On Monday, Connecticut announced that it would be the first state to move low income residents to the Medicaid program.  This shift will allow the state to save over 53 million dollars over the next year.  Because the government made changes in the Medicaid program to allow low-income singles without kids to enroll in Medicaid for the first time Connecticut was able to move these people from the State Administered General Assistance (SAGA) program.

Low-Income Single Adults Eligible for Medicaid in CT

Medicaid provides a wider range of health services than SAGA, and by enrolling low-income singles in Medicaid, Connecticut will save money and provide the approximately 45,000 qualifying individuals with more medical care.  Before the Affordable Care Act, adults without kids did not qualify unless the state allowed exceptions. On top of the savings, Connecticut will get some cash from the federal government for this endeavor. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services Department, lauded Connecticut for early enrollment because it

The District of Columbia also followed Connecticut’s lead, and requested the government to expand its own Medicaid program, slashing over 56 million dollars from the city’s budget.  Both Connecticut and Washington, DC took advantage of the Affordable Care Act.  By 2014, every state will need to expand its Medicare coverage with federal funding, so successes in Connecticut and DC could indicate overall success for the Affordable Care Act.

Are states finally accepting the Affordable Health Care Act? Hopefully Connecticut and Washington, DC’s Medicaid expansion will truly prove successful in reducing expenses and providing citizens with quality health care.