Florida Senate approves Medicaid work requirements

By HPN Staff

The Florida Senate has approved legislation requiring certain able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work, a move lawmakers say encourages self-sufficiency and reduces dependence on government programs.

The bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Don Gaetz, would require able-bodied adults on Medicaid to complete 80 hours of work per month. Florida has an estimated 111,000 Medicaid beneficiaries who are able-bodied but not employed, according to a state analysis Gaetz referenced. 

“If they aren't doing those things and they're able to work, then they should work. And if they do, I think it's good for them, it's good for their children, it's good for their grandchildren,” Gaetz said. “The reason I work is that my grandfather worked, my father worked, my mother worked, and my grandmother worked. So, I work, and I think that's a noble thing to do.”

Gaetz said the legislation targets recipients who are not caring for children, elderly family members or disabled adults at home. “Under this bill, if this bill passes, they would go to work,” he said.

The legislation would also expand work or education requirements to more Floridians receiving food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.

The bill now moves to the Florida House. A companion House measure does not include Medicaid work requirements but would impose SNAP work or training mandates and defund Planned Parenthood.

Why it matters

The Senate measure mirrors provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Act,” a federal law that requires states expanding Medicaid to implement work requirements for able-bodied adults. Florida has not expanded Medicaid and is not obligated to follow the federal mandate, but proponents say the state is moving proactively to encourage work.

Supporters argue that tying public benefits to work promotes independence, reduces long-term reliance on government programs, and strengthens families. Critics caution that work requirements could make it harder for vulnerable populations to access essential care and add administrative burdens to state agencies.

The bigger picture

Federal attempts to impose work requirements on Medicaid through state waivers have faced legal challenges, with courts arguing that federal approvals didn’t sufficiently assess how the rules would affect access to care for eligible recipients. Florida’s bill focuses on able-bodied adults who are not caring for children, elderly relatives or disabled adults, showing that states can implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients without a federal mandate.