A 64-YEAR-OLD woman from Florida was faced with eviction following a lengthy battle with the Social Security Administration.
The senior alleged that the government agency owed her hundreds following her loss of Medicaid coverage.
Cathy Johnson, a 64-year-old from Lake Placid, Florida – around 80 miles from Tampa – lost her coverage due to the Medicaid “unwinding” process.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government enacted a continuous enrollment provision that provided Medicaid recipients with continuous coverage.
However, states have been reversing the provision since April 2023 as part of the Medicaid unwinding process, once again implementing eligibility requirements and deadlines.
Johnson is one of around 1.8 million Florida residents who lost Medicaid during the process.
She was informed via a letter that her income had reached the limit, meaning she was no longer eligible for Medicaid but still qualified for the Medically Needy program, created for people with incomes too high for full Medicaid.
“I clearly thought everything was all right because they gave me no follow-up instructions,” Johnson told Newsweek in the summer of 2024.
The 64-year-old got the notice in April last year but received a letter from Social Security three months later informing her they were deducting three months of premiums from her payments because Florida stopped paying her premiums in April.
“I received the letter July 1, 2024,” Johnson said. “I was devastated and definitely upset.”
The administration removed $524 from her July 3 check just a few days later, and Johnson no longer had enough money for rent.
“I’ve been calling every state office that I could think of for two weeks getting nowhere,” Johnson said, noting that she was facing an eviction deadline.
Johnson began receiving Medicaid and Medicare in 2010 after a disability made her eligible.
However, the woman was left “misguided” and “confused” after Social Security began deducting money for premiums she was unaware she had to pay.
“I immediately called Social Security for answers,” Johnson said. “At that time, Social Security instructed me to call the State of Florida Department Children and Families. It took numerous calls to explain what happened.”
The woman was ultimately informed that her premiums had to be paid and Social Security would take those payments from her check.
“There was nothing I could do,” Johnson said.
The woman no longer had enough funds to pay for her bills and no agencies had been able to provide help.
“My rent isn’t paid yet, and I’m running out of time,” Johnson said. “My depression and anxiety have worsened. A lot of sleepless nights along with my poor health. It’s the don’t-knows what frighten me the most.”
FLORIDA FRUSTRATIONS
Johnson is not alone in her fight for health coverage.
A lawsuit against the state of Florida was filed in August 2023 that alleged that the government improperly removed people from the Medicaid program, not providing enough time for them to appeal.
My rent isn’t paid yet, and I’m running out of time. My depression and anxiety have worsened. A lot of sleepless nights along with my poor health. It’s the don’t-knows what frighten me the most.”
Cathy Johnson
The state may be forced to reinstate Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of Floridians if the judge rules in their favor.
Johnson argued the state should have immediately notified Medicaid recipients, which would have prevented her Social Security dilemma.
“The unwinding isn’t fair to the people who depend on this help,” Johnson said. “The sad part, they don’t care how this may impact our life and living situation.
“Since I have been calling for over two weeks’ time, not one person said they were sorry. They only kept blaming Social Security. And after numerous calls to Social Security, they in return kept blaming Children and Families.”
Due to the “clearly broken” system, many low-income Americans have been forced to go without necessities such as food and housing.
“The system is pushing people to kill or be killed,” Johnson said.
Other Americans have run into issues with the Social Security Administration.
One veteran endured a Social Security “nightmare” waiting years for payments after being told the staff “lied” about a crucial date.
Another couple felt as if “they’ve been failed” as Social Security demanded $30,000 back after claiming their children were overpaid.
