COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a recent letter, Gov. Henry McMaster asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to approve a request that would allow parents making between 67% and 100% of the federal poverty level to access Medicaid if they prove they are working or in school. The following is a statement from Beth Johnson, regional government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in South Carolina:
“We appreciate the Governor’s attempt to remedy the health care coverage crisis in South Carolina. However, we urge him to consider the realities of his proposal, which would limit eligibility and access to care for some of the most vulnerable South Carolinians, add administrative burdens and cost to state government and challenge cancer patients when they are facing the fight of their lives. It would also cost the state more money to cover less people than traditional Medicaid expansion.
“We know from the Governor’s similar proposal in 2019, only 32,000 people would be eligible to benefit, while more than 350,000 people would benefit from Medicaid expansion, which promotes government efficiency, lowers the uninsured rate, and provides more working people access to affordable health care.
“The Governor’s proposal makes South Carolina miss out on billions of dollars in federal funding, sending our hard-earned tax dollars instead to pay for people’s health care in 40 other states like North Carolina and New York.
“We know from our neighbors in Georgia that Gov. McMaster’s proposal will not work, since only 7% of the eligible people have been able to enroll in that state’s similar program. Meanwhile, Georgia’s Pathways program costs the state nearly $2,500 per person, while Medicaid expansion would cost the state less than $500 per person.
“The majority of people who live in the coverage gap already work, like those in South Carolina’s vital hospitality and tourism industries. Medicaid expansion would help these industries grow by giving workers access to health insurance without barriers so they can stay healthy and keep the economy moving.”