What Does Medicaid Have to Do With It?
Medicaid is a lifeline that covers nearly 75 million people nationwide, half of which are youth.
Medicaid is a federal-state partnership and a public health program that provides health coverage to people with lower incomes. More than 81 million people are covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers youth from lower and middle income families until the age of 19. Medicaid is also the largest payor of mental health services in the United States. Some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover more people; states that have chosen not to expand have left some people without any affordable coverage options. These people fall within what is known as the “Medicaid coverage gap.”
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Key Stats
12% of young adults are uninsured in states that have expanded Medicaid, compared to about 22% in non-expanded states. [source]
Medicaid expansion has benefited young adults with low incomes the MOST. [source]
2.2 million people do not have affordable coverage due to a lack of Medicaid expansion in their states. [source]
Access to Medicaid increases the chance for young adults with low incomes to have a personal doctor. [source]
Resources
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