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Why is Medicaid getting most Kentuckians who have found insurance through the health exchange?
cn|2 Pure Politics ^ | 11/07/2013 | Jacqueline Pitts

Posted on 11/10/2013 6:42:45 PM PST by Republican Wildcat

One of the biggest criticisms of Kentucky’s early returns from the state’s health exchange is that an overwhelming majority have landed on the government’s Medicaid program rather than private insurance.

But state officials say that’s to be expected early in the open enrollment period, which began Oct. 1 and ends March 31.

The reason the number of Medicaid enrollees is so much higher so far is because if someone’s income qualifies them to be on that program, they’re automatically signed up. It’s like a turning on a light switch.

Others who earn more than 138 percent of the poverty rate — $15,856 for an individual — can find private insurance through the exchange from either two or three companies depending on the area in which they live. But that process often takes longer so that people have time to mull over their options and the cost of the plan, said Gwenda Bond, assistant communications director for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

As of this fall, Kentucky had 640,000 people who were uninsured. The latest numbers provided by the Health Cabinet show that 32,485 of those uninsured have enrolled in new health coverage. Here’s how those numbers break down:

308,000 of them are eligible for Medicaid now that it has been expanded to cover more low-income Kentuckians. And so far, 27,854 individuals have enrolled in Medicaid.

The other 332,000 uninsured Kentuckians make too much to qualify for Medicaid but could find health coverage with private and nonprofit insurers through the exchange. But only 4,631 of those individuals have signed up so far — less than 1.5 percent of those who are expected to qualify.

(Excerpt) Read more at mycn2.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: abortion; beshear; deathpanels; kentucky; medicaid; obamacare; zerocare
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To: Republican Wildcat


Retire these Gutle$$ Old Party B@$@$D$; don't show
them any respect for their previous actions / deeds.
BOOT ' EM ALL OUT!

Support Matt Bevins, Defeat Sen. *itch "Mumbles" McConnell. *(D.C.-GOP / E)
Support JD Winteregg, Defeat (SotH) Rep. John *HIC! / HIC!* Boehmer. *(D.C.-GOP / E)

*District of Criminals-Gutle$$ Old Party / E$tabli$hment


21 posted on 11/10/2013 8:54:27 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (who'll take tomorrow,$pend it all today;who can take your income & tax it all away..0'Blowfly can :-)
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To: GOPJ

Are those those health co-op things? Sort of like a credit union?


22 posted on 11/10/2013 9:00:04 PM PST by JediJones (The #1 Must-see Filibuster of the Year: TEXAS TED AND THE CONSERVATIVE CRUZ-ADE)
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To: Republican Wildcat

This is because most people who didn’t have health insurance didn’t want it. They would rather keep the money. That hasn’t changed. So unless the gubmint gonna give it to ‘em fo free, most still aren’t gonna want it just because there’s a new web site to buy it on. It remains to be seen whether the mandate penalty would change their mind, but these types of people are not going to worry about some fee they may or may not be charged over a year from now. They’re not the types who spend a lot of time investing for the future.


23 posted on 11/10/2013 9:05:36 PM PST by JediJones (The #1 Must-see Filibuster of the Year: TEXAS TED AND THE CONSERVATIVE CRUZ-ADE)
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To: GOPJ
Nonprofit insurers?

Kaiser & Blue Shield are non-profit and there are others.

24 posted on 11/10/2013 9:21:36 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Do The Math)
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To: Republican Wildcat
Why is Medicaid getting most Kentuckians who have found insurance through the health exchange?

Well, D'OH!

Why is Medicaid getting most, by a factor of four, of ALL who have been signed up EVERYWHERE in the U.S.?

25 posted on 11/10/2013 9:32:32 PM PST by publius911 (At least Nixon had the good grace to resign!)
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To: Republican Wildcat

Because they make less that $2000 a month?


26 posted on 11/10/2013 9:33:31 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: ChildOfThe60s

We have a two Party system, Communists and Communist Sympathizers.


27 posted on 11/10/2013 9:50:22 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Good news, Federal Funding for my Tagline has been restored. Crisis averted.)
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To: JediJones

More like a Commie Union.


28 posted on 11/10/2013 9:52:46 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (Good news, Federal Funding for my Tagline has been restored. Crisis averted.)
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To: JouleZ

What planet have you been living on? Lots of the Medicaid patients I see have smart phones, nice jewelry, clothes,tats, smoke, drink do drugs. Many have boats, homes, nice cars. “poor” in Amerika is not what it used to be.


29 posted on 11/11/2013 12:16:06 AM PST by Kozak ("Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the cursed alliance! To arms, to arms....."e)
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To: GOPJ
Nonprofit insurers?

I'm waiting for someone to explain how, in some areas, it does not depend on a persons income but what area they live in, that supplementary insurance - supplementary to medicare, is premium free and this is from private companies.

30 posted on 11/11/2013 4:18:48 AM PST by Graybeard58 (_.. ._. .. _. _._ __ ___ ._. . ___ ..._ ._ ._.. _ .. _. .)
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To: Republican Wildcat
The reason the number of Medicaid enrollees is so much higher so far is because if someone’s income qualifies them to be on that program, they’re automatically signed up. It’s like a turning on a light switch.

And what happens if it turns out they made a typo or forgot some income which would take them out of the program? From what I hear, once the system has you, it won't let go.

31 posted on 11/11/2013 5:09:34 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: GOPJ

Wisconsin has a non-profit, Wisconsin Physicians and Surgeons. My husband has been insured by them for years and last year switched to their Bridge Policy which guarantees no increases or cancellations from then until age 65 (3 years).

$387/mo. $5500 deductible, then 80%-20%. Office visits and ER w/no co-pay. Some prescription coverage, but actually, Walgreen’s or Walmart is cheaper.

Had to file a claim in 2010 for a traumatic injury. No problems at all. They lived up to their contract.


32 posted on 11/11/2013 5:15:57 AM PST by reformedliberal
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To: upchuck

The big problem is that you can expand food stamps by printing more cards, but expanding Medicaid isn’t that easy. It’s already a system that barely functions due to the reverse incentive its reimbursement policy produces. Adding hundreds of thousands of new patients to a system that can barely treat the ones it has will be a disaster.


33 posted on 11/11/2013 7:43:13 AM PST by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: Hillary'sMoralVoid

exactly.... some states agreed to expand their medicaid programs and Ocare is more than willing to help them do it.


34 posted on 11/11/2013 9:56:22 AM PST by Nifster
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To: Kozak

“poor” in Amerika is not what it used to be.

*******

That was my point! Get some reading comprehension help.


35 posted on 11/11/2013 6:12:39 PM PST by JouleZ (You are the company you keep.)
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To: JouleZ

Really? Because you did a lousy job of presenting your point. Take some lessons in effective writing .


36 posted on 11/11/2013 7:09:41 PM PST by Kozak ("Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the cursed alliance! To arms, to arms....."e)
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To: Kozak

So it’s my fault you can’t comprehend what you read. Okay. Yawn. (looking at clock and waiting for the “racist” name calling next) tick tock tick tock

P.S.
I could explain it to you... but I can’t make you understand it. That’s your job. Get an IQ.


37 posted on 11/11/2013 8:44:50 PM PST by JouleZ (You are the company you keep.)
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To: JouleZ

Get a life


38 posted on 11/11/2013 10:05:05 PM PST by Kozak ("Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the cursed alliance! To arms, to arms....."e)
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To: Kozak

Word!


39 posted on 11/12/2013 4:46:40 PM PST by JouleZ (You are the company you keep.)
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