Question 2: Medicaid Expansion

This approved measure expands Medicaid coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.

2 minute read

Results

This measure passed.

The gist

This referendum would expand Medicaid coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.

Ballot question

“Do you want Maine to expand Medicaid to provide healthcare coverage for qualified adults under age 65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which in 2017 means $16,643 for a single person and $22,412 for a family of two?”[^3]

Yes means

I am in favor of expanding Medicaid coverage.

No means

I don't want to expand Medicaid coverage.

Tell me more

For families with children or a disability this referendum would increase the threshold from 100% ($33,948 for a family of 4) of the federal poverty level to 138% ($46,848 for a family of 4) of the federal poverty level. A second part to this would be that adults with family incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level who do not have dependent children and are not “disabled” would now also qualify.

Follow the money

The money will be used to

Pay for health insurance[^3]

The money will be coming from

State General Fund appropriations $54.5 million per year[^3]
Federal funds of $525 million per year[^3]

Pros

The primary arguments for this referendum are:

More people (estimated at 70,000) will have health insurance[^3]
Estimated $27 million annual cost savings[^3]
Estimated 3,000 new jobs[^3]
It makes the state eligible for federal Affordable Care Act funds that would cover 94% of the cost in 2018 and 2019 and 90% of the cost in 2020 and later years[^1]

Cons

The primary arguments against this referendum are:

It's unclear where the additional $54.5 million in state funds will comes from[^3]