Following this month’s midterm elections, nearly 500,000 uninsured adults in five states will soon become eligible for health coverage through Medicaid. Three states (Idaho, Nebraska and Utah) passed ballot initiatives expanding their programs. Two additional states (Maine, Kansas) elected governors who have said they will accept expansion bills from their legislatures. To date, 32 states and the District of Columbia have expanded it under the ACA. Unfortunately, Florida has not.
Under the Affordable Care Act, states could choose to expand Medicaid coverage to all of their residents earning up to 138 percent of the poverty level ($16,753 for an individual in 2018). The federal government is paying 94 percent of the cost of expansion this year, but gradually dropping to 90 percent in 2020. States pay the rest.
In Florida, more than 700,000 adults there could become eligible with Medicaid expansion, but a ballot initiative campaign would likely also be very costly. Nevertheless, an expensive but successful campaign would mean major budget savings for the state of Florida.
The Florida Policy Institute estimates that Florida would have saved $501,950,000 in 2018 alone if state lawmakers chose to expand Medicaid.
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