by Shawn Nowlin
In layman’s terms, Medicaid provides health insurance to those with limited resources and incomes. More specifically, the government program is primarily managed on the state level and only eligible to U.S. citizens or qualified non-citizens.
Additionally, elder care benefits not usually covered through Medicare are offered through Medicaid. What’s not usually covered is non-emergency transportation, elective procedures, experimental treatments and home modifications, just to name a few.
The federal government froze all Medicaid requirements at the height of the pandemic. This enabled Americans to remain on government-led health insurance without needing to apply again.
Ever since April of 2023, states all over the country have removed Medicaid recipients while reinstating rules that surround those who qualify for coverage. Procedural issues like having a changed address or missing a deadline are the primary reasons for that. How the unwinding process plays out is a major long-term concern for many experts in the field.
Vice President Kamala Harris says she’ll continue to fight to ensure that every American has the health care they need. If elected the next President of the United States and Democrats control both chambers of Congress next year, she will be in a prime position to pass major legislation.
“For 59 years, Medicare and Medicaid have helped provide quality, affordable health care for communities that need it most. Today, we renew the commitment to protect and strengthen them,” she recently wroteon social media.
Part-time work, unlike most full-time jobs, does not include health coverage. This leaves many Americans without insurance for medications and lifesaving treatments.
Jessie Whitt says she’ll never understand why America annually sends billions of dollars to foreign countries while so many of its own struggle with things like health care. “As a single mother of three, having adequate health care is so important to me and my family. Living check to check is stressful enough. I don’t want my insurance status to be in flux, but that’s what I’m dealing with,” she said.
The health research firm KFF says that 55 percent of Virginians disenrolled from their coverage may still qualify, if certain adherences are met. Roughly a quarter of those adults now say they are completely uninsured.
If people are not happy with their government, Tabitha Clark says they should demand changes. “Without Medicaid, so many people would have very likely died. I’ve found that my struggles are issues that many people go through. Who we vote for matters, more so on the state and local level. If you want different, you should vote different,” Clark said.
