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Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap Will Improve Health and Well-Being for 2.2 Million Americans While Increasing Their Economic Security

Key Points:
Closing the Medicaid coverage gap would help insure 2.2 million Americans in the remaining 11 states that failed to expand Medicaid
Expanding coverage will support economic growth by creating jobs, increasing financial stability and shoring up vital local hospital systems

Closing the Medicaid coverage gap would provide health coverage for over 2.2 million low-income Americans who are currently ineligible for any federal health insurance supports. These families live in the 11 states where Republican state officials have refused to accept generous federal funding to expand their state Medicaid programs to cover the larger low-income population offered coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

This expansion would narrow racial gaps in health access while also delivering benefits to a broad and diverse low-income population. Analyses of recent and historical coverage expansions for low-income families show that the policy saves lives, improves peoples’ health, supports local hospital systems and is a strong investment in long-run socioeconomic well-being.

Read the full brief here.