Do I Qualify for Medicaid in My State?






NOT EXPANDING AT THIS TIME (19 STATES)
  • Alabama: Gov. Robert Bentley (R) in December 2014 suggested that he might be open to an alternative option for expanding Medicaid in his state. Bentley had previous opposed expanding the state-federal insurance program, but he says creating a state-designed program that uses the federal Medicaid expansion dollars may be an option for his state.

  • Florida: On May 3, 2013, the Florida Legislature ended its session without granting final approval to a compromise measure that would have authorized an expansion of Medicaid, which Gov. Rick Scott (R) supports.

  • Georgia: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) on Jan. 16, 2013, confirmed he does not support Medicaid expansion. On March 28, 2013, both the House and Senate adjourned for the 2013 session. A bill to encourage Deal to consider expanding Medicaid died in the House in February 2013. Deal in May 2013 signed legislation creating the Joint Study Committee on Medicaid Reform, but it was "for the purposes of determining an appropriate plan for Medicaid reform," not specifically expanding the program under the ACA.

  • Idaho: Gov. Butch Otter (R) on Jan. 7, 2013, in his state-of-the-state address said Idaho would not expand Medicaid. The state House and Senate both adjourned on April 4, 2013.

  • Kansas: Gov. Sam Brownback (R) punted the decision on expanding Medicaid to state lawmakers, and the state Legislature wrapped up its session for the year on June 2, 2013, without taking action on any expansion proposals.

  • Louisiana: On Feb. 6, 2013, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) reiterated his opposition to expanding Medicaid in Louisiana. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Jindal argued that the expansion would cost his state $1 billion over the first 10 years. The Louisiana Senate in May 2013 rejected an amendment that would permit state voters to decide on Medicaid expansion, effectively ending any possibility for action on the issue before the Legislature recessed for the year.

  • Maine: On June 17, 2013, Gov. Paul LePage (R) vetoed a bill (LD 1066) that would have expanded the state's Medicaid program. LePage objected to the cost of expansion and also noted that previous hikes to Medicaid eligibility—which he termed "a massive increase in welfare expansion"—have not worked to reduce the number of uninsured in the state. Two days later, on June 19, 2013, House lawmakers failed to gain the two-thirds majority necessary to override the veto.

  • Mississippi: Republicans in the Legislature in June 2013 blocked plans to expand Medicaid to an additional 300,000 state residents under the ACA.

  • Missouri: In February 2014, the state Senate defeated an effort to expand Medicaid in Missouri. However, at least one Republican lawmaker in the state says that the issue isn't over; State Senator Ryan Silvey says he has the support for an expansion proposal. Gov. Jay Nixon (D) favors expanding Medicaid.

  • Nebraska: In May 2013, Republicans in the Legislature filibustered the Medicaid expansion, which was also opposed by then-Gov. Dave Heineman (R). The expansion could have extended Medicaid coverage to up to 80,000 residents. Another—more conservative—expansion act (LB 887) was introduced January 14, 2014, received a majority vote, but failed to meet the 33 votes needed to jump the filibuster and was indefinitely postponed onApril 17, 2014.

  • North Carolina: In 2013, the state's General Assembly passed a bill banning Medicaid expansion, but in October Gov. Pat McCrory (R) in October 2014 said that he would consider expanding Medicaid to an estimated 500,000 state residents. Specifically, he said, "I'm also trying to figure out what to do with Medicaid and whether to expand that or not, because the feds are offering all this money, and yet I’ve got to be concerned with the bureaucracy that could be grown because of that." Outgoing speaker Thom Tillis (R) also changed positions and voiced support to reexamine the issue.

  • Oklahoma: Gov. Mary Fallin (R) rejected the Medicaid expansion in November 2012 and has not proposed an alternate model for expanding insurance coverage for low-income state residents.

  • South Carolina: On March 12, 2013, the state House Republican majority rejected an expansion of Medicaid, opting instead to allocate $80 million in state and federal funding in South Carolina's budget for a hospital incentive payment program. Gov. Nikki Haley (R) announced in July 2012 that she opposes expansion.

  • South Dakota: In an interview with the Associated Press on Oct. 25, 2013, Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) said he is leaning against expanding Medicaid. He said he will ask the Legislature to hold off on any Medicaid expansion plans until there is more evidence on how the ACA is working nationally.

  • Texas: Gov. Rick Perry (R) and the Republican majority in the state Legislature have unanimously rejected the Medicaid expansion, although Democrats have introduced legislation (HB 3791) that would establish a strategy to expand Medicaid. The bill is pending in the House.

  • Virginia: Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) has pushed for Medicaid expansion in Virginia, but the Virginia Legislature in June 2014 passed a budget that did not include expansion. In December 2014, McAuliffe presented a budget proposal that included an expansion provision, but lawmakers are not expected to accept the provision.

  • Wisconsin: Republican Governor Matt Mead originally opposed any expansion of Medicaid, and had even been among a group of Republican governors who sued the federal government over Obamacare.  Failure to expand Medicaid would mean "rejecting $120 million dollars meant for Wyoming."















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