South Carolina Loses $1 Billion

WLTX reported a disturbing fact. South Carolina is one of only 10 states that refuse to expand Medicaid by turning down $1 billion in federal funding.  At a launch event for Cover SC, advocates say South Carolina is sending tax dollars to other states including Georgia and North Carolina.

Over $1 billion would come to South Carolina in state funding under the ACA if Medicaid is expanded. Without expansion, South Carolinians are still paying federal taxes that fund Medicaid programs across the country. Expansion supporters say that’s only sending South Carolina tax dollars to other states.

If South Carolina decided to close the coverage gap today, over 340,000 individuals would be able to enroll in Medicaid and have a real option for healthcare. Families would be healthier, small businesses employing these low-wage individuals would have more productive workers, and the state and counties would save significant dollars from being relieved of the financial expense for providing healthcare to the incarcerated.

Health care and consumer advocates from Cover SC were joined by two North Carolina lawmakers calling on Republican politicians in South Carolina to close the health care coverage gap, where individuals fall who do not make enough to qualify for a government health care subsidy but make too much to qualify for Medicaid in the state right now.