Legislature funds health insurance for Kentuckians who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too

Legislature funds health insurance for Kentuckians who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to buy private coverage


Kentucky is taking advantage of a little-used provision of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to create a health-insurance plan for Kentuckians who make too much to qualify for free Medicaid coverage but not enough to pay for private insurance. The policy, known as the basic health program, was included in the ACA, but only Minnesota and New York took advantage of it. Kentucky and Oregon are now pursuing this option, Megan Messerly reports for Politico.

The move comes "amid growing concern that the looming end of the Covid-19 public health emergency could result in millions of people being kicked off Medicaid and fear that Obamacare subsidies that helped millions of people buy coverage will expire at the end of 2022," Messerly writes.

The Kentucky General Assembly, led by supermajorities Republicans, approved $4.5 million in state funds and $4.5 million in federal funds in the 2022-24 state budget to set up the program.

Messerly reports that at least 37,000 Kentuckians will be eligible to enroll in the program's plans as soon as next year.

A basic health program offers low-cost insurance for people who make up to twice the federal poverty level – about $55,000 for a family of four – and do not qualify for Medicaid. New York and Minnesota offer plans with little or no premiums, co-pays or deductibles.

Read more: https://forwardky.com/legislature-funds-health-insurance-for-kentuckians-who-make-too-much-to-qualify-for-medicaid-but-too-little-to-buy-private-coverage/