Medicaid expansion would benefit Iowans

I cannot understand why Gov. Terry Branstad would oppose Medicaid expansion in Iowa.

First, it would cover Iowans who need medical care. Second, expansion would bring a lot of new money into the state. Third, expansion would create new jobs.

Fourth, the eventual 90/10 split in costs will probably cost the state only slightly more than the current split, which covers 150,000 fewer people. Fifth, hospitals would write off much less in uncollectable bills. Therefore hospitals would not have to bill patients covered by insurance extra to pay for the non-covered, and insurance costs will go down for individual Iowans.

Seventh, many Iowans who depend on the emergency room for their health care would have access to regular health care and perhaps preventive health care that also will lower health costs.

Maybe some feel that a certain class of people don't deserve health care. I would like to believe that we have no such people among our elected officials.

I implore legislators to vote to take the Medicaid expansion and for the governor to sign it.

Dave Bradley

West Liberty