Nearly a Third of Americans Will Be on Medicaid, Regardless of Eligibility Requirements--An All-Time Record High
NAPLES, Fla., Dec. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) projected the estimated number of Americans enrolled in Medicaid will surpass 100 million individuals in early 2023. This will be a record number of enrollees that includes 21 million ineligible individuals that earn too much to qualify for the welfare program.
The dramatic rise in enrollment is largely due to the federal government's continued extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency. While in effect, states receive extra Medicaid funding on the condition that everyone enrolled in Medicaid remain locked into the program. This has led to an additional 21 million enrollees who would previously not have qualified for Medicaid because they earn too much money. President Biden is expected to extend the emergency again for the 12th time, despite claiming the pandemic is over in an interview months ago.
"For nearly three years, the public health emergency has handcuffed states to skyrocketing Medicaid enrollment. The 100 million number is shocking—nearly a third of the country on government welfare," said Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO of FGA. "Medicaid was meant to be a state-run safety net program for the truly needy. Now, it has been warped into a federally controlled vehicle to expand Medicaid for all, including those able to work."
"The Biden administration is keeping millions of able-bodied Americans on welfare and out of the workforce at a time when more than 10 million jobs are available. Our economy is in recession, and the federal government's continued abuse of the public health emergency is rapidly expanding government, burdening state and federal budgets, and keeping people out of the workforce," said Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO of FGA. "It is unsustainable, unfair to those who are truly needy, and will continue to spiral out of control unless states break free and Congress fights back."
The current enrollment sits at an estimated 98 million individuals, which means over the course of the next months, two million more people are expected to be enrolled.
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The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is a non-profit, multi-state think tank that promotes public policy solutions to create opportunities for every American to experience the American Dream. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org.
Media Contact
Adam Gibbs, The Foundation for Government Accountability, 239.244.8808 x165, [email protected]
SOURCE The Foundation for Government Accountability
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