About 5.2 Million Poor People Won't Get Insurance Because Their States Resisted Obamacare
About 5.2 million poor, uninsured adults will fall into the “coverage gap,” created by 26 states choosing not to expand Medicaid under the federal health law next year, according to a study released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)
These people are projected to have incomes too high to qualify for their state’s existing Medicaid programs, but below the federal poverty level (nearly $11,500 for an individual) required to be eligible for federal subsidies to buy private coverage on the new online insurance marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid is the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.
Full Article : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/obamacare-medicaid-gap_n_4108450.html
I think those 5 million people have 3 options if they want health insurance.
1) Move to a medicaid expansion state (24 out of 50).
Moving to liberal states like California is a good option. As these people are not having income of $11500 per year, we can easily assume that many of them are having an hourly job that pays like $7 to $8 per hour. California recently updated the minimum wage to $9-$10. Also they have expanded medicaid till 133% (16k+ per year). Thus, people will have more income and medicaid. (Although Cost-Of-Living may be more in metro cities)
or
2) Earn at least $11,500 per year (if single) or proportionally if you have a family while living in their current state.
or
3) Wait for 2014 and kick Republicans out of state assembly.
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