This week, three states – Idaho, Nebraska and Utah -- passed ballot initiatives to adopt the Obamacare Medicare expansion option for low-income state residents, while it appears the ballot initiative in Montana did not pass. 

Over 60 percent of voters in Idaho supported a ballot initiative to adopt Medicaid expansion, likely providing 62,000 Idaho residents with Medicaid health insurance.  In Utah, 54 percent of voters supported a ballot initiative to provide Medicaid expansion health insurance to 150,000 residents, while 53 percent of voters in Nebraska supported a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid to 90,000 residents.  Montana voters rejected the Medicaid ballot initiative 55 percent to 45 percent.

Idaho, Nebraska and Utah join 34 states and the District of Columbia in offering the expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income residents.

Three governors’ races also increased the likelihood of Medicaid expansion in the near future.  Wisconsin and Kansas elected governors who support Medicaid expansion.  While Maine already adopted the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative in 2017, current Maine Governor LePage has actively resisted implementing the Medicaid expansion effort.  Maine Governor-Elect Janet Mills supports Medicaid expansion and will likely move forward with implementing the 2017 Medicaid expansion ballot initiative.