Medicaid across U.S. a matter of when, not if, says federal health chief

The 4 million new people who signed up for insurance on the federal HealthCare.gov exchange for 2016 are one of several signs the open enrollment period that ended Sunday was a success, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said Friday.

Burwell’s comments marked her last press briefing to summarize an Affordable Care Act open enrollment. By this time next year, there will be Obamacare but no moreObama administration.

As further evidence of the administration’s successes, Burwell also pointed to her continued discussions with states considering expanding Medicaid to all of those earning too little to get subsidized ACA plans.

These talks, she says, show it’s not if states will expand Medicaid but rather “a question of when.”  She cited two main factors for this: The higher rate of hospital closures in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid and howmany people left without coverage are working. For the full article click here 

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