PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvanians who rely on Medicaid to see a doctor, afford prescriptions and manage serious health conditions could soon face a new hurdle to keeping their coverage even if they are already working. New rules included in the Republican Tax Law backed by Congressmen Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry, will impact nearly 20% of Medicaid-eligible adults. Among the most affected groups could be single mothers with high school-aged children.

“I see every day what happens when people can't afford the care they need. Patients delay coming in, skip medications and sometimes wait until they're much sicker because they're worried about the cost,” said Sara, an RN and Center Valley resident. “My own mother relied on Medicaid for the care she needed at the end of her life. Taking health coverage away from people who are already struggling to get by isn't going to make their lives more affordable — it's going to make it harder for them to stay healthy, work and care for their families. Our elected officials need to understand that these cuts have a substantial human cost.”

Pennsylvanians are already facing rising costs for health care and other basic necessities. For people who rely on Medicaid, losing coverage could mean paying more out of pocket for doctor visits and prescriptions, delaying care, or going without treatment altogether.

Understanding who could be affected by these changes — including people who are working, but may not have consistent enough hours to meet the new requirements — is important as Pennsylvania prepares for the changes ahead. Pennsylvanians deserve clear information about what the new rules mean, who could be affected and how changes to Medicaid could affect access to health care.

Read more: Nearly 1 in 5 Medicaid Adults Could Struggle With New Work Rule — Even Those Who Already Work.

Read more: Physicians urge CMS to change Medicaid work requirements