In Kansas, The Kansas Health Institute recently reported that more than 10,000 Kansans applied or Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) in January. That is an increase of 20% over the monthly average since the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplace was launched.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services reported 10,022 people submitted applications. 8,545 were eligible for Medicaid and 740 for CHIP.
Medicaid and CHIP are lumped together in Kansas under the name KanCare.
In Texas, more than 40 statewide health care and religious organization are working together to educate Texans who have fallen into the state’s coverage gap on health plans available through the Affordable Care Act.
The coalition is called Cover Texas Now. The group began a new grassroots political campaign, “Texas Left Me Out,” to mobilize residents who don’t’ make enough money to qualify for tax credit on health insurance, and don’t qualify for Medicaid according to The Texas Tribune.
Stories are being collected from those who are in this gap, with the hope of motivating them to become more politically engaged. Cover Texas Now has also given the legislature a letter making them aware of the campaign and its mission.
