To: The Nebraska State House, The Nebraska State Senate, and Governor Pete Ricketts
Pass Medicaid expansion in Nebraska in 2016
Passing Medicaid expansion in Nebraska means that 77,000 more Nebraskans will have health care. It will save 67-212 lives a year. Medicaid expansion will create jobs, which will create revenue in the form of income tax and sales tax so Nebraska's contribution (10% in 2020 and on) will be covered by this increase in revenue. Do the right thing and expand Medicaid.
Why is this important?
Everyone has an inherent right to medical care. Expanding Medicaid in Nebraska will provide 77,000 Nebraskans who currently have no medical insurance with medical insurance. It will save 67-212 lives per year. It will ensure that rural hospitals don't close because they have too much bad debt from charity cases (some rural hospitals have closed in states that haven't yet expanded Medicaid). Expanding Medicaid will create jobs and that will result in more income taxes and sales taxes paid. This increase in revenue will pay for Nebraska's share of the expansion (10% in 2020 and on). Expanding Medicaid will mean fewer businesses will be fined for not providing their workers with health insurance. Fewer people will declare bankruptcy, which will also be good for businesses. It makes sense on all fronts.