Think Medicaid expansion doesn’t help those in need? Think again. In a study from the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine released in August, states which have expanded Medicaid such as Kentucky and Arkansas showed significant improvement in the quality of health for low-income adults when compared to non-Medicaid expansion states like Texas.
The survey polled an estimated 9,000 adults from low-income households in Texas, Arkansas, and Kentucky over a two-year period from 2013-2015. Kentucky and Arkansas saw uninsured rates drop from 40% to 9% and 42% to 14% respectively following Medicaid expansion, while Texas, which did not expand Medicaid, saw a markedly lower decrease from 39% to 32%.
Following the expansion of Medicaid, low-income adults in Kentucky and Arkansas displayed improvements in overall health, with fewer ER visits, greater preventative care and a greater quality of the health care received. They also benefitted from a reduction in out-of-pocket expenses, as well as decreased expense for medication and a general increase in access to screenings for diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
While more than 60% of States have embraced Medicaid expansion (Washington D.C. included), many have not provided any indication that they plan to expand. As more studies are released demonstrating the positive benefits of Medicaid expansion, perhaps more states will move to implement expansion efforts.
