150 veterans send letter to governor ivey and alabama legislature
Veterans across Alabama released a joint letter Thursday, November 11th 2021 calling on Gov. Kay Ivey and the legislature to expand Medicaid coverage immediately for veterans and their family members. The letter – signed by more than 150 Alabama veterans from multiple services – asks for support for Alabama’s veteran community, many of whom lack consistent, quality and affordable health insurance.
If Alabama expanded Medicaid, approximately 5,000 veterans and 8,000 family members would gain access to affordable health care. Without expansion, those Alabamians fall into the coverage gap because they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid under the state’s stringent eligibility limits but not enough to qualify for subsidized marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act.
The letter signed by 150 Alabama military veterans calling for immediate Medicaid expansion was sent to Ivey and legislators on Wednesday. It appears in its entirety below.
Medicaid expansion WOULD INCREASE HEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALABAMA VETERANS
It’s a common misconception that people who serve in the U.S. military automatically receive lifetime eligibility for health coverage and other benefits. In reality, veterans’ health benefits depend on their length of service, military classification, type of discharge and other factors. Treatment for service-connected conditions has no time-of-service requirement, but other health benefits do.
Active-duty service members and their families receive health coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Most also receive “bridge” health insurance coverage in the 180 days before and after their active-duty service. But many Alabama veterans — including many National Guard and Reserve members — return home without military health care for the long term. For the 13,000 Alabama veterans and adult family members who have no military health insurance and can’t afford private plans, the consequences can be dire.
Returning to civilian life can be challenging enough without the added burden of being uninsured. Alabama can show its respect for veterans by giving them the health security they need.
Research shows that in states that expanded Medicaid, coverage among veterans has increased and their uninsured rate has fallen. Research also shows that Medicaid expansion has had a positive impact on access to and utilization of care among the low-income population and that nonelderly veterans with Medicaid coverage fare better on measures of access and utilization than those who are uninsured.
Medicaid expansion is particularly important for veterans experiencing homelessness who often lack access to other sources of coverage and have high rates of chronic health conditions, disabilities, mental health issues, and alcohol or substance use disorders.
MAKE A CHANGE: Sign the letter to governor ivey
Alabama should show its respect for veterans by giving them the health security they need through Medicaid expansion. This decision is in the hands of Governor Kay Ivey and our elected representatives in Montgomery. They need to hear from veterans like you because your voice matters to them. Please consider signing on to this letter in support of Medicaid expansion.
Additional resources
2018 Rand journal article (data from 2013-2015): "Among low-income nonelderly veterans, Medicaid expansion increased enrollment in Medicaid by 8.4 percentage points relative to similar veterans in non-expansion states."
Kaiser Family Foundation analysis on the impact of Medicaid expansion for veterans
California Fact Sheet found that “of the 1.75 million receiving Medicaid, about 340,000 veterans nationally receive coverage through the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In those states that expanded Medicaid (which includes California), health care coverage for veterans increased by 42%."
RFNC Medicaid Report found that "States that expanded Medicaid showed the largest growth in insured veterans, especially low-income and elderly veterans" [2017 report] AND"In Kentucky, after expansion, the number of veterans covered by Medicaid increased by 65 percent." [2017 report]