Rep. Ruiz Calls for Biden Administration to Address Medicaid Coverage Gap With American Families Plan

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-California, issued the following news release on June 17, 2021:

Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) joined members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus - composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) - to lead a letter with over 60 Members of Congress in a letter to Congressional leadership and President Biden to close the Medicaid "coverage gap" in the forthcoming American Families Plan. The Medicaid coverage gap affects people who are uninsured and ineligible for coverage because they live in states that have not expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act.

"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing health inequities, which harm public health overall," said Dr. Ruiz. "Closing the Medicaid 'coverage gap' is necessary to decrease disparities in coverage rates, affordability of care, and mortality. That is why I am working with the Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen and expand access to quality, affordable Medicaid coverage."

The coverage gap leaves more than two million Americans with incomes below the poverty line uninsured and without any pathway to health coverage. Nearly two million more uninsured people with incomes between 100 and 138 percent of the poverty line would be eligible for healthcare coverage if their states expanded Medicaid. In addition, 60% of people affected by the coverage gap are Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander.

According to a recent report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, more than a third of all adults in the coverage gap are women of reproductive age, which could result in women being uninsured during the initial months of pregnancy and contribute to the maternal health crisis. Additionally, much of the affected population lives in the South where state governments have failed to provide basic health coverage for their residents.

The American Families Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring affordable health care to all Americans. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has only illuminated the far-reaching, fatal consequences of inadequate access to health care. Addressing the Medicaid coverage gap is critical in correcting decades of unacceptable and unjust denial of health care coverage to underserved and minority populations throughout the United States and in protecting our nation from future pandemics.