What states are not expanding Medicaid?

Asked by: Virginia Connelly  |  Last update: March 16, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (23 votes)

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, but 10 states have not expanded Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for low-income people. They are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

What are the hardest states to get Medicaid?

The 10 most deficient state programs have overall scores ranging from between 317.8 and 379.1 of the total 1000 points. The worst, in order from 50th to 41st, are in Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Colorado, Alabama, and Missouri.

Why has Florida not expanded Medicaid?

Concerns about the financial sustainability of such an expansion and the potential strain it could place on the state's budget were key factors in this decision. This choice set Florida apart from many other states that opted to expand their Medicaid programs to provide healthcare coverage to a broader population.

Is Texas not expanding Medicaid?

To date, however, 10 states, including Texas, have not adopted the Medicaid expansion to increase insurance coverage. The result is that regardless of their income, Texans younger than 65 who aren't disabled or a child are ineligible for Medicaid.

Why did Kansas not expand Medicaid?

The state's top Republicans oppose the bill, most often giving the same general objections. They say Medicaid expansion will cost too much. They argue it will give coverage to too many “able-bodied adults.” And they worry that expanding Medicaid will take away private insurance coverage that some Kansans already have.

Implications of State Decisions to Expand or Not Expand Medicaid

25 related questions found

What states haven't expanded Medicaid?

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, but 10 states have not expanded Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for low-income people. They are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Which state has the best Medicaid program?

The top states—ranked from 1 to 10—are Massachusetts, Nebraska, Vermont, Alaska, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and New Hampshire.

Is Medicaid expansion good or bad?

States that expanded Medicaid also experienced a significant reduction in mortality compared with states that did not expand. Finally, Medicaid expansion was associated with increased rates of self-reported health status of “excellent” or “very good” (29).

Why are people against Medicaid?

Conservatives view Medicaid as “just another welfare program,” this time hiding in health care clothes. Their view is that welfare programs, including Medicaid, have caused more harm than good by promoting dependency and using taxpayer dollars unwisely.

Why is it so hard to get Medicaid in Texas?

Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As a result, Texas has the biggest coverage gap in the country, with an estimated 772,000 residents ineligible for Medicaid and also ineligible for premium subsidies to offset the cost of private coverage in the exchange.

Can states opt out of Medicaid?

The constitutionality of the Medicaid expansion provisions of the ACA was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012; however, state participation is optional.

What is the income limit for Medicaid in 2024?

Definitions. Parents of Dependent Children: Income limits for 2024 are reported as a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL). The 2024 FPL for a family of three is $25,820. Other Adults: Eligibility limits for other adults are presented as a percentage of the 2024 FPL for an individual is $15,060.

Did Georgia expand Medicaid?

Georgia is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), resulting in an uninsured rate of 12 percent, one of the highest in the country. In lieu of Medicaid expansion, the state launched the “Pathways” program, under a section 1115 waiver, in July 2023.

What state has the best healthcare for poor people?

  • Hawaii. #1 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Vermont. #2 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Massachusetts. #3 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Iowa. #4 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • South Dakota. #5 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Rhode Island. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Minnesota. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Maine.

What state has the highest Medicaid limit?

The state with the highest Medicaid income limit is Alaska, where households of eight people must have a maximum income of less than $77,526. Alaska Medicaid income limits also include the highest limit for households of one person, $22,597. Read on to find out all the Medicaid income limits by state.

What is the downside of Medicaid?

Disadvantages of Medicaid

One of the primary reasons for this is that Medicaid reimbursements are lower than those of commercial insurers for most procedures and treatments.

Why doctors don t like Medicaid?

One reason is that reimbursement rates for Medicaid are lower than for Medicare or commercial insurance. Another (often overlooked) factor, however, is physician's risk of payment denials and the administrative hassle they face trying to get reimbursed by Medicaid.

What states did not take the Medicaid expansion?

Coverage under the Medicaid expansion became effective January 1, 2014 in all states that have adopted the Medicaid expansion except for the following: Michigan (4/1/2014), New Hampshire (8/15/2014), Pennsylvania (1/1/2015), Indiana (2/1/2015), Alaska (9/1/2015), Montana (1/1/2016), Louisiana (7/1/2016), Virginia (1/1/ ...

Are people getting kicked off Medicaid?

The rates widely vary by state. About 1 in 5 people with Medicaid have been disenrolled. Of this group, 69% were dropped for so-called procedural reasons, according to KFF.

How often does Medicaid check your bank account?

Medicaid agencies can check your account balances for bank accounts at any financial institution you've used in the past five years. They will check when you submit an application and on an annual basis, but checks can occur at any time.

Do states pay for Medicaid expansion?

Under the ACA, the federal government paid 100 percent of the cost of expansion coverage from 2014 to 2016, with the federal share then dropping gradually to 90 percent for 2020 and each year thereafter, leaving states to cover the small remaining share.

What does Medicaid not cover?

Though Medicaid covers a wide range of services, there are limitations on certain types of care, such as infertility treatments, elective abortions, and some types of alternative medicine. For example, the federal government lists family planning as a mandatory service benefit, but states interpret this differently.

What is the best state to live in for low income?

Oklahoma consistently ranks as one of the states with the most affordable housing costs. The state also has a number of financial assistance programs through staples like SNAP and WIC, as well as local nonprofit Bethel Foundation for single mothers and young children.

What state ranks lowest in healthcare?

Minnesota is the best state for healthcare when it comes to affordability and quality and Mississippi is the worst, according to WalletHub's 2024 ranking published July 29.

Who uses Medicaid the most?

In 2020, Medicaid and CHIP provided coverage for nearly 55 million people of color. These programs provide essential coverage for a population that is more diverse than the broader U.S. population—especially among children, with 61 percent of Medicaid and CHIP enrollees under age 19 being children of color.