In the last decade, about 178,000 fewer Mississippians have employer-sponsored health insurance based upon U.S. Census figures, according to the head of the Mississippi Economic Policy Center.
Mississippi ranks fifth in the nation in the percentage of citizens without health insurance, says Ed Sivak, executive director of the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts independent research on public policy issues affecting working Mississippians.
Sivak is a strong proponent of the state expanding its Medicaid role by 300,000 under full participation in the federal Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare. Sivak said a small number of inmates and some mental health patients may be eligible for Medicaid if the program is expanded to 138 percent of the poverty level.
Clarion Ledger
12/19/12
Magnolia Tribune
