Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Kansas is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid in the more than a decade since the Affordable Care Act took effect, and it has remained one of our readers’ top issues every election cycle since. Projections suggest expanding Medicaid would allow roughly 150,000 Kansans who can’t currently afford health coverage to be insured. Do you support expanding Medicaid in Kansas? Why or why not?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 9
Beverly Gossage (Republican, incumbent)
Having worked in health care policy for 20 years and as health insurance agent who helps people find affordable coverage, I can testify to the perils of pursuing Medicaid expansion.
Most think it means the expansion of services to current recipients, who the program is intended to help. In fact, it means adding an entire new population of able-bodied adults to then receive government assistance, which would mean they are competing for coveted appointments with Medicaid doctors, crowding out those who need services now.
Able-bodied individuals can already obtain a private plan for free or inexpensively on the exchange, or simply obtain employment that covers them. If we add them to Medicaid, it would essentially kick them off private insurance.
The reason is that per federal law, individuals with modest incomes who live in Medicaid expansion states are ineligible for subsidies.
For those reasons, a much better route is to keep able-bodied adults on affordable private plans.
Meanwhile, we did vote to improve Medicaid for current recipients by shrinking wait lists and increasing reimbursement rates to providers. That helps those who need Medicaid to get the care they need while preserving the system for those it was designed to help.
Norman Mallicoat (Democratic)
I support the findings of the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Kansas Institute and support Medicaid expansion..Kansas being one of only 10 states that have not taken advantage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to expand Medicaid should inform the voter this is more about MAGA politics than actual cost benefit analysis to the state and the states neediest population.
Many in the Kansas legislature are willing to deny health benefits to 150,000 Kansans just to prove their loyalty to their own tribe.
