Our View

Our View

We shall see if ‘Arkansas Works’ actually works

Facing unexpected increases from Arkansans seeking subsidized health care as well as soaring costs to pay their needs, Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s version of Obamacare, called the Arkansas Works, wants to move about 60,000 Arkansans off the state’s program, which we’re told will save at least $66 million over the next four years.

So then, what becomes of those people, and what else is in store for those seeking government subsidized health care? The plan increases premiums in the state’s market for individual insurance plans by as much as 1.7 percent, limiting eligibility in the state’s Medicaid program to adults with incomes of up to the poverty level, and makes most of those who are moved off Medicaid eligible for similar coverage through the state’s health insurance exchange.

These changes comes as Arkansas is paying 5 percent of the cost of providing free or subsidized government health care and the state’s share will increase every year until it reaches a maximum of 10 percent in 2020 which represents millions upon millions of tax dollars. Heretofore, the federal government paid the full amount under Obama’s health care law.

The legislation would also direct the Human Services Department to impose a work requirement for the remaining Arkansas Works enrollees and to conduct a study along with other agencies on how to help small businesses offer coverage to their employees because the governor recognizes state taxpayers are facing a financial crisis.

When Arkansas created its own exchange under Obamacare state bureaucrats expected about 250,000 enrollees but since then there are more than 320,000 Arkansans receiving free or subsidized health care at the expense of the taxpayers.

Hutchinson has been focused on encouraging these enrollees to become more independent and selfreliant while also encouraging those dependents who can find gainful employment to get a job.

Since Jan. 1 enrollees with income above the poverty level have been required to pay a mediocre premium of $13 a month just to let them know they must have some financial responsibility.

But, because their are no consequences for not paying the meager $18 only about 25 percent of those enrollees are current on those premiums.

We’re told enrollees who are shifted to non-Medicaid plans on the exchange will risk losing coverage for the rest of the year if they fail to pay their premiums for more than 90 days.

What we expect will happen in this instance is that many enrollees will continue to ignore their financial responsibilities regardless of them being kicked off the program. That means when these flunkies need emergency care or medical treatment they will simply show up at some emergency room begging for help and not being able to pay for services rendered.

These irresponsible freeloaders are to blame for the proposed 1.7 percent increase on premiums of those enrolled in the state’s market for individual insurance plans. That increase is anticipated to pick up the tab for costs incurred by those freeloaders.

If the savings from these changes meet expectations maybe, just maybe, Arkansas will be able to make financial ends meet in providing government subsidized health care.