By Simon Meiners–
The Basics: What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is the main source of health insurance for low-income Americans. Each state works with the federal government to hammer out a program tailored to its own needs. Since 2010, Obamacare has enabled states to loosen their limits on who qualifies. Now Kentucky’s Medicaid program accepts people with incomes under 139% of the Federal Poverty Level—an individual earning below $16,300 or a family of four earning below $33,700, for example.
Since the expansion took effect in January 2014, Kentucky’s uninsured rate has gone from 20% to 9%—a major drop.