Post by Logan on Jul 1, 2016 23:39:31 GMT -6
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana is becoming the first state in the Republican-dominated Deep South to expand its Medicaid program, with more than 233,000 people already enrolled in the government-financed insurance coverage that begins Friday.
Medicaid expansion fulfills one of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ main campaign promises, embracing the health law championed by President Barack Obama after years of GOP stonewalling in Louisiana.
“I understand that this is a Southern state. It’s a conservative state, with a majority of the legislators Republican. But I’ve always said the idea of expanding Medicaid is not right versus left, it’s right versus wrong,” Edwards said.
Adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level — about $16,400 for a single adult or $33,500 for a family of four — are eligible for the coverage through one of Louisiana’s Medicaid plans administered by managed-care companies.
Read more: www.sfexaminer.com/louisiana-1st-state-deep-south-expand-medicaid/
Medicaid expansion fulfills one of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ main campaign promises, embracing the health law championed by President Barack Obama after years of GOP stonewalling in Louisiana.
“I understand that this is a Southern state. It’s a conservative state, with a majority of the legislators Republican. But I’ve always said the idea of expanding Medicaid is not right versus left, it’s right versus wrong,” Edwards said.
Adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level — about $16,400 for a single adult or $33,500 for a family of four — are eligible for the coverage through one of Louisiana’s Medicaid plans administered by managed-care companies.
Read more: www.sfexaminer.com/louisiana-1st-state-deep-south-expand-medicaid/