Mandate on healthcare, impoverished people, and no extension on Medicaid

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

Hi,

First off, I really think we needed the mandated healthcare law. That being said, I live in a state that only offers Medicaid to adults with children; children under age 19; adults with disabilities and adults older than 65. Part of The Healthcare Act is extending Medicaid to impoverished people by 2014. This has been ruled by The Supreme Court as something that is not mandatory; therefore, states do not have to participate. I don't think my state is going to participate. So, what happens when there is a mandate on healthcare and you have this whole group of people over age 19 (or 26 for people on parents' insurance) and under 65 that are mandated to have health insurance and they don't have the money for it. Are they creating a program for that? I think it would be irresponsible on the state's part to only give Medicaid to people who have children when the healthcare law is fully enforced because that is encouraging irresponsibility on the citizen's part.

Is there anyone who can better explain what they are going to do if a state opts out?

[NayRN]

There is also something in there about government subsidies for insurance premiums for people who can't afford them. Not sure how that is going to work or what income limits will be to qualify, but I assume this is for the ones who will not qualify for medicaid.