What is Medicaid expansion?

Medicaid expansion refers to the provision established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that enables states to broaden their Medicaid programs. This expansion allows more low-income individuals and families to become eligible for Medicaid by raising the income threshold and simplifying enrollment processes. The goal of Medicaid expansion is to increase access to healthcare for previously uninsured individuals, particularly those who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance.

This provision had significant implications for healthcare access, particularly in states that chose to implement it, resulting in millions of additional people gaining coverage. It is important to highlight that Medicaid expansion is an option for states, meaning they have the choice to participate rather than being mandated to do so.

The other options do not accurately represent Medicaid expansion, as a decrease in funding does not enhance eligibility, children’s health insurance programs such as CHIP are separate from Medicaid, and there is no requirement for all states to participate in the expansion. Thus, option B correctly captures the essence and purpose of Medicaid expansion within the framework of the ACA.