Feb-

State Rep. Matt Lundy

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Medicaid Expansion and What it Could Mean for Ohio An overview of the proposal to provide health care coverage
It is unfortunate that all adults to 138 per2012 138% Federal Poverty Level House Republicans recent FPL, with the fedcently took Medicaid exeral government paying Family Size Annually Monthly Hourly pansion out of our 100 percent of the $15,420.00 $1,285.00 $8.03 states budget. Yet, I re- 1 costs for the newly elimain hopeful that Regible population during 2 $20,880.00 $1,740.00 $10.88 publicans in Ohio will be the first three years, 3 $26,352.00 $2,196.00 $13.73 able to find common decreasing to 90 perground on an issue that cent by 2020. Some 4 $31,812.00 $2,651.00 $16.57 means so much to so opponents of the ex$37,284.00 $3,107.00 $19.42 many people. Under cur- 5 pansion claim that it rent law, Ohio does not would cost the state too 6 $42,744.00 $3,562.00 $22.26 extend Medicaid covermuch, and put us fur$48,204.00 $4,017.00 $25.11 age to adults unless they 7 ther in debt. If the have children or are dis- 8 state votes to not ex$53,676.00 $4,473.00 $27.96 abled. An estimated 1.5 pand Medicaid, we will million Ohioans do not have health insurance, most lose the initial $13 billion in federal funds over the of them from working families, and some of them next seven years. very poor. The expansion of Medicaid is critical in order to protect the health of low-income Ohioans, In review, a Medicaid expansion would reduce the and if we do not act now, many people will be left number of uninwithout coverage. sured, increase Ohio employment Beginning in January and earnings, im2014, the federal govprove county fiernment will establish nances, and lower a Health Insurance Exhealth costs for change to offer tax Ohios employers credits for insurance and residents. premiums to Ohioans Presently, the uninwith incomes between sured are receiving 100 percent and 400 health care entirely at percent FPL, but no county expense (your credits will be provided tax dollars). It only below 100 percent FPL. makes sense to cover As a result, parents as many as possible, so between 90-100 percent FPL and childless adults that the rest of the bill with income below 100 percent FPL will be caught is not footed at our exin a coverage gap without access to Medicaid or pense. Most of the area tax credits on the Exchange. hospitals are in agreement, and have advoIn June 2012, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave cated for the expansion of Medicaid. states the option to increase Medicaid eligibility for