Lawmakers have tried — and failed — three times to expand Medicaid coverage in Nebraska. Now, lawmakers have disclosed a new plan to cover the Medicaid gap population in the state, according to The Associated Press.
The potential bill "would use federal Medicaid dollars to buy private health coverage for residents without access to an employer-sponsored plan, and would pay a worker's share of premiums if an employer does offer coverage," according to the report. It would cover approximately 77,000 adults without children.
Sen. John McCollister (R) said the bill would boost Nebraska's economy by creating more healthcare jobs and helping the uninsured stay healthy.
Yet other senators remain unsure about the bill and its ultimate implications. "Every single conservative in the Legislature opposes Medicaid expansion," said Sen. Bill Kintner (R), according to the report.