New legislation could impact health insurance in Kansas

Flag of Kansas health insurance news

Legislation seeks to place federal funding under the control of the state Legislature and governor

New legislation is being considered in the Kansas Legislature and it may create some problems for people seeking financial aid for their health insurance coverage. The legislation aims to place all funding provided by the federal government for health care services under the control of the state’s lawmakers and governor. Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger has warned Kansas residents that the legislation could make it much more difficult for them to receive the federal financial aid they need for their health care services.

Insurance Commissioner warns that legislation could create problems for some programs

Flag of Kansas health insurance newsThe legislation is expected to impact the funding available to Medicare, Medicaid, the state’s children’s health insurance program, as well as several other services that have received federal aid. If the legislation is successful, the state would receive funding as normal, but lawmakers would determine how this money is spent. According to Commissioner Praeger, this could leave some program underfunded, thereby limiting people’s access to insurance coverage or medical care.

Underfunded programs could leave many people without insurance protection

Supporters of the legislation have suggested that the impact it will have on the funding of Medicare and similar services will be minor. Commissioner Praeger claims, however, that if the funding provided by the federal government is not managed adequately, many consumers could be exposed to unnecessary risks. Seniors, in particular, could be affected most by any funding cuts that programs like Medicare receive in the coming months.

Funding continues to be a tricky subject when it comes to the matter of health care

Similar legislation has come to Arizona, New Mexico, and Montana. The governors of these states have vetoed these measures, claiming that they had serious concerns regarding the ability of their state’s Legislature to reliably fund programs like Medicare. In Kansas, some 448,000 people rely on Medicare and if this program is underfunded, many of these people could lose benefits or find it impossible to receive the medical care that they need. The legislation in Kansas is currently facing the state’s House of Representatives as it moves through the legislative process.

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