Count New Jersey Policy Perspective and the New Jersey For Health Care Coalition among the groups unhappy with what wasn’t said in Gov. Chris Christie’s State of the State address.
Christie didn’t talk in detail about health care. Officials from the two groups say they were hoping for a signal that Christie will accept an expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
The groups claim it could provide coverage to about a quarter of the state’s working adults who don’t currently have health insurance – those with income below 138 percent of the poverty line ($15,414 for an individual and $26,344 for a family of three).
A report authored by Raymond Castro, an analyst with New Jersey Policy Perspective, says it would help low-income restaurant workers, construction workers, landscapers, building maintenance workers, child care specialists, school service workers, Realtors, and employees in other areas.
The report underscores “just how big of a problem health insurance has become for the growing number of struggling working families in New Jersey,’’ Castro said.
A non-binding resolution recommending that the state expand Medicaid under the ACA is making its way through the Legislature but Castro says “the decision is solely the governor’s to make.’’ He and other advocates believe a commitment would have to be made by February in order to maximize benefits in the state’s next budget cycle.
Christie says state officials are seeking more information from the federal government about the overall Obamacare program and Medicaid expansion.
