I have chronic pain. Some weeks I can do 40 hours; some weeks I can barely shower. The new work-hour rule makes me anxious in a way that’s hard to explain. It’s not just “work or don’t.” It’s fear that a bad flare will strip my coverage, and then I can’t get the meds or therapy that help me function. I’ve tried to document flare days, doctor notes, and appeals before — it’s exhausting and humiliating. Every time I call Medicaid I spend hours on hold and get conflicting answers. The idea of an 80-hour floor sounds like it assumes stability that my body doesn’t grant me. If these requirements are going to exist, please let them include: predictable exemptions clearly explained, automatic protections for people with documented chronic conditions, and simple call-in systems that aren’t voicemail mazes. Also — make the appeals process humane. The current labor of proof is a punishment on top of sickness. #WorkOrLoseCare #MedicaidMatters