More ABC US news | ABC Health NewsCopy <\/p>\n
Health care may seem like it's faded into the background this midterm election cycle, but there is actually a lot at stake for many aspects of Obamacare. <\/p>\n
In particular, the future of Medicaid expansion may be altered depending on which way the votes go. <\/p>\n
Heres a guide to what could change and why it matters: <\/p>\n
First, an Explanation <\/p>\n
Medicaid is a federally funded program that provides health care to low-income Americans. The Affordable Care Act expanded the program to cover more people, but a ruling by the Supreme Court allowed states to choose whether or not to implement that provision. To date, 23 states -- mostly conservative and Republican-controlled -- have elected not to expand. <\/p>\n
Why Not Expand? <\/p>\n
The main argument against expansion is that its too expensive and the federal government cant continue supporting it long-term, said Scott Brunner, a senior analyst with the Kansas Health Institute and a former Kansas state Medicaid director. <\/p>\n
Many non-expansion states want to focus on improving quality of care before offering it to more people, he added. <\/p>\n
Those in favor of expansion believe it would provide health care to hundreds of thousands more people who currently cant afford it, Brunner said, adding that a larger program might also stimulate the economy by creating health care-related jobs. <\/p>\n
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Why Today's Election May Affect Your Health Care<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" More ABC US news | ABC Health NewsCopy Health care may seem like it's faded into the background this midterm election cycle, but there is actually a lot at stake for many aspects of Obamacare. In particular, the future of Medicaid expansion may be altered depending on which way the votes go. Heres a guide to what could change and why it matters: First, an Explanation Medicaid is a federally funded program that provides health care to low-income Americans. Continue reading