expansion

Bob Semro's piece on the expansion of Medicaid eligibility and how it will benefit low-income Coloradans aged 50-64 (Straight talk on health care reform: Expansion of Medicaid eligibility will help many low-income baby boomers) was posted as part of Viewpoints on the Kaiser Health News website.

The expansion of Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act will help thousands of Colorado families who lack insurance. You've probably heard that.

What you might not have heard is that the expansion will greatly benefit a large number of Colorado's aging baby boomers. These are low-income residents between the ages of 50 and 64 who may be in great need of health care coverage but often are not be able to afford it.

SB 06-135 represents an opportunity gain for Colorado. SB 135 authorizes the use of tobacco tax moneys appropriated from the Health Care Expansion Fund to reimburse 100 percent of the costs related to prenatal care for pregnant women who were not covered retroactively under the Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability Waiver.