Where jobs are scarce, over 1 million people could dodge Trump's Medicaid work rules

Millions of Medicaid enrollees may have a way out of the new federal work requirement — if they live in a county with high unemployment.

By January 2027, President Trump's far-reaching domestic policy law will require many adult, nondisabled Medicaid enrollees in 42 states and Washington, D.C., to work or volunteer 80 hours a month or go to school.

But under the law, Medicaid enrollees in counties where unemployment is at least 8% or 1.5 times the national unemployment rate could be shielded from the work requirement, if their state applies for an exemption.

A new analysis by KFF shows that exemption in the GOP's work requirement could offer a reprieve to potentially millions of Americans caught in a tough spot — needing to work to secure health insurance but having trouble fi