Four thousand individuals. Four thousand fresh parents and their infants.
Utah’s recent expansion of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), announced by the Biden administration on March 8, will benefit a significant number of individuals. This expansion ensures that new parents will have insurance coverage for check-ups during the first year after giving birth, which can have a profound impact on their lives.
The expansion deal, initially introduced as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, was intended to last for five years. However, it has now been made permanent.
In a press statement, Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced that 45 states have made significant progress by extending continuous coverage for mothers for 12 months after giving birth. This development brings security and peace of mind to 4,000 women in Utah, providing them with the support they need during one of the most crucial periods of parenthood.
Medicaid expansion, which Republicans have opposed since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 14 years ago this week, serves as a crucial reminder of its significance and why we should all support it. However, it is puzzling why some states are still hesitant to embrace this expansion.
Medicaid expansion leads to better health outcomes. It’s so obvious.
The Biden campaign and progressives nationwide should prioritize this issue before the election, given the potential repeal of the ACA by former President Donald Trump if he were to be reelected. Ultimately, the aim should be to expand Medicaid coverage for everyone. Therefore, Utah’s recent expansion announcement is a positive step forward, although more efforts are still required to achieve the desired outcome.
Five states have not yet expanded postpartum coverage, and each state is at a different stage of implementation. Iowa, Nevada, and Wisconsin have pending legislation for this expansion, while Arkansas and Idaho have not yet considered it.
If every state were to adopt this expansion provision, the Biden administration predicts that around 725,000 individuals would have healthcare coverage during their first year of pregnancy. While this number may not initially seem significant, it represents 725,000 parents and their newborns who would have access to vital postpartum care. Presently, in 45 states, approximately 691,000 individuals are already benefiting from the Medicaid and CHIP expansion targeted towards this particular demographic.
Living with long COVID, like millions of Americans, is a challenging reality that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Republicans should take responsibility for the repercussions of overturning Roe v. Wade. If they insist on imposing strict abortion laws, it is only fair that they also prioritize supporting parents and children. The issue of abortion has been a significant factor influencing elections and has caused Republicans to lose votes over the years. Perhaps, if they had directed their efforts towards improving family welfare instead of restricting healthcare access for a significant portion of the population, the outcome might have been different.
Why don’t all states want to help their residents?
Utah’s recent expansion of postpartum Medicaid and CHIP highlights the importance of making general Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act the standard. It’s worth noting that there are still 10 states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming – that have not yet expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
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The majority of these states are located in the South, a region in the United States where poverty rates are higher compared to other areas. Additionally, residents in the South are more prone to poor health and chronic illnesses. Surprisingly, out of the top 10 states with the highest infant mortality rates, five of them are located in the South.
North Carolina, the state I call home, finally expanded Medicaid last fall after years of delay. It is truly embarrassing that it took so long for the state to take this necessary step, especially considering that it had both a budget surplus and the opportunity to receive federal funding.
It is unfortunate that the battle to expand Medicaid has endured for such a prolonged period, with a few states still reluctant to provide assistance to those who truly require it.
Other state legislatures should feel ashamed that they are prioritizing partisan politics over the well-being of so many people. The ACA has proven to be incredibly beneficial, with a record-breaking 21 million individuals signing up for health care this year. By expanding Medicaid in the remaining 10 states, an additional 1.5 million people would have access to the crucial healthcare they need.
I believe it is crucial to reside in a nation where individuals have access to affordable and life-saving healthcare. The Biden administration must continue to prioritize this issue and consistently remind voters that Trump intends to eliminate the ACA. It is imperative for Democrats in the ten remaining states, as well as the two that have yet to expand postpartum Medicaid, to focus their campaigns on advocating for universal healthcare. Ensuring that healthcare is accessible to all is of utmost importance.
