The long-awaited launch of expanded Medicaid will be especially helpful now that the pandemic has cost many Nebraskans their health insurance, says Molly McCleery of Nebraska Appleseed.

‘It’s a huge relief’: Long-awaited Medicaid expansion begins this week in Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald)

LINCOLN — It’s taken six years of legislative battles, a statewide petition drive, a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling, a successful ballot measure and nearly two years of preparation to get to this point.

Now only a few days remain before thousands of low-income Nebraskans can start getting health care through an expanded Medicaid program.

Viola Tiedemann already has two doctor visits lined up. Within the first two weeks of October, the Omaha woman, 58, will see an orthopedic surgeon to talk about her painful, bone-on-bone hips and her primary care doctor to sort through the complexity of her other medical needs.

The day she got approval for coverage under Medicaid expansion, making those kind of visits possible, brought her to tears.

“I read the letter three or four times to make sure I was reading it correctly,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God. Thank you, sweet Jesus.’ I was ecstatic.”

Advocates who fought for Medicaid expansion say they are excited to hear of people like Tiedemann who are finally going to get health care.

(more)

Governor Pete Ricketts refused to honour the results of the referendum on the ACA’s Medicaid expansion in 2018, resulting in the court fights. He lost.