The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a report that examines the expansion of Medicaid under health reform. The report identifies newly covered populations, how access would improve and the policy and cost implications of the expansion of the government-run insurance program for people with low income.

From the report:

As policy makers look to provide coverage to the lowest income individuals, examining the key characteristics of the 17.1 million adults who might gain coverage under a Medicaid expansion provides insight into their needs. These adults comprise 37% of all the uninsured in the United States. The majority of these uninsured adults do not have dependent children and about half have family incomes below 50% of the federal poverty line (FPL). Uninsured adults at or below 133% FPL are at an increased risk of having problems accessing care compared to their counterparts on Medicaid, and about one-third of uninsured adults in this income group have been diagnosed with a chronic condition.

Full report: http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8052.cfm

The Kaiser Family Foundation. (2010). Expanding Medicaid: coverage for low income Americans under health reform.