Overview:
The government run health program for poor will be expanded to cover the uninsured that can’t afford health insurance even when subsidized.
- Eligible: All individuals at or below 133% of poverty level.
- Who is paying: The federal government will pay for all new enrollee’s. Starting in 2017 the states will be required to pick up part of the cost. Net cost between 2012 and 2022 is currently $1,252,000,000,000 per the CBO. After the supreme court ruling, states have the option of opting out of the program.
In Depth Arguments
Argument In favor:
Health care is a right and the poorest people can’t provide their own. It is the duty of government to provide it for them. Most of the new costs will be covered by the federal government.
Argument Against:
If you give somebody something for free, they will take advantage of it. Tennessee expanded their Medicaid to all the uninsured below poverty level. The cost rose from 2.5 billion to 8 billion in 10 years and was eating 1/3rd of the state’s budget. The same cost increases would raise the estimated cost of Obamacare from 1.25 trillion to 4 trillion. This is being kind as states are better at reining in costs then the federal government.