March 23rd marked the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and this year, we received an early present: the possibility of expanded Medicaid eligibility in states that have opposed health reform from day one. Eight Republican Governors have come out in support of the federal government’s generous funding under health reform that allows states to expand their Medicaid programs to cover uninsured low-income adults starting in 2014. That is a huge win for individuals and families in those states as well as overall public health.
The growing popularity of expanding Medicaid should not come as a surprise. Medicaid is a lifeline for over 52 million low-income women, children, and persons with disabilities, providing coverage for health care they otherwise could not afford. Medicaid works and makes sense, both in terms of dollars spent and the populations served.
NHeLP is working with advocates across the country to ensure that states accept federal funding to provide health coverage for vulnerable populations and is working with federal agencies to promote federal policies that protect beneficiaries and comply with all legal developments.
Join NHeLP in celebrating the ACA’s third birthday by brushing up on some of the many reasons Medicaid makes sense.
- Republican Governors Deciding Against the “Just Say No” Response to Medicaid Expansion (Feb. 2013) lets the Republican Governors themselves explain why the Medicaid Expansion is getting increasingly bipartisan support.
- Five Key Facts: Veterans and Medicaid Expansion in Your State (Mar. 2013) discusses the critical role that Medicaid plays in providing health care for veterans.
- Why the Medicaid Expansion is a Safe Choice for Your State (Feb. 2013) covers the top three reasons states shouldn’t worry about expanding their programs.
- The Medicaid Expansion is Good for Business (Feb. 2013) explains why providing Medicaid coverage to uninsured individuals is a win for bottom lines.
