Medicaid; require Governor and Division of Medicaid to negotiate to obtain federal waiver to expand Medicaid coverage.
Should House Bill 103 pass into law, it could significantly reform the state's Medicaid program by providing options for individuals to obtain private market-based health coverage. The bill proposes the establishment of a Mississippi Healthy Living Account for those enrollees, which would require contributions to health savings accounts based on income but ensures that enrollees are not penalized for inability to pay copays or premiums. The coverage duration is contingent on federal contributions remaining above 90%, reflecting a reliance on significant federal support for sustainability.
House Bill 103 aims to direct the Governor and the Division of Medicaid of Mississippi to engage in negotiations with the federal government to obtain a waiver for expanding Medicaid coverage under a new plan. This plan is intended to extend health coverage to individuals in working families who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance, specifically adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. If successful, the bill would amend Mississippi's Medicaid statutes to allow this expansion, enhancing access to healthcare for underinsured populations.
Critics of the bill might consider it problematic due to the inclusion of cost-sharing measures and the establishment of health savings accounts, which could impose additional financial burdens on low-income enrollees. Additionally, the requirement for healthy behavior participation to reduce costs may lead to disparities in access, particularly among vulnerable populations. The economics of utilizing dollars from the existing Medicaid structure to pay premiums for private insurance could also be contentious, with opposition from those who argue for strengthening public healthcare.