In an article in USA Today, a new study shows that while most states have expanded or are considering expanding, there are 20 states that are not going to expand. And by opting out of the Medicaid expansion under the ACA, those states are going to get hurt big time:
By 2022, Texas could lose $9.2 billion by not expanding Medicaid as allowed under the Affordable Care Act, while Florida could lose $5 billion over that period, the study conducted by The Commonwealth Fund shows. Commonwealth was founded in 1918 to improve health services for Americans.
Also during that period, the study showed, Georgia could lose $2.9 billion, while Virginia could lose $2.8 billion.
And as if you didn't already know, all of these states are run by Republican governors. But it's not all bad for those 20 states. After all, I'm sure they'll gain something out of turning down the Medicaid expansion which pays for 100% of their Medicaid costs through 2016, and then 90% of the costs after that. Oh, what's that you say?
"There are no states where the taxpayers would actually gain by not expanding Medicaid," said Sherry Glied, lead author on the study. "Nobody wins."
Hmm. Well that might put a damper on things. If all states were to expand Medicaid, 21.3 million uninsured people would gain coverage. This would mean that not only would the state save billions which they could then spend on important things like education and infrastructure, but also doctors and hospitals would have fewer uncompensated costs which would mean lower insurance costs for everybody else.
So not expanding Medicaid, costs taxpayers money, and doesn't help the state at all.
You know, sooner or later, Democrats are really going to have to take that banner of being "the party of fiscal responsibility" away from the Republicans. 2014 seems like a good year for that.