BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Big changes that could end health insurance coverage for thousands of Belmont County residents are looming, according to Jeff Felton, Director of the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services.
Felton says the federal government is considering cutting the amount of funds it reimburses the state of Ohio for Medicaid from 90 percent to 64 percent. Ohio would be responsible for paying for this 26 percent cut, and Felton questions if the state can afford it.
If the cuts do come, Felton says this could leave 4,562 Belmont County residents in the Medicaid expansion group without health coverage. Felton says approximately 17,563 Belmont County residents rely on Medicaid. This is nearly 26 percent of the county’s residents.
Medicaid expansion lowered the income guidelines for Medicaid. Ohio is one of 41 states that adopted Medicaid expansion to people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, a decision approved by former Republican Governor John Kasich in 2013.
Felton says approximately one million Ohioans could lose health coverage. The proposed cuts would be nationwide, potentially leaving tens of millions of Americans without health insurance.
Medicaid is the federal health insurance program for low-income people, and Felton said the majority of people in the Medicaid expansion program are the working poor. He said many work 30 or more hours per week, often in low-wage jobs. In fact, 40 percent of people in Belmont County’s Medicaid expansion group are employed. The age range for this Medicaid group is 18 to 55.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal entity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that manages Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), will make the final decision on funding cuts that could result in people losing Medicaid coverage. Felton says there is no word on when they will make the decision.
Felton says people could be forced to choose between paying for prescriptions or essentials like food and rent. He predicts that people may not receive preventative healthcare and suffer illnesses that land them in the ER or hospital. He says many hospitals rely on Medicaid reimbursements and their budgets could take a hit.
Felton says the Trump administration is attempting to undo the Medicaid policies the Biden administration implemented and eliminate Obamacare (Affordable Care Act).
Earlier this month, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine officially requested that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approve work requirements of 20 hours per week for Medicaid recipients.
There are exemptions for Ohio’s Medicaid expansion work requirement:
- Be age 55 or older
- Be employed
- Be enrolled in school or a job training program
- Participate in a drug or alcohol recovery program
- Have a serious physical or mental health condition.
Felton says health insurance programs are not work programs.
Stay with River News Network for updates on this developing story.
