Learn How To Apply For Medicaid Assistance With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Medicaid Assistance With Our Guide

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“What is the expansion of Medicaid in California?” is a common question from prospective applicants. In 2012, the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, also known as the ACA Medicaid expansion or the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, was offered to the state of California. The ACA Medicaid expansion was also offered to every other state in the nation with the intention of helping millions of Americans obtain access to affordable health coverage. The Obamacare Medicaid expansion details mainly change the eligibility requirements for the Medicaid program. Before the Medicaid expansion, the guidelines required applicants to meet a qualifying condition, such as having dependants or having a disability. The Affordable Care Act Medicaid eligibility guidelines are much simpler, with income being the only determining factor for those who do not qualify based on these traditional criteria. Before submitting a CA Affordable Care Act Medicaid application, you can review the information below to learn more about how the expansion affects you and your state.

Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in California

Many health care petitioners ask “What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in California?”, as the details of the expansion can seem complex at first. The Obamacare Medicaid expansion does not require every state to participate, so each state was given the choice of accepting the expansion or opting out of it. The District of Columbia and 31 states, including California, have decided to go forward with the expansion of Medicaid. While the ACA Medicaid expansion costs to the states is free for the first few years, states that accept the expansion are ultimately required to contribute some funding to cover the expansion. Because the ACA expansion of Medicaid would allow more people to receive public benefits, the state would need to use more funds to keep the program in operation. Ultimately, officials decided that the costs of the ACA Medicaid expansion in CA would not outweigh the benefits of insuring many more California residents. The expansion went into effect in 2014.

What does choosing the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for California?

The California Obamacare expansion of Medicaid will help more low-income individuals receive health benefits. Before the implementation of the Medicaid expansion, Medi-Cal (the Medicaid program in California) did not provide health insurance benefits to low-income, non-senior adults without children or a qualifying condition such as disability. With the ACA expansion, any adult with a household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level can apply. The services the program covers will not change, as those enrolled in Medicaid will still have access to the same mandatory and optional Medicaid coverage. This will keep more Californians in good health, as it will be more affordable for those enrolled in the program to seek medical services. So far, the changed Medicaid expansion eligibility has helped the Medi-Cal program serve more people. Since the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, over four million people have joined the program. The CA expansion of Medicaid is predicted to stay in effect until lawmakers are required to renew the expansion or change the program. While changes may be made to the program, none have been made thus far.

Note: The Affordable Care Act expansion in California serves adults between 19 and 64 years of age who meet income qualifications. Children, senior citizens and those with a disability may have different eligibility requirements and application processes for their particular Medicaid program. To learn more about guidelines for Medicaid, you can download our complimentary guide today.

Will the ACA Medicaid Expansion allow me to enroll in Medicaid?

The California ACA Medicaid application is available to anyone in California. However, submitting a CA Affordable Care Act Medicaid application does not guarantee that you will be accepted into the program. ACA Medicaid expansion details regarding how to apply will be on the application. Enrollment in the program is open all year around. If someone applying for Medicaid benefits through California’s Medicaid program is denied, he or she can take steps to be enrolled in another medical assistance program. There are other options as not all state-provided medical benefits are a part of Medicaid. For example, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is an option for children and families who do not meet Medicaid qualifications.