A cancer survivor hoped to work — then she lost her Medicaid disability coverage

As state governments grapple with how to determine who's sick enough to be excused from new Medicaid work requirements, some families are already struggling with what illnesses guarantee health coverage because of a disability.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1167x1146+1+332/resize/1167x1146!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F12%2Fd7%2F72d6ed494b8a9908fb631bc8ff54%2Fhailstone-01.JPG' alt='Taya Hailstone has been in remission from Hodgkin lymphoma for five years, but the cancer's lasting damage to her organs and nerves can make basic tasks hard. Even so, Montana's health department decided Hailstone is no longer eligible for low-cost disability health coverage through Medicaid.'/><p>As state governments grapple with how to determine who's sick enough to be excused from new Medicaid work requirements, some families are already struggling with what illnesses guarantee health coverage because of a disability.</p><p>(Image credit: Kyla Hailstone)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5966884' />