Post by Oscar Knight on Dec 10, 2013 7:51:51 GMT -6
The not-so-Affordable Care Act?
One of the Affordable Care Act's chief goals is to expand the rolls of Medicaid, qualifying millions of the working poor -- those who earn too much to qualify for the government's health-care coverage today but can't afford private insurance.
But when the law goes into effect next year, the Medicaid expansion won't play out the way President Barack Obama had hoped. That's because a Supreme Court ruling last year puts the decision in the hands of each state's lawmakers -- and so far, 21 states are planning to opt out.
But when the law goes into effect next year, the Medicaid expansion won't play out the way President Barack Obama had hoped. That's because a Supreme Court ruling last year puts the decision in the hands of each state's lawmakers -- and so far, 21 states are planning to opt out.
States taking Medicaid opt-out option leave 'larger impact than expected'
But last week, when people tried to sign on to health exchange Web sites, some found they didn't qualify for subsidies to buy coverage. Many were supposed to be covered by an expansion of Medicaid. But a Supreme Court ruling allowed states to opt out of that expansion, and citing costs and other objections, more than 20 did.
As a result, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that three million fewer people will be eligible for coverage under Obamacare. A recent analysis of census data by The New York Times found Southern states were hit hardest; 68 percent of eligible African-Americans are excluded, as are two-thirds of all single mothers.
Paul Sweeney is a Virginia resident stranded without coverage. He's an adult without children and unemployed. Under the new law, he would have qualified for Medicaid, but his state opted out.
As a result, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that three million fewer people will be eligible for coverage under Obamacare. A recent analysis of census data by The New York Times found Southern states were hit hardest; 68 percent of eligible African-Americans are excluded, as are two-thirds of all single mothers.
Paul Sweeney is a Virginia resident stranded without coverage. He's an adult without children and unemployed. Under the new law, he would have qualified for Medicaid, but his state opted out.
