Pima County preps as federal changes threaten benefits for thousands | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Pima County is rolling out a plan to help residents who could be affected by upcoming federal changes to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

County officials said the changes—part of federal policy adjustments expected to take effect later this year and into 2027—could lead to thousands of people losing health coverage and affect SNAP benefits.

Julia Valencia, a current SNAP and Medicaid recipient in Pima County, told News 4 Tucson there are already barriers to people locally getting these benefits, such as a lack of in-person help.

“It’s going to make it harder and harder for folks to get the help that they need,” Valencia said. “They’re just requiring a ridiculous amount of things to provide to get benefits.”

County officials estimate more than 10,000 Pima County residents could lose Medicaid coverage as these changes take effect. The county explained that upcoming federal changes to Medicaid include eligibility renewals for some recipients shifting to every six months instead of annually.

For SNAP benefits, childless adults ages 18 to 64 will soon face expanded work requirements, up from the previous cutoff age of 54.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said SNAP work requirements are intended to promote workforce participation while maintaining eligibility-based support for recipients. Exemptions would still apply in certain cases, including disability and caregiving situations.

“We are concerned that a lot of residents are going to believe that they’re no longer eligible, but they are,” Celia Robidoux, with the Pima County Health Department, said. “And so, we will see a great decrease in the health coverage as well as food access for a lot of our residents.”

Pima County’s goals include keeping residents enrolled in health coverage and nutrition programs, reducing food insecurity and preventing gaps in access to care and food assistance.

County officials said they are taking several steps for the upcoming changes, including creating quarterly reports tracking Medicaid loss trends and expanding food insecurity screenings at county health clinics.

Valencia is unsure the difference those efforts will make.

“I just don’t really see how that’s going to help anything unless the laws change again,” Valencia said.

The county is encouraging residents who receive SNAP or Medicaid to stay updated on eligibility requirements and not assume they are no longer covered.