Senate Medicaid Expansion Plan Could Cost State More to Cover Fewer People

Senator Kevin Blackwell estimates that 80,000 Mississippians would qualify for Medicaid coverage under the Senate’s plan, but said he expects as few as 40,000 may actually enroll—significantly lower than the House’s estimation of up to 200,000 for its version. One key difference is that the House plan includes full Medicaid expansion under the ACA, allowing residents who make up to 138% of the federal poverty level ($20,120 annually for an individual or $40,056 for a family of four) to qualify. The Senate plan would only allow people to qualify if they make up to 100% of the federal poverty level ($15,060 per year for a single person or $31,200 for a family of four). KFF, a San Francisco, Calif.,-based nonprofit organization focused on health-care policy, estimates that the House plan could add up to 123,000 people to the Medicaid rosters, including 74,000 adults who are below the federal poverty level and 49,000 who are above it. Those 49,000 would not qualify under the Senate plan.