eral government would pay for 100% of the expansion in2014, [but drop to only] 90% by 2020. If states did not comply [and pay the 10%] they would lose all federal cash for Medicaid.” The court said this was unconstitutional coercion. The effect of this ruling is that roughly 16 million poor people will not be covered by Medicaid. Fortunately, some of those people may still be able to receive at least partial subsidies for their health care.
I this decision disturbing, but what I find most disturbing is the definition of ‘poor’ used by the courts and federal government. As the article notes ‘poor’ in this context means people 138 % or below of the federal poverty line. Currently, the poverty line is 23,050 for a family of four. So, a family of four earning over $32,000 a year is excluded from receiving Medicaid. I can’t imagine living with a wife and 2 kids on only $32,000. I certainly can’t imagine how I would pay for my child’s medical bills on that. It’s even more disturbing when I realize that more and more American’s work jobs that do not offer insurance. Part-time workers and freelancers typically have to buy their own insurance. It’s been a while since I checked but insurance for a single person used to run about $2400 per year. I can’t imagine how most people can afford that. If they go to a doctor they go broke (or we pay for it out of our taxes). If they don’t go, they simply get worse which means when they do finally go it just costs more.
I don’t have a great solution, but I am hopeful that at least some states will work with the federal government to find a way to help insurance more people.
Works Cited
"Run for Cover." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 07 July 2012. Web. 09 July 2012. <http://www.economist.com/node/21558301>.