More than half of uninsured Americans will have health care options under Obamacare that cost less than $100 a month, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The analysis, which relies on census data, suggests that 23 million of the nation’s 41 million “eligible uninsured” will have access to these low-cost coverage options in their state exchanges or Medicaid.
It is based on the cost of health care per person — meaning families of four could still face insurance bills of several hundred dollars a month.
An additional 9.2 million would gain access to coverage under $100 a month if all 50 states expanded their Medicaid programs as the law permits, HHS concludes. The analysis assumes that 25 states will expand their programs, including Iowa and Arkansas, whose proposals to expand Medicaid using private insurance plans are still awaiting federal approval.
The Obama administration trumpeted the report as a sign that the president’s health law will provide affordable coverage to a broad swath of the nation’s uninsured when coverage goes live on Oct 1.
Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
