23 Apr Medicaid Expansion in Louisiana
AWS knows how expensive health insurance can be and we want to help ensure that your health is cared for. Adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible for Medicaid coverage. If you are a single adult making $16,750 or less or a family of three or more making less than $28,680, then Medicaid is for you!
Louisiana’s Medicaid expansion program has helped create or support nearly 19,200 jobs across the state and $178 million in state and local taxes. The state health department hired three LSU professors to look at the program during the 2016-2017 budget and what they found was astonishing. The infusion of $1.8 billion in federal spending on health care through the Medicaid expansion had a $3.5 billion economic impact on Louisiana.
It is speculated that the job expansion should continue as long as the federal financing of the program continues. As soon as Governor John Bel Edwards started the Medicaid expansion two years ago, more than 470,000 people have enrolled in the government-financed coverage for the working poor and other nonelderly adults.
The federal government is paying most of the expansion cost. Louisiana is paying in part and will eventually increase to 10%. Lawmakers passed financing tools to assist with the state’s costs. These tools include a tax hike on health maintenance organizations.
This program has helped spot cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. It not only helping those who receive it, but it is helping the state entirely. Louisiana is saving more than $300 million this year!
Navigating through the need for insurance is difficult. Here at AWS, we can help. If you have any questions about health insurance, talk to one of our experienced insurance agents today!
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