How Does the Coverage Gap Impact Parents and Kids in States Turning Down Medicaid Expansion Funds?
We know that thanks to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, America’s children are – overall – benefiting from historically high rates of health coverage (over 90% of U.S. children are now covered) even through some states still lag behind. However, low-income parents of dependent children around the country are not so fortunate if they live in a state that hasn’t expanded Medicaid as they aren’t receiving the help intended by the Affordable Care Act. Lacking this health coverage doesn’t just have a detrimental effect on parents – it hurts kids too.
The twenty-four states reluctant to expand Medicaid coverage are refusing to expand coverage not only to low-income adults ages 19-64 but also, in twenty states, to low-income parents of dependent children. While all states provide some Medicaid coverage to very, very low-income parents, this coverage is generally only provided to a minority of parents living in poverty. The twenty states that don’t cover all parents in poverty with Medicaid set an average income limit of 41.5% of the poverty level – or $8,213 in annual income for a family of three. Only four states that have so far refused Medicaid expansion provide coverage to parents at least to the poverty level – Alaska, Maine, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
This means that most states still refusing to consider Medicaid expansion are denying many parents an essential tool they need to raise their kids – their own health.
Written by Adam Searing, Center for Children and Families. Cross-posted from the Say Ahhh! Children's Health Policy Blog.