Enrollment for Louisiana's new Medicaid enrollment plan begins today for people who qualify under new, increased income limits set for the health care program. Louisiana is the first state to receive approval from the government to link enrollment with eligibility to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps.

Theadvocate.com reports that "Adults who make below 138 percent of federal poverty level — about $33,500 a year for a family of four or $16,200 for a single adult — are among the newly-eligible population."

It's estimated that near 300,000 Louisiana residents, mainly the working poor, will now be eligible to receive health insurance through Medicaid as a result of the expansion.

When I first read this, my first thought that this will now cost Louisiana more money. In actually, it seems it will save us money, and a bunch of it.

Theadvocate.com says Louisiana will actually "save $677 million in its first five years of expanded coverage and $1 billion over the next decade because of the enhanced federal rates for health care."

So, hardworking folks who need health insurance can now be covered, and it's going to save Louisiana money? Can it be too good to be true?

For more on this story, head over to theadvocate.com.

 

 

More From 97.3 The Dawg