A new Urban Institute report predicts that more than 600,000 veterans will go without health insurance in 2017 unless there are policy changes to the Medicaid program. They point out that more than half of those veterans live in the 19 states that have not expanded Medicaid.
“If Medicaid expansion decisions do not change between now and 2017, we project that approximately 604,000 veterans will be uninsured in 2017 and that 54% will be living in states that have yet to expand Medicaid,” according to the report.
In May 2011, the Urban Institute, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, began studying the effects the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 had on citizens. The findings in the September 2016 report are based off analysis of data from the 2011 – 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2013 – 2014 American Community Survey (ACS) and U.S. Census Bureau.
The report notes that, even with Medicaid expansion, thousands of veterans are going to be left without a way to pay for medical care, as they all aren’t eligible for care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It estimates that 38% of veterans would become part of the “assistance gap,” meaning they are not in the low-income category that qualifies them for Medicaid, but are making too much money to qualify for federal Obamacare health insurance subsidies. (It’s important to note that Medicaid expansion doesn’t come without costs — states have to figure out a way to pay for it.)
The researchers predict that, while fewer than 1 in 10 uninsured veterans in certain states would qualify for Medicaid in 2017 based on current expansion plans, “a projected 47% would qualify if all 19 states chose to expand.”
How Medical Debt Can Affect You
Medical debt can become a major burden and may even damage your credit, no matter if you’re a veteran, on active duty or a civilian. This can complicate things when it comes time to get a mortgage, take out a loan for a car or even apply for a job (many employers look at a version of your credit report as part of the application process).
If you’re currently laden with medical debt, it’s a good idea to review your bills for any errors, like double charges or other incorrect entries, that may help that number come down. And, while it may be challenging, it’s important to remember that you need to make your bill payments on time to maintain good credit. (You can see how your medical debts are affecting your credit by taking a look at two of your free credit scores, updated every 14 days, on Credit.com and by getting copies of your free annual credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.) If you need assistance with paying these bills, consider talking with a professional to see what your options are.
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