CQ Roll Call

By: Misty Williams

The uninsured rate for poor Americans living in rural areas dropped sharply in states that expanded Medicaid under the 2010 health care law, compared with those that rejected expansion, a new study finds. In rural areas and small towns in expansion states, the uninsured rate for low-income adults stood at 16 percent in 2015 through 2016, down from 35 percent in 2008-2009. That’s compared with a decline in the uninsured rate of 38 percent to 32 percent in non-Medicaid expansion states during the same period, according to a Georgetown University report released Tuesday.

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“Our report underscores that Medicaid expansion is essential for states to see sharp reductions in their uninsured rates – especially in rural areas,” said Joan Alker, executive director of Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families. “Improved coverage rates typically translate into a more stable health care system, which is especially important for rural areas and small towns where provider shortages are all too common.”

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