COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) – Permanently disabled adults who can and want to work in Iowa are often limited by income rules for Medicaid recipients in the state. The rules, a state official says, keep people in poverty.

• A bill introduced during the legislative session earlier this year by Assemblyman Josh Turek of Council Bluffs would have allowed disabled neighbors on Medicaid to work more hours and still keep their health insurance.
• The bill received bipartisan support in committee during this year’s legislative session, but never came to a vote.
• “It’s unfortunate that I now have to tell disabled people in the state, ‘Move to Minnesota. There are no restrictions there.’ It shouldn’t be this way,” said Iowa Rep. Josh Turek.
• “It costs more to keep people like Carly below the poverty line than to just let them work,” says Megan Sorensen, whose daughter Carly has spina bifida and can only work part-time.

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TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:

Imagine you have goals, dreams and aspirations and you want to work…but you can’t because you have to choose between paying employment and life-saving health care. I’m your southwest Iowa reporter, Katrina Markel from Council Bluffs.

This is one of many stories I tell about people with disabilities in Iowa and the fact that many of their needs are not met.

“It’s unfortunate that I now have to tell disabled people in the state, ‘Move to Minnesota. There are no restrictions there.’ It shouldn’t be this way,” said Iowa Rep. Josh Turek.

During this year’s legislative session, Turek introduced a bill that would have raised income and asset limits for permanently disabled adults in Iowa to allow them to work more while still maintaining their Medicaid coverage. The bill received bipartisan support but never made it to a vote.

“Ultimately, they will no longer be able to receive SNAP benefits or housing assistance,” he said.

“It costs more to keep people like Carly below the poverty line than to just let them work,” said Megan Sorensen.

At the time, I spoke with 21-year-old Carly Sorenson and her mother, Megan. Carly was born with spina bifida. She wants to work full-time as a childcare worker, but can only work part-time and keep Medicaid. Private health insurance would not cover her needs.

“Because when they passed these guidelines,” Turek said, “I don’t think they were thinking about people with permanent disabilities.”

Turek, who uses a wheelchair, says these laws are intended to prevent fraud, but the reality is different.

In Iowa, a single disabled adult receiving Medicaid benefits is currently limited to about $30,000 a year and $12,000 in assets, meaning they cannot even own a home and a wheelchair-accessible van.

“First of all, I wouldn’t have to live with my parents anymore. I would have a bit of that feeling of independence.”

Owen Hansen, 20, is excited to participate in Iowa Western’s drone program this fall.

“I’m just more excited about the social aspect,” he said.

As a quadriplegic, he can do a lot. He dreams of one day having his own home and family, but he will need some of the care that only Medicaid provides.

“I want to be an active member of the community. I don’t know, I love Council Bluffs,” he said.

If re-elected, Turek plans to introduce his bill in parliament again next year.