Medicaid Expansion in Texas: What's at Stake?
Texas is one of nearly 20 states yet to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and is home to the largest number of uninsured Americans of any state in the country. For many of the state's 5 million uninsured, this decision has left them without an option for affordable health insurance. A comparison with other Southern states that have expanded Medicaid shows how this decision has left many low-income Texans less able to afford their medical bills, to pay for needed prescription drugs, and to obtain regular care for chronic conditions. These problems have been compounded by the state's opposition to outreach and enrollment assistance for many Texans who are eligible for coverage under the ACA. Ongoing efforts from stakeholders and consumer groups to persuade state leaders to expand coverage have significant implications for the well-being of millions of low-income adults in Texas.
Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, USA. bsommers@hsph.harvard.edu
Benjamin D
BD
Sommers
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008484:Medicaid / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011203:Poverty; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States