Medicaid has been thrust into the spotlight since the Supreme Court ruled that the Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was optional, but what are some of the most pertinent facts regarding Medicaid in light of this decision?
The Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with the Journal of the American Medical Association, recently released the August Visualizing Health Policy infographic, which provides a monthly visual portrayal of an important health policy. Here are five facts to know from the August infographic, which focuses on Medicaid, its role today and how it is impacted under the PPACA.
• The Medicaid expansion will offer coverage to an additional 22 million uninsured adults.
• Medicaid will be expanded to those who make up to 139 percent of the federal poverty level (less than $26,535 annually for a family of three), which constitutes roughly 54 percent of the country's uninsured population.
• Currently, Medicaid covers one out of five nonelderly Americans, two out of five poor Americans and one out of three children. Those ratios would increase under the PPACA.
• Over the next decade, the federal government will cover more than 90 percent of the new costs associated with the Medicaid expansion. Through 2016, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost, and after that it would cover 90 percent.
• Currently, Medicaid's annual per capita spending growth is 3.4 percent, which is lower than the 5.5 percent annual per capita spending growth of private health insurance.
• The Medicaid expansion will offer coverage to an additional 22 million uninsured adults.
• Medicaid will be expanded to those who make up to 139 percent of the federal poverty level (less than $26,535 annually for a family of three), which constitutes roughly 54 percent of the country's uninsured population.
• Currently, Medicaid covers one out of five nonelderly Americans, two out of five poor Americans and one out of three children. Those ratios would increase under the PPACA.
• Over the next decade, the federal government will cover more than 90 percent of the new costs associated with the Medicaid expansion. Through 2016, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost, and after that it would cover 90 percent.
• Currently, Medicaid's annual per capita spending growth is 3.4 percent, which is lower than the 5.5 percent annual per capita spending growth of private health insurance.
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