Nebraska lawmakers will once again try to expand Medicaid coverage, but this time are taking a different approach.
Three Senators introduced the Transitional Health Insurance Plan bill on Tuesday. It would use federal Medicaid money to buy health insurance coverage for people who can’t get insurance through their employer. It would also pay part of the insured’s premium if the employer does offer coverage.
Senator John McCollister, one of the bill’s sponsors, says it based on a health insurance coverage model in Arkansas.
"We believe it’s a free market approach to health care. The money coming from federal sources will help pay premiums, deductibles, and copays. And it’s primarily based on the silver plan that most companies develop."
McCollister says 77,000 low-income Nebraskans currently don’t have health insurance coverage. He says those working poor could improve their health and economic outcomes if they had health insurance.
This is the fourth effort by Nebraska lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage.