A new direction for healthcare...
Expanding Coverage
Starting in 2014, the health reform law expands coverage to ensure that all Americans have access to insurance through private or public options with help affording coverage for middle and low income families. But each state must act to ensure that these changes are put into place and some families aren’t left out.
Consumers Union Documents
- Been hearing a lot about Medicaid and health reform? Here’s why you should care
Content excerpted from Health Reform: Seven Things You Need to Know Now, Consumer Reports. Medicaid is a joint federal- and state-funded program. Currently it provides health care for 60 million low-income Americans, mostly children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and elderly people who need help at home or live in nursing homes. While state eligibility Continue Reading
Press Releases
- Uninsured Floridians Grow Efforts to Expand Health Coverage
Consumers Union and Florida CHAIN Put a face on Florida health coverage expansion
Blog Posts
- Businesses set to face higher penalties if states don’t expand health coverage
In states that do not act to expand Medicaid or private insurance to low-income working people, businesses may be hit with higher employer penalties if they do not offer affordable health insurance to employees. States like Florida and Texas are considering forgoing expansion, and hurting businesses in the process. Florida businesses could face increased employer penalties of $146 to $218 million Continue Reading
- “Texas Solution” to expand health coverage gets support, doesn’t get a vote
With just a few weeks left in the state’s legislative session, chances are fading quickly for expanding coverage to more than 1 million low-income Texans. Several bills were filed that would have brought billions in federal funds to Texas already set aside to expand eligibility for the Medicaid program. One bill, HB 3791, authored by Representative Continue Reading
- Texas lawmakers move closer to a deal to expand coverage
Today Texas moved one step further towards potentially reducing the state’s vast population of low-income working uninsured people. HB 3791 was passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on a 15 to 9 vote. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration. Dubbed the “Texas Solution” to expanding coverage in the state, the Continue Reading
- Even if you don’t like Obamacare, this is a good deal for states
It’s rare these days when hospitals, doctors, businesses and politicians of all stripes agree on a new health care policy. But when it comes to expanding Medicaid health coverage to low-income working families, they do. Unfortunately, some are standing in the way of their citizens getting better health care, refusing their fair share of health Continue Reading
- Covered CA’s Newest Innovation Will Expand Health Care Coverage!
On Tuesday, the Board of Covered California , a new marketplace working toward transformational improvements to the affordability of insurance in California, took action on fulfilling that promise for low income Californians. Offering affordable health plans is a critical priority for Covered California. The Board set in motion an approach to using “Bridge Plans” to Continue Reading
- Florida Governor Scott announces support for Medicaid expansion
After months of opposition, Florida Gov. Rick Scott today announced his support for expanding Medicaid to all low-income Florida families as envisioned by the federal health reform law. Scott’s announcement makes him the seventh conservative Governor to support expanding the health care program to citizens with very low incomes (those earning below 138 percent of Continue Reading
- Where does your state stand?
Click on the map to see the latest on where each state stands on Medicaid expansion. Remember though, in some cases Governors have indicated their support to expand Medicaid but the state legislature still must act. For the first three years, the Medicaid expansion is fully funded by money set aside by the Affordable Care Continue Reading
- Demystifying Health Insurance Shopping for Consumers
Covered California, California’s new marketplace that will transform the way consumers shop for affordable health insurance, announced bold action at a press conference today featuring Covered California’s Executive Director Peter Lee and Consumer Reports’ President Jim Guest The event announced how Covered California will transform one of a consumer’s most dreaded tasks—shopping for health insurance—into Continue Reading
- Covered California Has Historic Day, Reform Gains Steam!
The Board of Covered California met last week and they made some historic announcements! Covered California, California’s transformative approach to ensuring health insurers provide quality, affordable and secure health care for all, was created by the Affordable Care Act and is due to start serving Californians on Jan 1, 2014. There were two big announcements Continue Reading
- Governors “do the math,” set aside politics for increased health coverage and economic boost
Yesterday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer announced her support for making Medicaid available to all low-income Arizona residents as envisioned by the health reform law. Brewer became the fourth Republican Governor to support expanding Medicaid with federal funds set aside by the health care law. This recent wave of Republican Governors supporting expansion proves further that Continue Reading
News Articles
- Governors Fall Away in G.O.P. Opposition to More Medicaid Source: NY Times (Thursday February 21, 2013)
Consumers Union story sharer Jean Vincent is featured in a NY Times article about expanding Medicaid in Florida and other states to cover low-income working adults.
- Protesters in Texas demand Medicaid expansion Source: Associated Press (Tuesday March 5, 2013)
DeAnn Friedholm, Director of Health Reform for Consumers Union, spoke to a rally at the Texas Capitol to push for expanding Medicaid to all low-income adults.
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The Affordable Care Act
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