skip to main content

Monday, May 29, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

Advocates call for a climate peace clause in U.S.-E.U. trade talks, negotiations yield a tentative debt ceiling deal, an Idaho case unravels federal water protections, and a wet spring eases Iowa's drought.

play newscast audioPlay

Gold Star families gather to remember loved ones on Memorial Day, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House will vote on a debt ceiling bill this week and America's mayors lay out their strategies for summertime public safety.

play newscast audioPlay

The growing number of "maternity care deserts" makes having a baby increasingly dangerous for rural Americans, a Colorado project is connecting neighbor to neighbor in an effort to help those suffering with mental health issues, and a school district in Maine is using teletherapy to tackle a similar challenge.

Report: Medicaid Expansion Would Help 27,000 KY Vets and Families

play audio
Play

Wednesday, February 20, 2013   

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Thousands of veterans without insurance or only Veterans Administration coverage stand to benefit if Kentucky expands Medicaid, according to a report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

About 22,000 veterans in the state are without health insurance. The center's executive director, Jason Bailey, said nearly 11,000 of them would be covered if the governor approves expansion.

"These are Kentuckians that we see every day, that have put their lives on the line for the rest of us," he said, "and they would have the dignity and security of health coverage if the state moved forward."

Nationwide, 1.3 million veterans don't have health insurance, according to the report.

Gov. Steve Beshear has not made a decision on expansion yet, placing Kentucky among 16 undecided states. So far, 22 states have decided to expand their Medicaid programs, while 13 have opted not to.

Part of the Affordable Care Act extends Medicaid eligibility to people at 138 percent of the federal poverty line. The federal government would cover the expansion cost in the first three years. After that, the state has to foot 10 percent of the bill. That's still what Bailey called "a good deal."

"Around 300,000 Kentuckians would get health insurance - so, we'd be healthier," Bailey said. "There would be federal dollars pouring into the state that will provide jobs for health-care providers. It's just a win-win all around."

Beshear says he's still weighing the cost of expansion. Some Republican lawmakers have told him Kentucky can't afford it. Bailey said he hopes the number of veterans who would be helped will "open up" the debate on Medicaid expansion.

"Potentially make it be a less ideological conversation and a more practical one," he said. "We have lots of Kentuckians that don't have health insurance, and they're real people - and in this instance, they're veterans."

Beyond helping 11,000 veterans who currently have no health insurance, the report claims 7,000 family members would also receive coverage, along with 9,000 veterans who have only VA services.

The full report is online at kypolicy.us.


get more stories like this via email

A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court means ephemeral streams, such as this one in the mountains east of San Diego, are no longer protected by the Waters of the United States rule. (Chris Hunkeler/Flickr)

Environment

play sound

The U.S. Supreme Court has gutted federal protections for much of the country's wetlands. The court found that the Waters of the United States rule…


Environment

play sound

Environmental advocates say the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a major blow to the Clean Water Act and to Maine's ability to protect some of its most …

Environment

play sound

A U.S. Supreme Court case that began in Idaho has weakened protections across the nation under the Clean Water Act. The justices on Thursday handed …


As workers try to move forward from the pandemic's aftereffects, labor leaders, including the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, say protections and stronger benefits should help get their careers back on track. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota legislators adopted a lot of major policies in this year's session, including actions to support workers in many different fields. State …

Environment

play sound

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has published its annual ParkScore rankings, and some area cities are high on the list. Washington, D.C.…

The "Water Year" typically starts on Oct. 1, and represents the time when new water Iowa receives goes to help the next year's growing season. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

Health and Wellness

play sound

As the opioid epidemic continues to take its toll, a Virginia group is working to keep people safe. The Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition in Roanoke …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Extreme heat kills about 700 people in the United States each year, but a new toolkit and weather alerts can protect folks in Texas and beyond…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021