Several states are asking President Donald Trump's administration to grant waivers imposing lifetime Medicaid coverage caps on beneficiaries, according to McClatchy.
Here are three things to know about the proposals.
1. So far, five states — Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Utah and Wisconsin — seek waivers to roll out the lifetime limits. Capping Medicaid benefits would be a first for the federal health plan for disabled and low-income individuals.
2. Specifics of lifetime limit proposals vary by state. Arizona and Utah are seeking a five-year limit on Medicaid coverage. In Arizona, recipients would begin accruing time-limited coverage if they don't meet proposed work requirements, McClatchy reports. Utah's policy would only concern childless adults and come with "the expectation that they do everything they can to help themselves before they lose coverage," according to the report.
3. Wisconsin seeks a 48-month lifetime limit for childless adults, and Kansas wants a 36-month limit. Across Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas, proposed policies would affect Medicaid beneficiaries who meet potential work requirements.
4. Medicaid recipients in Maine not meeting proposed work requirements would only receive up to three months of coverage within a 36-month period, according to McClatchy. Enrollees could get an additional month of coverage in special circumstances.
5. The Department of Health and Human Services told McClatchy it couldn't comment on pending applications for lifetime Medicaid limits.
6. The proposals come after the Trump administration granted requests from Indiana and Kentucky to impose work requirements on able-bodied Medicaid beneficiaries.
Editor's note: This article was updated Feb. 8, 2017, to provide additional information on each state's proposals.
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