Ralph Northam on Health Care

Expand Medicare, address racial disparities of pandemic

When people are healthy, they contribute to our economy

Remove age cap on insurance coverage for autism

Analysis by WTVR 6-News Richmond Jan 15, 2019: Legislation introduced by Del. Robert Thomas would expand autism insurance coverage to nearly 10,000 Virginians and lift the cap that excludes those over the age of 10. Under current law, individuals with autism can get insurance only from ages 2 through 10. Autism is the only medical condition that has an age-based coverage limit. HB 2577 would eliminate the restriction. "No other health impairment including asthma, diabetes or cancer has such age limits imposed on them," Thomas said.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 97-1-1 on Feb/5/19; Passed Senate 39-0-1 on Feb/15/19; Signed by Governor Ralph Northam on Mar/18/19.

No family should be one illness away from financial demise

A: That's something that I have worked on since we were eligible to expand Medicaid. No family should be one medical illness away from financial demise. That's what we are doing to Virginians right now by not expanding Medicaid. There are close to 400,000 WORKING Virginians who don't have access to health care. They end up receiving their care in the emergency room. It is not the place for preventative care. It's very expensive. Every day that Virginia doesn't expand Medicaid, we're not only leaving it on the table, but we're giving to other states we compete with over $5 million a day. Since January 2014, we've given up [billions] to surrounding states. That's money that we'll never get back.

Proud voice in favor of Medicaid expansion

Expand access to Medicaid for 400,000 of our citizens

Medicaid expansion has been a legislative priority for state Democrats since Terry McAuliffe's election as governor in 2013. But with a two-to-one majority in the House of Delegates, and a two-seat advantage in the Senate that was reconfirmed in this month's legislative elections, Republicans have been able to prevent the issue from advancing.

Medicaid expansion will save taxpayers billions

Our work is not yet done. Last year, I sponsored legislation that would have had Virginia take a proactive approach to setting up health care exchanges, and I remain committed to lowering insurance costs and expanding coverage to uninsured Virginians. In the Senate I worked to create a pathway to Medicaid expansion because it will save taxpayers billions of dollars and create over 30,000 new health care related jobs in Virginia. We must make the right and prudent decision to expand Medicaid coverage, rather than walking away from federal money that could help make sick people well. Expanding Medicaid means that over 32,000 military and their families will gain health care coverage.