or other qualifying activities to maintain coverage, with requirements set to take effect at the end of 2026. The Medicare Rights Center said the rule is deeply flawed and poses a direct threat to people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, a population sometimes called dual eligibles. Medicaid coverage acts as a gateway to Medicare Savings Programs, which help low-income Medicare beneficiaries cover the standard Part B premium of 202 dollars and 90 cents per month, as well as deductibles and copayments. The Medicare Rights Center cited Congressional Budget Office projections that roughly 1.4 million low-income people with Medicare stand to lose Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help benefits as a result of HR 1's Medicaid changes. Losing that assistance means being exposed to the full Part B premium and additional cost-sharing that many fixed-income beneficiaries cannot readily absorb. The Medicare Rights Center called on CMS to revise the rule to include explicit protections for people already enrolled in Medicare who rely on Medicaid as a secondary payer.

In plain words

A group called the Medicare Rights Center says a new government rule is a problem for lower-income people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. The rule says some Medicaid members must show they have a job or are in training to keep their coverage. Many Medicare patients also have Medicaid, which helps pay their Medicare bills. If they lose Medicaid, they would have to pay the full Medicare Part B premium of 202 dollars and 90 cents each month on their own. About 1.4 million lower-income Medicare patients could lose this help, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Understand the basics first

Source: Medicare Rights Center
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