CW: Ableism
Dr. Mehmet Oz’s recent support of Medicaid work requirements has reignited a debate that could have grave implications for millions of Americans who rely on the program for healthcare. Oz is now the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The federal agency has taken steps to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, attend school, or participate in other qualifying activities in order to maintain Medicaid coverage. Oz explained that the new requirements include working at least 20 hours a week, returning to the workforce, attending school, or volunteering.
“Do something to engage your community,” he said, and continued, “You were not put on this planet to sit at home and watch television.” Oz went even further and added, “The average person on Medicaid, who’s able-bodied, watches 6.1 hours of television or just hangs out every day. That’s not why God put you here.”
His remarks drew swift backlash online after a news clip was shared on social media. Oz was accused by many critics of unfairly stereotyping Medicaid recipients and of hypocrisy because he had built much of his public persona and career on the back of his decades-long television program, The Dr. Oz Show.
Proponents of work requirements say the policy encourages personal responsibility and helps save money. But, the history of Medicaid work requirements raises serious questions, and previous work requirements have shown that many people lose coverage not because they refuse to work but because they struggle to navigate complicated systems and paperwork requirements.
In Arkansas, when work requirements were made mandatory, tens of thousands lost Medicaid coverage. But rather than ensuring compliance with the requirements, many people who were entitled to Medicaid did not have coverage because they failed to meet the reporting requirements or because they had no idea of the new rules being introduced.
Such policies are particularly troubling for disabled people. Many disabled people qualify for exemptions. However, qualifying for and keeping those exemptions often requires lots of documentation and communication with state agencies.
People may need to provide medical records, letters from medical professionals, or other evidence of disability. A missed deadline, or an administrative error can put healthcare coverage at risk even if a person remains fully eligible. Beyond routine doctor visits, losing Medicaid coverage is devastating.
Medicaid pays for prescription medications, medical equipment, therapies, and home healthcare services that numerous people rely on every day. For older adults— and disabled people, especially — Medicaid often provides the services they need to stay safe in their homes and communities.
But losing coverage can also mean treatment being delayed, health conditions worsening, financial hardship, or, in some cases, even the loss of essential long-term services and supports. While policymakers keep arguing over the need for Medicaid work requirements, the practices of past states that adopted these policies should not be ignored.
Sources:
Froelich, Jacqueline. “In Arkansas, Thousands of People Have Lost Medicaid Coverage over New Work Rule.” NPR, 18 Feb. 2019, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/02/18/694504586/in-arkansas-thousands-of-people-have-lost-medicaid-coverage-over-new-work-rule.
Ubiera, Cheyenne. “Dr. Oz Slammed for Claiming Medicaid Recipients ‘Able-Bodied’ Watching 6 Hours of TV a Day.” The Mirror US, 8 June 2026, https://www.themirror.com/news/politics/dr-oz-medicaid-work-requirements-1877764.amp.