LANSING, MI (AP)-- Pressure is building as Michigan Governor Rick Snyder nears an announcement on whether to expand health insurance coverage to 470,000 low-income residents.
States are allowed but not required to expand Medicaid eligibility after a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the federal health care law. The Republican governor is expected to make an announcement while proposing his state budget Thursday.
Hospitals, doctors and advocates for the poor say everyone will benefit if more people are insured and it's a good financial deal for the state. They say that hospitals won't have to pass along costs of uncompensated medical care to people with private insurance, and people with insurance will be healthier.
Conservative opponents say expanding Medicaid will still cost taxpayers money even if it's with promised federal dollars.