ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia is offering a new bargain to some adults without health insurance beginning Saturday: Go to work or school and the state will cover you.
But advocates decry the plan, which will insure far fewer people than a full expansion of the state-federal Medicaid program, as needlessly restrictive and expensive.
The program is likely to be closely watched as Republicans in Congress push to let states require work from some current Medicaid enrollees. Georgia would be the only state that requires Medicaid recipients to meet a work requirement.
Others say the nearly $118 million in state money, combined with another $229 million in federal money, isn’t nearly enough to cover 100,000 people. The liberal-leaning Georgia Budget & Policy Institute estimates the funds will cover fewer than 50,000 people.
