UPDATE, Aug. 5, 2020–
Missouri became the 38th state to approve Medicaid expansion as voters cast ballots in the Aug. 4 primary election. Amendment 2 passed with 53% in favor, 47% opposed.
Medicaid will be expanded to include persons 19 to 64 years old with an income level at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. This newly adopted program will apply to individuals making under $17,000 or couples earning under $23,000 per year.
Oklahoma voters also approved Medicaid Expansion this year. Experiences in other states have shown improved health outcomes and cost savings. The measure is designed to create thousands of health care jobs and increase state revenue by nearly $2 billion a year.
Before it expanded Medicaid, Missouri turned away over $15.5 billion in federal dollars that could have been used to improve Missourians’ health care. The Center for Health Economics and Policy at Washington University concluded that Missouri Medicaid expansion is budget neutral with possible savings of $39 million. Other independent studies have shown cost savings could reach $1 billion per year by 2026.
The League of Women Voters supports Medicaid expansion and members worked for its passage in communities across Missouri.
Vote Yes on Amendment 2, Medicaid Expansion, Aug. 4 Primary Election
The League of Women Voters of Missouri supports Medicaid Expansion as a practical and highly effective means of addressing emergency and chronic health issues, poor health outcomes and marked health inequities–with no added cost to the state.
Medicaid Expansion will bring:
–Access to health care to more than 230,000 Missourians.
–Reduction in the number of low-income families with medical debt.
–Balance between health care costs and other necessities for low-income families.
University research shows Medicaid Expansion will not cost the state additional money. Instead, it is expected to create:
–Cost savings of about $39 million
–Thousands of new jobs in the health care field
–Nearly $2 billion a year in economic activity
–Reduction in closure risk for rural hospitals
States across the political spectrum that have expanded Medicaid report high satisfaction with their decision. Financial benefits resulting from Medicaid expansion help support other statewide budget needs.
The League of Women Voters believes Medicaid Expansion is critical for timely accessible, affordable health care for Missouri.
For more information, go to lwmissouri.org or MissouriHealthCareforAll.org.