Missouri Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion 

Missouri becomes the 38th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid expansion, which states have the option of adopting as part of the Affordable Care Act, extends eligibility in the program to individuals and families with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis estimated that the state would save $39 million a year by eliminating the need for other state  health spending. A majority of voters in Missouri approved creating a state constitutional amendment that will open Medicaid eligibility to include healthy adults starting July 1, 2021.

Missouri joins five other mostly conservative states that have passed Medicaid expansion by majority vote via ballot initiatives. The people have spoken.  In June, Oklahoma voters approved expansion. The remaining 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid are Republican-leaning states in the South.