Poor people in at least 21 states to face Medicaid coverage gap

Aug 30 2013

McClatchy reports that in most states opting against the health law's Medicaid expansion, millions will be stranded without insurance:  They will make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to get subsidies to help buy coverage on the new insurance marketplaces. Other news organizations report on the Michigan Senate's decision to move ahead with expansion, but not until April, and on the continuing debate in Ohio.

McClatchy Medicaid 'Coverage Gap' Looming For The Poor In 21 States
The law was supposed to provide health insurance for most Americans next year by expanding Medicaid in all states to people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. That's about $15,900 for an individual in 2013, or nearly $32,500 for a family of four. But when the Supreme Court ruled that states could opt out of the expansion, Republican-led states took advantage. Rather than expand their Medicaid programs, most kept their programs as is – open mainly to the poorest of the poor (Pugh, 8/28).

Detroit Free Press: Delay In Medicaid Expansion To Be Costly
Getting the expansion of Medicaid passed in the state Senate Tuesday night was a huge victory for Gov. Rick Snyder, state health officials and, ultimately, nearly 500,000 low-income Michiganders. But the failure of the Senate to vote to give the bill immediate effect, thus delaying the implementation of the law until April 1, could cost the state and individuals hoping to qualify for Medicaid coverage dearly (Gray, 8/29).

Stateline: Michigan Senate Narrowly Passes Medicaid Expansion
The Michigan Senate narrowly voted in favor of expanding Medicaid eligibility Tuesday night, extending Medicaid benefits to an additional 345,000 residents (according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and The Urban Institute) now without health insurance. The measure is expected to be approved by the House in early September and signed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who lobbied forcefully for expansion. Under the legislation, beneficiaries would be required to pay a portion of their premiums (Ollove, 8/28).

Columbus Dispatch: Citing Depression, Maurice Clarett Joins Call To Boost Medicaid
Mental health advocates gathered at the Statehouse today to push for Medicaid expansion in Ohio. Among the supporters? Former Ohio State phenom running back Maurice Clarett. Clarett, part of the 2002 National Championship team, had numerous off-the-field troubles, including robbery and weapons convictions that put him in prison. He has since been treated for depression (Felser, 8/29).