What Would Expanding Medicaid Do?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Under the expansion, Medicaid eligibility would be extended to adults up to age 64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level (133% plus a 5% income disregard). … By expanding Medicaid, the ACA

created a viable pathway to coverage for millions of low-income adults

.

What did the Medicaid expansion do?

Under the expansion, Medicaid eligibility would be extended to adults up to age 64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level (133% plus a 5% income disregard). … By expanding Medicaid, the ACA

created a viable pathway to coverage for millions of low-income adults

.

Who would benefit from Medicaid expansion?

The ACA expanded Medicaid coverage to

nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($17,609 for an individual in 2020)

.

How does Medicaid expansion help states?

Numerous studies have already documented how Medicaid expansion bolsters access to health care, increases affordability, and

improves health for low-income populations

, as well as reduces racial and ethnic disparities, strengthens rural health care providers, and helps state economies.

Why do states choose not to expand Medicaid?

Marketplace expansion makes fewer people eligible than a Medicaid expansion, because marketplace coverage has an additional requirement:

no member of the family can have an affordable offer of worker coverage

.

What are the drawbacks of Medicaid?

  • Lower reimbursements and reduced revenue. Every medical practice needs to make a profit to stay in business, but medical practices that have a large Medicaid patient base tend to be less profitable. …
  • Administrative overhead. …
  • Extensive patient base. …
  • Medicaid can help get new practices established.

Who is not eligible for Medicaid?

In the 15 states that have not implemented the ACA Medicaid expansion (as of April 2020),

adults over 21

are generally ineligible for Medicaid no matter how low their incomes are unless they are pregnant, caring for children, elderly, or have a .

What makes you eligible for Medicaid?

Medicaid beneficiaries generally must be

residents of the state in which they are receiving Medicaid

. They must be either citizens of the United States or certain qualified non-citizens, such as lawful permanent residents. In addition, some eligibility groups are limited by age, or by pregnancy or parenting status.

What are advantages of Medicaid?


Medicaid guarantees some amount of financial protection

, as many medical care expenses are covered under this program. This means that those who are on a lower income and end up having to go into the hospital for a serious procedure won't be as financially burdened as a result.

How many states have expanded Medicaid?

To date,

39 states

(including DC) have adopted the Medicaid expansion and 12 states have not adopted the expansion. Current status for each state is based on KFF tracking and analysis of state expansion activity.

Do states regret expanding Medicaid?

The strong balance of objective evidence indicates that actual costs to states so far from expanding Medicaid are negligible or minor, and that

states across the political spectrum do not regret their decisions to expand Medicaid

.

How do states fund Medicaid?

The Medicaid program is

jointly funded by the federal government and states

. … States can establish their own Medicaid provider payment rates within federal requirements, and generally pay for services through fee-for-service or managed care arrangements.

Is Affordable Care Act the same as Medicaid?

The most important difference between Medicaid and Obamacare is that Obamacare health plans are offered by private companies while

Medicaid

is a government program (albeit often administered by private insurance companies that offer Medicaid managed care services).

What can I do if I can't afford health insurance?

  1. Go Off-Exchange. …
  2. Join a Group. …
  3. Adjust Your Income. …
  4. Put Money in an HSA. …
  5. Deduct Your Premiums. …
  6. See If You Qualify for a Catastrophic Plan. …
  7. Understand Limited Insurance Options.

How do you avoid the 5 year lookback rule?

The best way to avoid violating this period and receiving a penalty of Medicaid ineligibility is

to consult a Medicaid planner before gifting or transferring any assets

. A Medicaid planner can also offer assistance if you have violated the look-back period.

Do all states have Medicaid?

Today,

twelve states have still not expanded Medicaid

. The biggest are Texas, Florida, and Georgia, but there are a few outside the South, including Wyoming and Kansas. There are more than 2 million people across the United States who have no option when it comes to health insurance.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.