LINCOLN- Emerging data indicates that the number of state residents without health coverage has plummeted since Nebraska expanded Medicaid two years ago. Hospitals are also reportedly feeling less stress and fewer citizens of the state are filing for bankruptcy.

Sen. Adam Morfeld claims that these positive results are exactly what advocates of the expansion predicted would happen during the six years of failed efforts in the Legislature to do so. Morfeld stated, "The data only affirms what we promised Nebraskans: that our family members, neighbors, and friends would be more healthy, financially secure, and lead longer and happier lives."

Morfeld led the petition drive to place Medicaid expansion on the ballot in 2018 after Gov. Ricketts repeatedly blocked it in the Legislature. After the ballot measure passed, it took Rickett's administration almost two years to implement the changes, with coverage beginning on Oct. 1, 2020.

Sarah Maresh, health care access program director at Nebraska Appleseed, shared a similar sentiment with Morfeld. Nebraska Appleseed was a key advocate for the expansion of Medicaid, and believed that Nebraska would see similar results to states that previously expanded it. "We're just really excited to see this come to fruition," Maresh stated, "The health of our state depends on the health of individuals."

Gov. Ricketts did not respond to questions about whether Medicaid expansion has benefited Nebraskans, but his staff stated that "Gov. Ricketts' team at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has worked hard to effectively roll out Medicaid expansion to Nebraska, per the will of the people."

Medicaid expansion was a decade in the making before it fully rolled out, being seen by some as highly contentious and partisan. A U.S. Supreme Court case made Medicaid expansion voluntary for states, sparking years of struggle in Nebraska and other states.

Through the new expansion program, Medicaid was extended to cover single adults and couples with minor children, two demographics that previously were unable to apply no matter their yearly income.

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