Right now there are tens of thousands of Kansans who fall into the health insurance coverage gap. In fact, expanding Medicaid will help cover 150,000 Kansans who can’t afford health insurance today. These are hardworking Kansans who make too much to qualify for our state’s Medicaid program, KanCare, but too little to get financial assistance for private insurance. This leaves them stuck in the “coverage gap” with few or no options for affordable health coverage.
Medicaid expansion will help reduce health care costs for everyone, protect Kansans from medical debt, and strengthen and preserve our hospitals.
Forty states have already expanded their Medicaid programs, including all of our surrounding states. Kansas is being left behind. It’s time for Kansas to expand Medicaid.
Kansas Stories: Melinda
Melinda, an interior designer, contractor, and musician, moved from Texas to Wichita in 2013. She recently left her job on the maintenance crew of a local health care facility after suffering an arm injury. This injury left her with significant financial strain, exhausting her savings. She had to rely on the support of friends, family, and rental assistance agencies to make ends meet. Maintaining health insurance coverage proved to be challenging. Because her income was fluctuating, she did not meet the requirements to receive financial assistance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. She didn’t qualify for Medicaid, so she was left in the coverage gap, uninsured.