In the wake of the Michigan Legislature’s approval of a plan to expand its Medicaid program to include an estimated 470,000 low-income residents, some observers are questioning whether the Obama administration will OK the state’s request to require enrollees to pay up to 5% of their income for cost-sharing.
The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate narrowly approved a measure last week to expand the state’s Medicaid program to include all childless adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty line, or $15,500 for an individual; the state House of Representatives approved the Senate version today. Five percent of a $15,500 income is nearly $800, which experts say is a lot of money for someone at that income level. Read more here.