Many low-income Americans who rely on Medicaid due to chronic illnesses or disabilities are voicing deep concerns over a proposed medicaid work requirement included in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The legislation aims to enforce that Medicaid recipients in 40 states and Washington, D.C., either work, volunteer, or attend school for at least 80 hours per month, or regularly prove exemption status through paperwork. For individuals like Stephanie Ivory of Columbus, Ohio, and Denise Sommer of Warrenton, Missouri, this proposal feels burdensome. Ivory, 58, suffers from gastrointestinal conditions and a bulging disc, rendering her unable to work. While she believes she’d qualify for an exemption, she worries about the difficulty of navigating additional reporting requirements. “It’s hard enough just renewing Medicaid every six months,” she said. Sommer, also 58, who has not worked in five years due to anxiety and arthritis, believes she could qualify with a doctor’s note. While she supports the idea of limiting Medicaid abuse, she downplayed concerns about others potentially losing coverage, suggesting it’s their responsibility to stay informed.