Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

IronLionZion

(45,450 posts)
Mon Jan 29, 2018, 01:26 PM Jan 2018

How Trump may end up expanding Medicaid, whether he means to or not

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/how-trump-may-end-up-expanding-medicaid-whether-he-means-to-or-not/2018/01/28/df2ee6e8-01e1-11e8-8acf-ad2991367d9d_story.html?utm_term=.6d1fb62848e3

Republican lawmakers in a half-dozen states are launching fresh efforts to expand Medicaid, the nation’s health insurance program for the poor, as party holdouts who had blocked the expansion say they’re now open to it because of Trump administration guidelines allowing states to impose new requirements that program recipients work to get benefits.

In Utah, a Republican legislator working with the GOP governor says he hopes to pass a Medicaid expansion plan with work requirements within the year. In Idaho, a conservative lawmaker who steadfastly opposed Medicaid expansion in the past says the new requirements make him more open to the idea. And in Wyoming, a Republican senator who previously opposed expansion — a key part of President Barack Obama’s health-care law — says he’s ready to take another look at fellow Republicans’ expansion efforts in his state.

Moderate Republicans in North Carolina, Virginia and Kansas are similarly renewing calls to take up Medicaid expansion, though it’s unclear if there will be quite enough conservative support or whether Democrats would consider voting in favor of work requirements.

If successful, though, the efforts could make hundreds of thousands of Americans newly eligible for health coverage, while also opening the door to Medicaid changes that could kick some current beneficiaries out of the program and reduce its benefits to recipients — broadening the program’s reach into red states but with a decidedly conservative bent.


Something is better than nothing. Some new people will get coverage if this happens, even with work requirements.

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How Trump may end up expanding Medicaid, whether he means to or not (Original Post) IronLionZion Jan 2018 OP
Texas needs to expand medicaaid Gothmog Jan 2018 #1
I agree. qwlauren35 Jan 2018 #2
Agree with your comment. Most folks who get into expansion already work. There are a lot of Hoyt Jan 2018 #3
More information on work requirements IronLionZion Jan 2018 #4

qwlauren35

(6,148 posts)
2. I agree.
Mon Jan 29, 2018, 01:29 PM
Jan 2018

The expansion is definitely going to affect people who are already working. So from that perspective, it's a win-win. I just have to hope that the red states don't screw those who are unemployable.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
3. Agree with your comment. Most folks who get into expansion already work. There are a lot of
Mon Jan 29, 2018, 01:35 PM
Jan 2018

exclusions to work requirements, as there should be under Medicaid. Most Medicaid recipients are young, going to school, in nursing home, disabled, etc. Those folks are exempted, although I'm sure some Medicaid administrators will be quite harsh on applying guidelines.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How Trump may end up expa...