GA could see 100,000-500,000 more uninsured residents as a result of COVID-19 & its economic consequences. That's on top of our existing 1.5 million. When asked about his plan for this, Gov. Kemp mentions his Medicaid waiver. #coverGA #gapol 1/8 https://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2020/04/pandemic-swell-georgias-medicaid-rolls-numbers-uninsured/

Gov. Kemp's Medicaid waiver requires people prove they're working (or doing another govt approved activity) 80+ hours/month before they can even enroll. In an economy where the unemployment rate is rising faster than we've ever seen before, this is a non-starter. #coverGA 2/8

B/c the plan falls short of a full Medicaid expansion, GA is giving up the "enhanced funding" that comes with an expansion. That means that in the midst of drastic state budget cuts, GA will pay 3x more per person than we have to if we covered more people #coverGA #gapol 3/8

For people who actually get enrolled, many will have to pay premiums & co-pays. For a person making $12,000, they could pay $600 in premiums & copays in a year. In a time when people are lining up for hours at food banks & likely not able to pay rent... #coverGA #gapol 4/8

it seems short-sighted & out-of-touch to add unnecessary expenses to Georgia households. When folks can't pay their premiums, they'll be kicked off of coverage--in the middle of a pandemic. #coverGA #gapol 5/8

These barriers to coverage mean that GA expects only 50,000 people will be able to enroll. Out of 500,000 or more uninsured, low-income Georgians. 1 out of 10. What about the others? There's currently no plan for the ones who are left out. #coverGA #gapol 6/8

The Georgians who likeliest to be left out are the same ones who are being hit hardest by this pandemic--Georgians of color, people in service & hospitality jobs, people w/ chronic conditions that make it difficult to work, homeless people, etc. #coverGA #gapol 7/8

The Governor's waiver plan was a bad fit when it was proposed and it's mean-spirited in the context of COVID-19. Here's an explainer for folks who want more information: https://coverga.org/2020/explained-governor-kemps-plan-to-change-medicaid-in-georgia/ #coverGA #gapol 8/8