Medicaid expansion in Texas is the answer to the healthcare coverage gap

The Texas GOP legislature has yet again refused to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid, which means nearly 400,000 Texans have no access to even the most basic healthcare services, leading to premature deaths. Medicaid expansion in Texas would provide coverage to an additional 1.8 million people that do not currently have health insurance.

Expanding Medicaid isn’t just smart policy; it’s smart business. This should not be about politics or ideology; it’s about ensuring that everyone has access to affordable health care services when they need them most. A lack of resources can cause many low-income Texans to fall into what’s known as a coverage gap. Those who do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford health insurance on their own are left without any options but to go to the emergency room. Not expanding Medicaid makes little economic sense either. Medicaid expansion would fill a coverage gap, lower costs, and reduce emergency room crowding throughout Texas. Because Texas GOP politicians don’t want to give up their leverage against Obamacare, thousands of Texans are dying unnecessarily every year — that can’t continue.

The Affordable Care Act would have expanded Medicaid coverage to more individuals, but the Texas GOP legislature said it would not implement the program. Since the Texas GOP failed to act, taxpayers are forced to pay for expensive emergency services at hospitals rather than preventive care at primary care facilities. Every year, dollars that could be going towards Medicaid expansion instead cover uncompensated care at hospitals.

The Texas legislature should expand Medicaid for two reasons: (1) it will help ensure low-income residents have access to affordable health care; (2) it will prevent people from falling into deeper poverty due to medical debt. We have many options, but there should never be a choice between our health and putting food on the table. The GOP of Texas needs to step up and provide Texans with what they need: Medicaid expansion.