Closing the Medicaid Gap: The Worker’s Security Act
In Georgia, we have a system that effectively punishes people for working. If you take a small raise or a second job, you can suddenly earn "too much" to qualify for Medicaid, yet you’re nowhere near being able to afford private insurance. This leaves hundreds of thousands of Georgians one ER visit away from the foreclosure my family feared when I was growing up.
The Solution: I am proposing the Worker’s Security Act to fully expand Medicaid in Georgia. This isn't about creating a new government program; it’s about taking back our own tax dollars. Every year, Georgians pay federal taxes that fund healthcare in other states. By expanding Medicaid, we bring that money home to cover our neighbors who are working hard but falling through the cracks.
Protecting Rural Hospitals: This isn't just about individual coverage. Our rural hospitals are struggling to stay open because they have to provide "uncompensated care." Expanding Medicaid ensures that these hospitals receive payment, keeping their doors open for the entire community.
The "Work-to-Wealth" Bridge: Unlike current "waiver" programs that have confusing hoops and limited reach, the Worker’s Security Act provides a clear, stable bridge for families as they work their way into the middle class.
Economic Common Sense: For every dollar Georgia spends on expansion, the federal government contributes nine. It is one of the most efficient ways to grow our state's economy and protect our workforce.
Why I’m Fighting for This: My mother worked her fingers to the bone, yet because she earned a few dollars over an arbitrary limit, her four children didn't have regular doctor’s check-ups. I am stubbornly committed to ensuring that "working hard" never means living in fear of a medical bill.
Questions I asked myself:
"Is this just an expansion of the welfare state?"
No. This is a Worker’s Security plan. The people in the Medicaid Gap are already working—often in the essential jobs that keep Georgia running. We are simply ensuring that their hard work is met with the basic security of being able to see a doctor when they are sick.
"Where does the money come from?"
The money is already there. Georgians are currently paying for healthcare in New York and California because our leaders have refused to bring our own federal tax dollars back to the Golden Dome. This plan simply stops the "out-of-state" subsidy and puts Georgia tax dollars to work for Georgia families.
"Will this raise my taxes?"
Full Medicaid expansion is funded primarily by the federal government (90%). Research has shown that in states that expanded, the economic boost from healthier workers and stable hospitals actually reduced the long-term strain on state budgets. It is a fiscally responsible way to protect our people.
"How does this help people who already have insurance?”
When your neighbors don't have insurance, they end up in the Emergency Room for things that could have been treated at a clinic. You pay for that through higher hospital bills and higher insurance premiums. By establishing a regular system of care for everyone, we reduce the "hidden tax" that insured Georgians are already paying.
