Geography Could Affect U.S. Residents’ Coverage Options
Where U.S. residents live could affect their health care coverage eligibility, according to health care experts. Lower-income residents of states that oppose the Affordable Care Act or reject the ACA's Medicaid expansion could have difficulty obtaining health coverage. Sam Karp of the California HealthCare Foundation said, "We are going to have a new environment where consumers may be the victims of geography," adding, "If I'm a low-wage earner in California, I may qualify for Medicaid. With the exact same income in Texas, I may not qualify." CHCF publishes California Healthline.
- "Less Help for Uninsured in Many States as Obama Health Care Markets Open in a Divided Nation" (AP/Washington Post, 9/11).