Norfolk has Hampton Roads highest uninsured population, but Medicaid expansion could help
In
However, experts expect
"Medicaid expansion will have a huge impact on reducing uninsured Virginians,"
That is, she added, if everyone who is eligible signs up. But getting everyone registered who qualifies isn't likely, said ODU economist
"The more of an outreach effort there is, the higher the take-up will be," he said.
But the budget for navigators, who help the public find the right plan, has been cut repeatedly. The
Last year, President
He said 20 percent of people in the area have insurance through the military orVeterans Affairs. That figure is only 5 percent statewide and 2 percent nationally.
Medicaid covers individuals and families living at 138 percent of the poverty level. In 2018, that would be
"They are stuck in this boundary where they don't want to earn too much to lose public health insurance," he said.
Ultimately, there is a gap. Seventy percent of uninsured Virginians are families with income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, according to a 2016
The individuals who don't meet Medicaid requirements rely on charitable care.
For many patients at
There were
"Having fewer uninsured people will help bolster the bottom line," said
One of the key appeals of Medicaid expansion is the high federal reimbursement rate. In 2019 the state will be reimbursed 93 percent, and then 90 percent in 2020 and beyond. McNab wonders if this reimbursement is sustainable in the long run.
"There hasn't been significant movement on that from
Cassidy points out that federal share has survived through years of high-pressure battles.
"We've had cliffs, shutdowns and all kinds of high-stakes issues on federal spending," Cliff said. "Yet in the midst of all that over the years, what has remained untouched is the medicaid reimbursement rate under the Affordable Care Act."
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