TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Advocates for the poor are making their case that New Jersey should expand the ranks of people eligible for Medicaid in what could be the next big decision on how the federal health insurance overhaul plays out in New Jersey.
They say it will save state taxpayers money and give far more low-income people health coverage. But doctors are apprehensive, and hospitals are not pushing hard for the change, which some anti-big government groups oppose deeply.
Gov. Chris Christie has not said whether he's willing to let more people be eligible for Medicaid. But many observers expect he'll announce his decision by late February, when he is scheduled to present his state budget proposal. A spokesman for Christie did not comment for this article.
The decision is a big one for each state government to make under President Barack Obama's 2010 overhaul of health insurance laws. Originally, states were going to be required to expand Medicaid, the joint state-federal insurance programs for low-income people, or face penalties.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Critical BenefitsPRO information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
- Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events
- Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
