Medicaid Expansion and What it Could Mean for Ohio An overview of the proposal to provide health care coverage

In response to Presiall adults to 138 per2012 138% Federal Poverty Level dent Obamas Affordacent FPL, with the fedble Care Act, our legiseral government payFamily Size Annually Monthly Hourly lature will soon be voting 100 percent of the 1 $15,420.00 $1,285.00 $8.03 ing to either enact or costs for the newly reject a proposal to exeligible population 2 $20,880.00 $1,740.00 $10.88 pand Medicaid coverage during the first three 3 $26,352.00 $2,196.00 $13.73 to everyone earning years, decreasing to less than 138 percent 90 percent by 2020. 4 $31,812.00 $2,651.00 $16.57 of the Federal Poverty Some opponents of $37,284.00 $3,107.00 $19.42 Level (FPL). Under cur- 5 the expansion claim rent law, Ohio does not that it would cost the 6 $42,744.00 $3,562.00 $22.26 extend Medicaid coverstate too much, and 7 $48,204.00 $4,017.00 $25.11 age to adults unless put us further in debt. they have children or If the state votes to 8 $53,676.00 $4,473.00 $27.96 are disabled. An estinot expand Medicaid, mated 1.5 million Ohioans do not have health inwe will lose the initial $13 billion in federal funds surance, most of them from working families, and over the next seven years. some of them very poor. The expansion of Medicaid is critical in order to protect the health of lowIn review, a Medicaid expansion would reduce the income Ohioans, and if we do not act now, many number of uninpeople will be left without coverage. sured, increase Ohio employment Beginning in January and earnings, im2014, the federal prove county figovernment will esnances, and lower tablish a Health Inhealth costs for surance Exchange to Ohios employers offer tax credits for and residents. insurance premiums Presently, the unto Ohioans with ininsured are receiving comes between 100 health care entirely at percent and 400 percounty expense (your cent FPL, but no credtax dollars). It only its will be provided makes sense to cover below 100 percent as many as possible, FPL. As a result, parents between 90-100 percent so that the rest of the FPL and childless adults with income below 100 bill is not footed at our percent FPL will be caught in a coverage gap expense. Most of the without access to Medicaid or tax credits on the area hospitals are in Exchange. agreement, and have advocated for the expansion of Medicaid. In June 2012, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave states the option to increase Medicaid eligibility for