The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion aims to help more low-income individuals receive medical benefits. The expansion, which is abbreviated as the ACA Medicaid expansion and sometimes referred to as the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, was offered from the federal government to all 50 states and Washington D.C. The ACA Medicaid expansion is not a required program, and each state is given the ability to accept or opt out of the expansion plan. If widely instituted, thousands of people in each state would be eligible for coverage. Many residents find themselves asking, “What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in Missouri and did the state adopt the expansion?” when they first learn about the expansion plan. Learn about the ACA expansion and find out if an MO Affordable Care Act Medicaid application is available by reading the following topics on this page.

What is the expansion of Medicaid in Missouri?

In states that decline the ACA expansion of Medicaid, the existing enrollment requirements will stay in place, and nothing will change to the Medicaid program. Yet, if a state accepts the Medicaid expansion, simpler and more inclusive qualifications will be put in place. The Affordable Care Act Medicaid eligibility criteria will focus on income alone, allowing more people to join the program. In most states with the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, those who earn up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level will be able to enroll. Adults who have been in the foster care system as children will also be allowed to stay on Medicaid benefits until they are 26 years of age. You can download our complimentary guide to learn more about the ACA expansion of Medicaid.

Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

If you find yourself asking, “What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion?” you first must find out if your state accepted the expansion. Currently, the ACA expansion has been accepted by 31 states along with the District of Columbia. However, no Missouri Medicaid expansion exists, as the state did not accept the expansion. Deciding to choose or opt out of the Affordable Care Act expansion is something state lawmakers take seriously. The expansion of Medicaid can help the states that accept the program in many ways. However, the ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states has the potential to be too much for some states. The federal government does provide funding for the program, but each state will eventually have to fund part of the program. Additionally, the expansion of Medicaid comes with federal regulations that do not give the state the power to fit the program to its needs. The MO Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion has been passed up by state officials for these reasons.

What does opting out of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for Missouri?

The Obamacare Medicaid expansion details will not affect the state of Missouri. The ACA Medicaid eligibility requirements will not go into effect. The original Missouri eligibility guidelines regarding enrollment are still in place. Right now, low income children, families, pregnant women and seniors as well as those with disabilities are all eligible for Missouri Medicaid. Those with certain visual and hearing impairments or those who have certain types of cancer can also be covered by Medicaid in Missouri.

Anyone can fill out the Missouri Medicaid application, but not everyone can get in. If you are applying for Medicaid or any other benefits program, be sure to read the eligibility criteria before submitting an application. Please be aware that the Medicaid program is called MO HealthNet in Missouri. Medicaid is not a lifelong program, and most benefit recipients will be reevaluated after a 12-month period.

Will Missouri ever expand its Medicaid program?

It does not seem likely that the Missouri ACA Medicaid expansion plan will ever come to fruition, even though it is still possible. The Obamacare Medicaid expansion costs in MO are considered too high for most Missouri lawmakers to vote in favor of the expansion at this point. If the federal government ever appeals the Affordable Care Act, each state that accepted the expansion would have to fund the entire Medicaid expansion program, leading to possible financial hardships for the state. However, if Missouri officials become convinced that the Obamacare expansion would help their state, the expansion may be accepted in Missouri.

Note: If an applicant applies for Missouri Medicaid and is denied, he or she can take further action. Not all health benefits programs are managed by Medicaid. As such, those who cannot qualify for Medicaid can still apply for those programs.