Explaining Health Care Reform: Questions About Health Insurance Subsidies

Health insurance is expensive and can be difficult to afford for people with lower or moderate incomes. In response, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides sliding-scale subsidies that lower premiums and insurers offer plans with reduced out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for eligible individuals. This brief provides an overview of the financial assistance provided under the ACA […]

Medicaid 101 | KFF

Medicaid is an entitlement, meaning individuals who meet eligibility requirements are guaranteed coverage. The federal government sets minimum eligibility standards, but states may expand coverage beyond these minimum requirements.  Federal minimum eligibility levels for children and pregnant women are set at 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL) ($35,630 for a family of 3 in […]

New Incentive for States to Adopt the ACA Medicaid Expansion: Implications for State Spending

As of February 2021, 12 states have not adopted the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision to expand Medicaid to adults with incomes through 138% of poverty. Millions of people in these states remain without an affordable coverage option. Currently, the federal government covers 90% of the cost of Medicaid coverage for adults covered through the […]