Gov. Evers has once more suggested that Wisconsin should accept federal Medicaid expansion funds as a means to provide health insurance.
Gov. proposed again that Wisconsin should accept Medicaid expansion funds.
Medicaid expansion funds
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has once again proposed that Wisconsin should accept federal funds for Medicaid expansion. This would ensure health insurance coverage for all individuals currently on Badgercare, as well as an additional 30,000 uninsured residents.
Furthermore, accepting these funds would lead to savings of $850 million for the state in just the first year, making it both a compassionate and financially responsible proposition.
Rejecting this federal investment is simply an irresponsible decision, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Since 2014, the federal government proposed a new model where it would cover 100% of Medicaid costs for states that adopted it. This model aimed to extend coverage to individuals earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, which amounts to $21,100 or less for a single person and $41,400 or less for a family of four.
Starting in 2020, the federal funding would continue at a rate of 90%. The concept behind federal Medicaid expansion was rooted in the understanding that many new jobs offer low wages and lack affordable health insurance. It also recognized the cost-effectiveness of providing preventive medical care instead of waiting for the uninsured to require expensive emergency room treatment.
Had Wisconsin initially accepted the federal funds for Medicaid expansion, it would have saved approximately $2.1 billion by now.
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