Last summer, the Supreme Court ruled that states can choose not to expand their Medicaid programs to cover more low-income people.
As a result, 19 states have declined or not yet decided whether to accept federal funds that would allow them to cover people earning up to 138% of the poverty level, or about $15,400 a year for an individual. That could place a large number of people in need of Medicaid coverage out in the cold.
Because the federal government pays for 100% of states' expansion for the first three years starting in 2014 and gradually lowering that to 90%, it's widely believed that the deal is too good for governors to pass up. Many are facing intense pressure from hospitals and other businesses within their states that have much to gain from the expansion.
Will your state be expanding its Medicaid program to cover more people? This is a development to watch between now and the summer.
