If Alabama were to expand its Medicaid program, more than 200,000 people in the state would gain health insurance.
That’s according to a new report from the Urban Institute, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. They find that Alabama would see a drop from just over 17% to just over 12% of the population uninsured. The state would also see an additional $1.5 billion each year in spending from the federal government.
Matthew Buettgens wrote the report for the Urban Institute. He says Alabama would be responsible for paying about $100 million more each year in additional Medicaid costs – but that’s not the full picture.
“There are several ways in which states can actually save money under Medicaid expansion to offset that cost. Most of the states that have already expanded have found that the state’s savings usually more than offset the additional cost.”
Alabama is one of 19 states that have not expanded Medicaid. The report finds if all 19 were to do so, 4.5 million people across the country would gain health coverage.