LA Times: $10-billion Medicaid plan approved for California

[BzaDem]

Many people forget that half of the insurance expansion under the healthcare bill was money insure poor people through a government-run plan (Medicaid). That's right -- of the 31 million people in 2014 that will have health insurance who didn't have it before, 15 million of them will be on a public plan.

Right now, Medicaid eligibility differs from state to state. Many states disqualify entire subsets of poor people, even though they make below the poverty line. Starting in 2014, every state will be REQUIRED to offer Medicaid to every person or family making under 133% of the poverty line.

However, even before 2014, states have the option of expanding Medicaid now (and having the Feds cover the vast majority of the expansion). California just did so. Soon, because of the healthcare bill, anyone making up to 133% of the poverty line in California can sign up for Medicaid.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/03/nation/la-na-california-medicaid-rules-20101103

--snip--

"Reporting from Washington — The Obama administration on Tuesday approved a $10-billion plan to help California modernize and expand its Medicaid health insurance program for the poor, pushing the state to the forefront of the national effort to implement the new healthcare law.

The administration's much-anticipated decision to grant a so-called Medicaid waiver could ultimately help cover hundreds of thousands more Californians over the next five years. State and federal officials hope that will bolster efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of care provided to the state's poorest residents."

[movonne]

1. Well what does everyone think about this..

[leftstreet]

2. I think the number of impoverished people in the US is growing n/t