Posted on 12/04/2013 12:57:49 PM PST by steve86
More than 175,000 Washington residents have signed up for health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online insurance marketplace, according to the latest enrollment figures released Tuesday by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.
The vast majority of enrollees qualified for the state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, which is expanding eligibility in 2014 to include adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $16,000 for an individual.
A total of 176,468 residents enrolled in coverage through Healthplanfinder in October and November, the first two months of open enrollment for coverage in 2014.
That figure includes 18,131 residents who bought private health-insurance policies, known as “qualified health plans.” More than 91,000 are newly eligible for Medicaid because of expanded eligibility that takes effect Jan. 1, 2014. More than 66,000 enrollees qualify for Medicaid under the current guidelines and will receive immediate coverage.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.seattletimes.com ...
The federal government (taxpayers, borrowing, and money creation) pays 100% of the cost of Expanded Medicaid the first three years and 90% thereafter.
Some website problems still but the state website does include payment capability!
So are these people who used to have insurance, but now get “free” medicaid?
The states’ budgets will become overwhelmed with the new Medicaid applications. They will be screaming for bailouts..............
Sure, some of them, to include me. After losing the old plan, we actually had a silver plan picked out on the state exchange, had researched it and other candidates for a month, but were prevented from purchasing it because our income is too low. The only other possibility would be to purchase an off-exchange plan at full price which I couldn’t possibly manage.
10% after three “free” years is going to overwhelm state budgets?
I hope the word gets out that if you are on Medicaid and over the age of 55 when you die, the govt. will take your estate to pay back Medicaid for your healthcare costs. Even though most Medicaid recipients don’t make much money, they could still own property, stocks, etc., which will be confiscated by Uncle Sam.
Yes, that is true and is applicable to us. State of Washington administrative rules regarding Medicaid Estate Recovery:
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/manuals/eaz/sections/EstateRecovery.shtml
(Actually applies to benefits received after the age of 55)
The toads in the state controlled “media” trumpeting their glee that more people in this country have been added to the welfare rolls. Don’t be fooled. Medicaid is welfare.
That covers only the ‘expanded’ part. The ‘new’ applicants who previously didn’t enroll or were not eligible will be huge numbers. The state will be on the hook for almost all of those new costs............
I agree that appears to be the case. Maybe the media collectively has given up on the commercial enrollments.
This is true but in this state, at least, DSHS was instructed to aggressively recruit the “previously eligible” individuals so I guess the budget increase is not unanticipated. Part of the funding will come from the cancelled “Basic health” program, where about 66,000 were still on the rolls.
Prior to Oct. 1, the anticiated signup in the private exchange was 340,000. Doesn’t sound like they are going to hit that target.
These numbers will grow and grow. There is no guarantee that a future Congress will continue the subsidy past five years.....
Gee, as if the money from the Feds comes from some magical money tree.
At the end of the day, virtually every penny the Fed Gov’t spends comes out of the pockets of American taxpayers, money that is not then spent in the private sector or saved.
bkmk
Actualy, they are moving the goalposts more than I recall. From 2012, the expected signup on the private exchange was 410,000.
http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/GovernorGregoire/accomplishments/affordable_health_care.pdf
I accidentally left out the 700 billion or so taken from Medicare Advantage subsidies, but that is a major funding source. Personally, I always thought it was a better idea to go with Medicare Supplement plans.
bkmrk for later.
The 150,000 new Medicaid enrollees will be paid for by the federal government, which is not providing more doctors.
Not quite correct.
From the article,
“More than 91,000 are newly eligible for Medicaid because of expanded eligibility that takes effect Jan. 1, 2014. More than 66,000 enrollees qualify for Medicaid under the current guidelines and will receive immediate coverage.”
The federal government will pickup the cost for 91,000 of the 150,00o number. The 66,000 qualified under the old rules and thaus the state will be on the hook for 50% (I think) of the cost.
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