On Friday, Republican leaders once again rebuffed Gov. Laura Kelly’s efforts to find common ground in order to expand the state’s Medicaid health insurance program.
Kelly’s new plan, her sixth, even agreed to Republicans’ long-held demand that applicants prove they are gainfully employed.
Senate Majority Leader Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins were unmoved.
In fact, Masterson said the work requirement would now “push able-bodied adults off of private insurance and onto a government program that was intended for the truly vulnerable.”
Such a remark is disingenuous.
“The truly vulnerable,” have never been on their radar, by evidence of the fact that in Kansas health insurance for low-wage workers remains out of reach; far above the rates of the 40 other states that have expanded Medicaid.
Masterson and Hawkins also are playing stupid.
Both know full well that a more generous state plan would not lure people from their private plans. Those who would be taking advantage of the expansion rarely could afford health insurance is the first place.
The deception gets even uglier.
Hawkins and Masterson are threatening expansion would turn Kansas into a “welfare state.”
You know the stereotype: Perfectly able-bodied people who “choose” to live off of Uncle Sam rather than get a job.
The duo, in fact, are calling Kelly’s campaign to expand Medicaid, “the welfare express tour.”
Let’s set things straight.
More than 75% of the state’s uninsured are employed, oftentimes in multiple jobs. A major hurdle for these employees is that they aren’t provided enough hours on the job to qualify for a company’s health insurance plan.
They work as paraprofessionals in schools, at the counter at convenience stores, serve food at restaurants, etc.
