To the editor,

What is Medicaid Expansion? It is a federal health care plan within the Affordable Care Act, for working adults whose income is 133 percent of the poverty level. In dollars, that is an individual who earns about $20,780 per year (that’s about $10 an hour); $35,630 for a family of three. (Information from Alliance for a Healthy Kansas)

Here’s the problem, over 100,000 working Kansans make too much money to qualify for Kansas’ Medicaid program but too little for private insurance. That is the health care gap.

Workers whose income is less than $35,000 a year are most likely paid hourly. No work equals no wage. Even the poor are worthy of help, in fact, that is one of the teachings of faithful living.

Kansans need help to close that gap and Medicaid Expansion provides federal money that would help families. I’m asking legislators to help reduce the gap.

The following are benefits of having health care: early illness detection, financial security, improvement for people with substance abuse disorders, better treatment and care for people with depression, care for hospitals to reduce uncompensated care costs, reduced medical debts that are sent to 3rd party collection agencies, reduced bankruptcies, and care for adults with disabilities.

To the legislators, you have health care, be grateful and help those who don’t.

Mary Ann June

Great Bend