KFF released two briefs explaining the impact of health care reform on Medicaid, CHIP, and private insurance.  The first brief explains the benefits and cost-sharing requirements that individuals can expect under Medicaid after the program’s eligibility expands in 2014.  The brief also highlights concerns about health reform’s changes to Medicaid, including uncertainty over the federal government’s definition of “essential health benefits.” 

From the report:

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; Public Law 111-148), signed into law on March 23, 2010, Medicaid plays a major role in covering more uninsured people. On January 1, 2014, the program will be expanded to provide eligibility to nearly all people under age 65 with income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).1 As a result, millions of low-income adults without children who currently cannot qualify for coverage (except in a handful of states with waivers), as well as many low-income parents and, in some instances, children now covered through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), will become eligible for Medicaid. In addition, the health reform law is expected to result in more people who already are eligible for Medicaid under current rules learning about and signing up for coverage. In total, Medicaid, along with its smaller companion program, CHIP, is expected to cover an additional 16 million people by 2019.

Full report: Explaining Health Reform: Benefits and Cost-Sharing for Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries (PDF | 307.76 KB) 

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2010). Explaining health reform: benefits and cost-sharing for adult Medicaid beneficiaries.