The Supreme Court of the United States will begin hearings on the affordable care act, some states adopted the Medicaid expansion, and some did not. MI did.
Craigd asked my thoughts on it, I started an OT thread that might illustrate my experience and understanding of it.
Medicaid expansion Picks up The people that are in the zone That Isn't met well by the lowest wrungs of the ACA.
Working poor, people changing jobs, Covid disrupted businesses, not necessarily only the poorest people. And not just women and children.
The income constraints that represent the Medicaid expansion extend subsidized coverage up AND down to cover the people falling down the income ladder away from employer provided coverage.
So, Medicaid expansion casts a broader net.
My experience is only vicarious, as I have multiple layers of Cadillac level health insurance, and am too young to benefit from Medicare. But I have a huge community network, and I ask questions and listen to people.
What I see in practice is a financial buffering effect on the households that slip from employer provided insurance down to self provided coverage.
Every county in MI has a few providers, all working to meet ACA requirements profitably.
I see the rise of healthcare conglomerates in every urban center, regionally, and nationally.
It seems to provide access, and most importantly, improve the health of the people that fall into the formerly unaddressed income bands.
I have seen 1st hand People Improving their management of chronic illness People that were previously destined to unproductive lives.
My position, is that a person with a chronic illness that needs to be managed, is a wasted asset if the means are unavailable to do so.
I do not want to carry the social cost and financial cost of wasted assets.
I choose to support the ACA because as a nation, I believe we are better off if our general health is not a "How much money is in my pocket today?" concern, but rather just a daily thing that everyone uses and benefits from.
In my view, no kid should have their teeth pulled out, no diabetic have their legs cut off, etc. etc.
On a per capita basis, I'm comfortable with the national cost of shoring up the bottom of the ACA.
