A million people could gain health insurance in Texas after Democrats’ huge win
On election night in Texas, the impossible became possible. Democrats won the governor’s seat for the first time since the 1990s and appear to be on their way to securing control of the state House too. Those massive, unexpected wins have now opened the window for a major policy change that has long been closed: […]
In a historic election night in Texas, Democrats secured a major victory, winning the governor's seat for the first time since the 1990s and potentially gaining control of the state House. This significant win has now paved the way for a major policy change that was previously unattainable - expanding Medicaid to cover over a million low-income Texans.
The Affordable Care Act provides ample funding for states to expand Medicaid eligibility to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, which is around $21,000 for an individual or $44,000 for a family of three. However, the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that states have the discretion to decide whether to accept the expansion.
Currently, Texas is one of the ten states that have refused to extend Medicaid coverage to many of its poorest citizens, making it the state with the highest uninsured rate in the country at 19 percent. Republicans have argued that Medicaid expansion is unnecessary and that uninsured individuals should seek health coverage through employment.
However, newly elected Democratic Governor Gina Hinojosa has pledged to pursue Medicaid expansion if elected, arguing that it would benefit the state's children and save money in the long run.
Advocacy groups and Texas hospitals, who have long supported expansion, are optimistic about the new Democratic-controlled state legislature. They expect Medicaid expansion bills to be filed by November 9, the first day for early bill filing. While Republicans retain control of the state Senate, there is some optimism that the overwhelming Democratic victories across the country could lead to compromise. Texas hospitals, despite past opposition, have the potential to put pressure on Republicans to find a middle ground.
However, the road to Medicaid expansion in Texas is not without obstacles. Some Republican senators who have opposed expansion in the past may still be hesitant to compromise. Despite these challenges, there is now genuine hope that the stunning midterm results in Texas could finally break the logjam and provide hope for Texans who have been waiting for Medicaid expansion for a long time.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
