Nebraska man with kidney cancer says hospital canceled appointments over Medicaid work rule
Eli McCreary, 64, was told to work to keep his benefits, despite a diagnosis that limits his mobility and breathing.
By Tomas Rahman ·
A 64-year-old Omaha man with newly diagnosed kidney cancer was told by his hospital that he had lost Medicaid coverage, prompting the facility to cancel his appointments unless he paid out of pocket. Eli McCreary received the news from a call center, where a representative stated that his benefits now required employment. The representative told McCreary, "You're required to do work to stay on. And you haven't fulfilled your work requirement."
Nebraska began enforcing Medicaid work requirements on May 1, 2026. This made the state the first to implement the rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a law signed by President Trump. Most other states are not expected to start until nine months later. The rules apply to approximately 70,000 adult Medicaid recipients in the state. These individuals must prove they are working or participating in similar activity for 80 hours per month, unless they qualify for an exemption.
McCreary’s health declined significantly in the past year. He completed a substance use treatment program in March. In June, doctors found cancer in his right kidney. He also suffers from diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. McCreary said his physical condition made employment difficult. "I don't understand what job I can get," he said. "I can't walk. I can hardly breathe. I can't move around. What job am I going to get?"
Following the notification, McCreary canceled a CT scan and other tests at a CHI Health hospital. He also delayed a cancer appointment with a specialist who travels to Omaha. "I missed my window of opportunity with him for another month," McCreary said. Taylor Miller, a spokesperson for CHI Health, stated in an email that the organization is committed to helping patients understand their coverage and access to financial assistance. She declined to answer specific questions about McCreary's case.
State officials have defended the rollout as successful. Jeff Powell, a spokesperson for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, noted that 93% of existing enrollees kept their coverage. The department spent $8.2 million over two years on contractors, including Public Consulting Group and Covendis, to administer the changes. Nebraska operates its own Medicaid eligibility system but relies on these private firms to increase staffing and handle information technology tasks.
Advocates report that the implementation has caused confusion and longer wait times. Internal state documents show that average wait times at the health department call center nearly doubled between May and July, rising from 13 minutes to 26 minutes. Call volume in August exceeded 101,000, a 66% increase from May. Kenny McMorris, CEO of the Charles Drew Health Center in North Omaha, noted that roughly 42% of the patients at his federally qualified health center are subject to the new work requirements.
Federal law provides exemptions for people who are too sick to work, including those with serious medical conditions or substance use disorders. Attorneys familiar with the case say McCreary’s recent treatment and other conditions should have exempted him. Powell confirmed McCreary was eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which placed him in the group subject to the new rules. McCreary said he did not know the requirements applied to him until the hospital called. He described the experience as a period of despair while trying to navigate a complex government system during a health crisis.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the national Medicaid changes will leave 5.3 million more people uninsured in the U.S. by 2034. In January, newly elected Democrats in Congress plan to attempt to repeal the changes in their first 100 hours in office. President Trump has the power to veto such a repeal. For now, McCreary continues to manage his cancer without insurance coverage, stating that the disease will keep progressing regardless of his benefit status.
