medicaid uninsured 081220

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Still Waiting for That Trump Health Plan
President Donald Trump keeps promising a comprehensive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. And he keeps not delivering. Meanwhile, members of Congress and White House officials seem unable to agree on a new COVID-19 relief bill. And Missouri becomes the sixth state where voters approved a Medicaid expansion ballot measure. Tami Luhby of CNN, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss this and more. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Missouri Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion Despite GOP Resistance
By Alex Smith, KCUR Missouri is the sixth state to use a ballot initiative to extend Medicaid eligibility. Most of the remaining states that have not expanded Medicaid are Republican-leaning states in the South.

Medicaid Mystery: Millions of Enrollees Haven’t Materialized in California
By Rachel Bluth and Angela Hart State officials had projected that 2 million Californians would join Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for low-income people, by July because of the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19. Yet enrollment has barely budged, and why is unclear.

Administration Eases Rules to Give Laid-Off Workers More Time to Sign Up for COBRA
By Michelle Andrews Under the federal COBRA law, people who lose health coverage because of a layoff or a reduction in their hours generally have 60 days to decide whether to pay to maintain that coverage. But under new regulations, the clock won’t start ticking until the government says the coronavirus national emergency is over, and then consumers will have 120 days to act.

Missourians to Vote on Medicaid Expansion as Crisis Leaves Millions Without Insurance
By Cara Anthony Around the country, Medicaid enrollment is up as people who have lost jobs during the pandemic seek health insurance. Expanding eligibility for Missouri’s program, which could help thousands of recently unemployed residents, will be on the ballot Tuesday.

Medi-Cal Agency’s New Head Wants to Tackle Disparities and Racism
By Samantha Young Will Lightbourne, the new director of the California Department of Health Care Services, says government must address the racial disparities laid bare by COVID-19 and improve care for the state’s most vulnerable residents.

The COVID-19 Downturn Triggers Jump in Medicaid Enrollment
By Phil Galewitz For the first time since 2017, Medicaid enrollment has begun increasing again, but not by as much as many analysts expected.

In Texas, More People Are Losing Their Health Insurance as COVID Cases Climb
By Ashley Lopez, KUT During the pandemic, nearly 700,000 additional Texans have lost health insurance. The Lone Star State already had more uninsured people than any other. It has given people with COVID symptoms pause before seeking medical care.

Biden Is Right. Pay for Home Health Workers Is Paltry.
By Stephanie Stapleton These workers rely on public assistance — and, sometimes, a side gig to get by.