Funds for medical care on the table in enormous political bet.
Republican governors who are set on their rejection of the health care reforms and the expansion of insurance coverage for millions of people across the United States in the lowest income brackets are risking serious struggles for their states if the party does not sweep the elections in November.
Five Republican governors have refused to take part in the Medicaid expansion.
The decision of the Supreme Court has given the states the decision as to whether or not they would provide the expanded program to their low income populations. Other Republican governors are currently considering taking a similar action as they are concerned over the financial burden that will be placed on their states.
These Republicans hope that the election will allow them to repeal the health care reforms completely.
It would require the party – which is currently in control of the House of Representatives – to also take control over the Senate and the White House. Without that, they would not have the power to reverse the changes from the health care reforms.
Analysts are now stating that if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act continues on long enough to go into full effect on January 1, 2014, trouble could follow. This is because that year is to be a significant one for governor elections. Those who are dead set against the health care reforms could take significant flack for denying their residents the medical coverage access that are worth billions to them as well as to the healthcare provider and insurance industries within the states.
The backlash from the Republican gamble could present serious repercussions for the 2016 presidential elections.
Republican governors currently rejecting the Medicaid health care reforms include Nikki Haley (South Carolina), Bobby Jindal (Louisiana), Rick Perry (Texas), Phil Bryant (Mississippi), and Rick Scott (Florida).
The Medicaid health care reforms in question would broaden the coverage availability to include families that have a household income of up to approximately $30,000, which would increase the number of covered individuals across the country by about 16 million people.
