One of the craziest arguments I hear about Medicaid expansion is that we just can’t afford it. But here’s the thing: We are already paying for it, without reaping any of the benefits.
The federal government is willing to pay 90 percent of the cost. But where does that money come from? Us! We’ve already paid 90 percent of the cost in federal taxes, and they are willing to give it all back to us if we just cover that last 10 percent. Plus, all of that money gets spent in our local economy. Which means not only does it allow our vulnerable population access to medical care (huge moral win!), but it also has an economic multiplier effect with benefits such as high-quality medical jobs, higher household earnings, increased state tax revenue, lower unemployment and lower correctional costs.
State lawmakers claiming Medicaid expansion is a budget buster are ignoring data from states that have already expanded which show positive outcomes. The state forfeits hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding each year it delays full expansion. The question we should be asking is, how can we afford not to expand Medicaid?
Jessica Rawson, Kaysville
