Medicaid Expansion
Kelsey Pasley
ENG 112
Traditional Argument
Medicaid Expansion
In 2009 there were 50.7 million people, 16.7% of the population, without health insurance. Americans all over the country are working and yet they still can’t afford to pay the high cost of health insurance for themselves and their families. Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which was signed by Obama on March 23, 2010, thirty two million Americans who were previously not eligible for Medicaid may now have the opportunity to be covered. If this act is passed in North Carolina then it will be expanded to cover nearly all of the 1.5 million North Carolinians who are without health insurance. If more Americans are covered under the Medicaid that they need then they will be able to go to the doctors when they get sick, or go to the hospital if they have an accident and not have to deal with the stress of wondering how they will pay for it. I believe that Medicaid should be expanded in North Carolina and every state, to the many Americans who are without health insurance to insure that they live healthy lives. If you live in North Carolina and you are between the ages of 18 and 64 and you do not have a major disability, or the parent of a young child then you cannot qualify for Medicaid, regardless of your income. Although many people in this age range are working people, they don’t make enough to afford to buy themselves health insurance, and young adults are too old to stay on their parents insurance. I personally fall under the category. When I turned 19 I lost all of my Medicaid benefits and even though I work fulltime, I still can’t afford to pay up to two hundred dollars a month for health insurance. If the North Carolina general assembly chooses to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, some of these North Carolinians who make lower incomes may become eligible to qualify for coverage on their own, or under their parents health insurance. Currently, our state
ENG 112
Traditional Argument
Medicaid Expansion
In 2009 there were 50.7 million people, 16.7% of the population, without health insurance. Americans all over the country are working and yet they still can’t afford to pay the high cost of health insurance for themselves and their families. Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which was signed by Obama on March 23, 2010, thirty two million Americans who were previously not eligible for Medicaid may now have the opportunity to be covered. If this act is passed in North Carolina then it will be expanded to cover nearly all of the 1.5 million North Carolinians who are without health insurance. If more Americans are covered under the Medicaid that they need then they will be able to go to the doctors when they get sick, or go to the hospital if they have an accident and not have to deal with the stress of wondering how they will pay for it. I believe that Medicaid should be expanded in North Carolina and every state, to the many Americans who are without health insurance to insure that they live healthy lives. If you live in North Carolina and you are between the ages of 18 and 64 and you do not have a major disability, or the parent of a young child then you cannot qualify for Medicaid, regardless of your income. Although many people in this age range are working people, they don’t make enough to afford to buy themselves health insurance, and young adults are too old to stay on their parents insurance. I personally fall under the category. When I turned 19 I lost all of my Medicaid benefits and even though I work fulltime, I still can’t afford to pay up to two hundred dollars a month for health insurance. If the North Carolina general assembly chooses to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, some of these North Carolinians who make lower incomes may become eligible to qualify for coverage on their own, or under their parents health insurance. Currently, our state
Cited: 1. Unknown Author. “Ten Reasons Why North Carolina Should Expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.” Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act. www.NCJustice.org. Web. March 5th, 2013. 2. Cheryl Wilhelm. “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: A Snapshot of Pros and Cons.” Patient Care Forum. www.Supplementalhealthcare.com. Web. March 7th, 2013. 3. Unknown Author. “Eligibility.” Keeping America Healthy. www.Medicaid.gov. Web. March 6th, 2013. 4. Unknown Author. “Medicaid Expansion 2014.” Health Care Authority. www.hca.wa.gov. Web. March 5th, 2013. 5. Unknown Author. “Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.” States Implement Health Reform. March 6th, 2013. 6. Unknown Author. “What is Medicaid?” N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. March 7th, 2013.