Advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Cover Alabama flooded the Statehouse Tuesday to urge state lawmakers to expand Medicaid in the state.
Alabama is one of just 10 states that has not yet expanded Medicaid coverage, and advocates said the Medicaid gap can be deadly.
For Gianna George, living in the Medicaid gap led her to the ICU with stroke-level blood pressure.
“I called Medicaid and they told me that because I make more than $295 a month that I didn’t qualify,” George said. “And then I called the Marketplace and I don’t make enough to get an insurance plan, so what am I supposed to do?
“… I stopped taking my medicine back last year because it was making me sick, but I was scared to go back to the doctor to get it changed because I thought they would make me pay for it.”
George ended up in the ICU with the catastrophic blood pressure just a month after turning 30.
Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director for Alabama Arise, said about 200,000 Alabamians are facing similar realities in Alabama’s coverage gap.
“They work hard, taking care of our children, serving our food, stocking our grocery store shelves—but they can’t afford to see a doctor when they’re sick and when they can’t get the care they need, it doesn’t just hurt them, it hurts all of us.”
In addition to the human toll on the individuals caught in the gap, Smith explained that when those individuals forego preventive checkups, they end up with more expensive emergencies that strain hospitals and drive up costs for everyone.
“Expanding Medicaid is a simple, effective solution that would strengthen our health care system for everyone, and we already know that Medicaid works right now,” Smith said. “Alabama’s Medicaid program provides essential health care to more than 1 million people including half of all children in our state, seniors in nursing homes and people with disabilities. It keeps rural hospitals open, supports rural health care and ensures that vulnerable families don’t fall through the cracks. Medicaid is a lifeline, but too many hard-working adults are left out simply because our state has not expanded the program.”
Medicaid expansion is a perennial topic in the Alabama Legislature, but no plans have yet gained political traction in the state.
Jane Adams, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Alabama, also called on lawmakers to oppose a bill floating the possibility of farm bureau health plans in the state.
“These farm bureau health plans are nothing more than snake oil,” Adams said. “They are selling you something that might look good and shiny, but what you end up with is a bad health plan that won’t cover you when you’re sick. Lawmakers need to reject these proposals and actually protect Alabamians and consumers and make sure they get quality health insurance instead of a junk plan that won’t cover them when they need it.”
The farm bureau plans are targeted at middle-class families that don’t get subsidies for health insurance but don’t have employer-provided health plans. But the plans would not be regulated the same way as other health insurance providers and would not fall under the Department of Insurance.
Adams said advocates expect that bill to come before committee for the first time next week.
