Voters wanted Medicaid Expansion, now lawmakers say they have to figure out how to pay for it

Nebraska voters wanted Medicaid expansion, making 90,000 working poor Nebraskans eligible for the healthcare.

But it won’t come free.

Nebraska’s looking at a price tag between 40 and 50 million dollars for the first few years.

“But by the time more people apply and enroll we’re looking at between 40 and 80 million dollars a year eventually,” State Senator John Stinner said.

Stinner is the head of the legislature’s appropriations committee that will soon be tasked with figuring out where this money will come from.

“It becomes a matter of what our priorities are and at what level we can fund them,” Stinner said.

Governor Pete Ricketts will turn in a budget proposal in January.

“There’s going to be less money for things like K–12 education, higher education, property tax relief because everything’s gotta fit within the budget,” Ricketts said.

He said he will not raise taxes.

Now exactly where the cuts will come from will be up to the legislature.

Ricketts predicts the debate will be lively.

It’s not likely anything can be done to stop the measure from moving forward.

“From what I’ve been told, it would take 33 votes,” Stinner said. “I’d suggest to get 33 votes on something people passed in a vote would be difficult.”

Supporters argue cost isn’t an issue.

“By bringing in dollars and leveraging them it’s gonna bring more revenue and more jobs that will cover costs in two to three years,” State Senator Adam Morfeld said.

He says other states that have expanded Medicaid have actually saved money.

Ricketts is doubtful.

“That’s simply not true, it’s not going to create enough jobs to pay for itself on its face,” Ricketts said.

There are still many steps to be taken before the expansion can be implemented. Ricketts said the earliest enrollment could start is in January of 2020.