JEC Chairman Beyer, Sen. Warnock, E&C Chairman Pallone, Rep. Bourdeaux Highlight Need to Address Medicaid Coverage Gap
JEC Chairman Beyer,
In addition to providing health coverage for over 2.2 million low-income adults who are currently ineligible for any federal health insurance supports, closing the Medicaid gap would narrow racial gaps in health access and deliver benefits to a broad and diverse low-income population.
Analyses of recent and historical coverage expansions for low-income families show that the policy saves lives, improves people's health, supports local hospital systems and is a strong investment in long-run socioeconomic well-being. For example, Medicaid expansion under the ACA saved nearly 20,000 lives in just the four years after enactment, reduced medical debt sent to collections by
JEC Chairman
"The Medicaid coverage gap should never have existed, but because some Republican lawmakers have refused to accept generous federal support, millions of low-income families are currently blocked from accessing affordable health insurance because of the state where they live. Closing the Medicaid coverage gap through congressional action, like the Build Back Better Act, would expand access to affordable health insurance to millions of families and address pervasive racial health and economic disparities that threaten the foundation of our economy and our society. These are the kinds of investments in families that save lives, boost household economic security and strengthen local communities."
Senator Reverend
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"The Medicaid coverage gap has left millions of vulnerable Americans without access to health care through no fault of their own. One of the most important provisions in the Build Back Better Act would ensure that Americans who are currently stuck in the coverage gap have access to quality, affordable health care. It's one of the most commonsense, transformative actions we can take to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of hardworking Americans and one of the many reasons why we cannot give up on the fight to pass the Build Back Better Act."
"The state you live in should not determine whether or not you have access to health care, yet Georgians are being hung out to dry due to inaction. Closing the Medicaid coverage gap has the potential to provide health care coverage to over two million Americans, including ??275,000 Georgians. Not only is refusing to expand Medicaid morally wrong, but it's also fiscally irresponsible. We must expand Medicaid and ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable health care."
In particular, the report highlights how:
*Sixty percent of people in the coverage gap are people of color, so closing it will narrow racial disparities in coverage and health outcomes. Expansion states saw their average uninsured rates fall for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian and
*Expanding coverage will support economic growth by creating an estimated 1 million new jobs, increasing financial stability, and shoring up vital local hospital systems
*According to evidence from past Medicaid expansions, the upfront investment in health coverage more than pays for itself through better health outcomes, reduced rates of incarceration and crime, higher lifetime earnings, higher tax revenues and less spending on adult hospitalizations.
This report builds on a prior JEC issue brief that highlights the important role that expanded health insurance subsidies under the American Rescue Plan played in increasing health coverage and financial security for many low to middle-income Americans. The previous brief also presented new data on the number of people in each congressional district who are estimated to gain coverage if these subsidies are extended under a bill like the Build Back Better Act passed by the House. Passing both of these policy fixes would fill significant gaps in the
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