Alongside the inflated bemoaning of the "huge tax increase" that is nothing more than a small penalty for not buying health insurance, we now hear about the Republican governors complaining about the expectation that Medicaid rolls will be expanded. Their complaint is the federal government mandates a program and then forces states to pay part of the cost.
Now we find out that the ACA will pay 100% of the cost of expanding Medicaid at the beginning, and then it will gradually fall to 90% in 10 years -- meaning even in the long run states will pay only 10%. And SCOTUS has now removed the penalty to states for not doing that -- so that now it is an option for each state.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me -- give medical coverage to 17 million more citizens and states only have to pay 10% of it at most. Yes, I know it comes at a time when states are strapped and having to fire teachers and police.
The Republicans also want to use it as a campaign bludgeon -- the big bad federal government dictating what they have to do.
This information has to be part of the Democrats'message -- how generous the federal plan is. Why didn't we know this? Following it as closely as I do -- admittedly, without having actually read the whole ACA text -- it does seem strange that none of the commentators has clarified this fact.
Ralph
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