Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org, 402.687.2100 ext 1025
YORK AND ALBION, NEBRASKA – Local residents are invited to two community conversations on the topic of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska.
Hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs, the conversations are scheduled for Sept. 13, 2018, in York and Albion. The events are free and open to the public. Events are set for:
- Thursday, Sept. 13, 7:30 a.m. at the York Community Center, 211 E 7th St., York, Nebraska. Rolls, juice, and coffee will be served.
- Thursday, Sept. 13, noon at the Boone County Health Center, 723 W Fairview St., Albion, Nebraska. A light lunch will be provided.
Attendees will learn about those who fall in the insurance coverage gap and how Medicaid expansion could impact rural health care providers, tax payers, and the overall health of Nebraska’s communities.
“We recognize that Nebraskans have questions about expansion,” said Jordan Rasmussen, policy manager at the Center for Rural Affairs. “This is an opportunity for residents to ask questions and learn more about what expansion means for their neighbors and for the local health care services that are working to provide care, no matter one’s income.”
Voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on Medicaid expansion in November. To get the issue on the ballot, Insure the Good Life organizers gathered about 133,000 petition signatures this summer – nearly 50,000 more than the 85,000 threshold established by state law. These community conversations will allow voters to ask questions before they vote on expansion this fall.
“Nearly 90,000 Nebraskans are working everyday, but they still are unable to access health care coverage,” said Rasmussen. “Despite working tirelessly each day, thousands still fall into a ‘coverage gap,’ meaning they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and too little to purchase subsidized coverage from the insurance marketplace. No one should have to worry if this week’s paycheck will be enough to cover their heart medication, or their life-saving cancer treatment.”
Event partners include Nebraska Appleseed, Nebraska Hospital Association, and the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska. More information can be found at cfra.org/events.
