Question

The Affordable Care Act allow states to expand Medicaid services by raising the income eligibility guidelines. The federal government will pay for 90% of the costs of the program expansion and the state is required to pay the remaining 10%. Many states (including Oklahoma) have opted not to particiapte in the program expansion. Do you feel that our state should or should not participate in Medicaid expansion and why?

Answer 1

I feel that our state should participate in Medicaid expansion because the federal government will pay for 90% of the costs of the program expansion and the state is required to pay only the remaining 10%. Opting out of such a beneficial program would be foolish. Since the Affordable Care Act allows states to expand Medicaid services by raising the income eligibility guidelines the number of citizens who would benefit from the program would increase. This would lead to improved health of citizens at a lesser cost for the state. Healthy citizens are an asset to the state and the state should not blindly oppose Affordable Care Act and its extended benefits just based on political perspective. No matter whether it's the Republicans or Democrats, opposing and noncooperating with a highly beneficial program introduced by the other party just because of political reasons would be disastrous for the citizens and the country.