It’s time for South Carolina to expand Medicaid; here’s why

It is way past time for S.C. to consider Medicaid expansion or to at least come up with some options.

A lower proportion of South Carolinians have access to healthcare services when compared with other states. North Carolina recently expanded Medicaid and is poised to receive a $1.8 billion bonus over two years from the federal government.

The obvious benefits of having Medicaid expansion include better control of chronic conditions like hypertension, earlier cancer diagnoses, better access to mental health care, and fewer premature deaths. There also would be improvements in hospital budgets, especially for rural hospitals.

As more states expand Medicaid, they are seeing improvements in healthcare and positive outcomes.

Medical debt in S.C. is worse than any other state except West Virginia, according to the Urban Institute. Difficulties accessing healthcare are also contributing to evictions and homelessness.

The conservative narrative is that Medicaid is welfare and would cost the state money. But expanding Medicaid could actually improve economic mobility, as some states report coverage makes it easier for people to look for work. Expanding the program would also encourage disabled residents to participate in the workforce.

There are some possible disadvantages, as having health insurance doesn’t necessarily mean access to healthcare. Medicaid patients can have a difficult time finding specialized care. But even though there are some disadvantages, politicians at least need to discuss the program. It is unacceptable that many South Carolinians don’t have healthcare.

Regardless of whether S.C. expands the Medicaid program, policymakers need to at least have a conversation about ways to improve access to health care in this state.

It is important to know where candidates stand on this issue.

Maria Griffin

Spartanburg