Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is a law that was passed in 2010 to increase Americans’ access to health insurance. The measure included a crucial provision that increased the number of people covered by Medicaid, a government-run health care program for those with low incomes. The majority of states have adopted this expansion, however ten states still haven’t.
Recent events, however, imply that these holdout states might finally approve the expansion. The number of Americans without health insurance has successfully decreased as a result of Medicaid expansion. States also stand to gain financially from it because practically all expenses are covered by the federal government. Hospitals welcome the expansion because it will result in more people being covered and fewer unpaid medical bills.
Unlikely for a significant policy change, the Medicaid expansion has survived changes in political leadership. Medicaid expansion has not been revoked even in states where the opposition political party has won power. This is probably because hospitals support the scheme and it gives states financial benefits.
Financial considerations may eventually lead the remaining 10 states to approve the expansion, since the program will seem more tempting if their fiscal status deteriorates. Also, it might be more convincing to make the case that the taxpayers of the holdout states are funding the medical care of citizens of other states.
In conclusion, the Medicaid expansion’s performance and its financial advantages might eventually persuade even the states that are most opposed to the program to adopt it.
