INSTITUTE INDEX: Indicting the Medicaid expansion rejectionists

By Sue Sturgis / March 26, 2015

At a press conference at the North Carolina General Assembly, NC NAACP Executive Director Michelle Laws announces a "People's Grand Jury" indictment of state leaders for refusing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. (Image is a still from a Fusion Films video.)

Date on which a "People's Grand Jury" in North Carolina handed down a symbolic indictment of Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders for rejecting additional federal money to expand Medicaid to more lower-income residents under the Affordable Care Act: 3/23/2015

Number of provisions of the North Carolina constitution the indictment charges state leaders with violating: 3

Days after the indictment was announced that Democrats in the North Carolina House and Senate filed a bill to expand Medicaid coverage under the ACA: 1

Estimated number of uninsured North Carolinians who would be able to receive coverage under Medicaid expansion, which a U.S. Supreme Court decision made optional: 500,000

Percent of uninsured adults in North Carolina that would benefit from closing the coverage gap who are working: 59

In the U.S. overall: 57

Number of years ago this week that President Obama signed the ACA into law: 5

Rank of Obamacare among U.S. policies that have expanded medical insurance fastest since Medicare and Medicaid were created in 1965: 1

Because of the ACA, number of U.S. residents now covered who were previously uninsured: 16.4 million

Percent of U.S. residents who did not have health insurance two years ago: 20.3

Percent who do not have health insurance today: 13.2

Number of states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA: 28

Number of those states that are in the South: 3*

Number of states that are currently discussing Medicaid expansion: 6

Number of those states that are in the South: 2**

Amount that Arkansas expects to save through fiscal year 2021 as a result of expanding Medicaid: $370 million

Amount Kentucky expects to save over the same period because of Medicaid expansion: $820 million

Showing the stark partisan divide over the ACA, number of Republicans in Congress who voted for the law: 0

Number of times since then that House Republicans have voted to repeal the law: more than 50

* Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia.
** Florida and Tennessee.

(Click on figure to go to source.)

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