The ACA Coverage Gap

[sherlew99]

I must say that I'm disappointed that twenty six states didn't opt for the Medicaid expansion. Although it's a possibility that these state may not be able to pick up the tab in 2020 when they will start paying 10 percent of the costs, I also find myself that this may also just be a result of the all the political wrangling that has been going as well.

I'm certainly glad that my home state has opted for the expansion. We're even getting some dental benefits which will help me out considerably. We're getting a bit of optical care as well. I really feel for the people who are going to be left out in the cold due to their states opting out.

As for those who will be hitting the exchanges, I hope that they can find some good deals. This will depend on their states, though. Some plans will apparently cost more than those in other states. At least there is a hardship clause that people should be able to use so that they won't be hit by the penalty if they can't afford what's on the exchanges.

[sherlew99]

These Are the Americans Obamacare "Forgot"


Twenty-six states decided not to expand Medicaid insurance programs for the working poor even though the federal government will provide 100 percent of the necessary funding for the first three years of expansion, after which the compensation will be phased down to 90 percent by 2020.

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Expansion of Medicaid was meant to provide health insurance to the working poor. In states that rejected the expansion, many of those who earn little more than the federal poverty level will likely find it difficult to pay the premiums of policies purchased via the individual exchanges, meaning that millions of adults will have limited — if any — options for health coverage. They earn too little to qualify for federal tax subsidies and too much to be eligible for Medicaid, leaving a coverage gap.

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This article has a good representation of how this will affect people in each of the twenty six states that refused Medicaid expansion.