Northwest Iowa — With the election of Donald Trump, and his call for the repeal of ObamaCare, it’s not clear what may happen to low income northwest Iowans who are now covered by Medicaid.
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says he expects the federal government to quickly repeal the Affordable Care Act once Trump takes office January 20th.
However, Branstad says those who are on Medicaid due to ObamaCare are unlikely to completely lose coverage.
The Affordable Care Act offered states additional federal funds if more low-income citizens were enrolled in government-paid Medicaid. In Iowa, Branstad and legislators created an “Iowa Health and Wellness Plan.” Iowans with an annual income up to 133 percent of the poverty level have been eligible to enroll under the “Medicaid expansion” that’s part of ObamaCare.
Branstad suggests “more flexibility” for how states run the Medicaid program can yield cost savings. Some 145-thousand Iowans get their healthcare through Medicaid.
