Momentum Builds for Medicaid Expansion in Texas Amid COVID-19

As the Houston Chronicle recently reported, there is a growing chorus of Texans calling for Medicaid expansion as the state faces the COVID-19 pandemic and a serious recession.

Texans across the state have made phone calls to Gov. Abbott as part of the #SickOfItTX campaign. Editorial boards, AARP Texas, and other Texans have spoken out. Congressman Colin Allred and state legislators — including Senator Johnson, Senator Lucio, Representative Martinez Fisher, and the whole Senate Democratic Caucus — have urged Gov. Abbott to take action.

The Case of Medicaid Expansion is Stronger Than Ever 

Texas needs to accept Medicaid expansion funds from the federal government so we can offer a health insurance option to Texans below the poverty line — including those who lost their jobs due to COVD-19 and those uninsured Texans on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle, like grocery store employees. Offering this health insurance option would help Texans get medical care not just for COVID-19, but also cancer, diabetes, and other pressing medical needs. And during this recession, Medicaid expansion would give families more financial stability and provide our state economy with billions of dollars when we need it most.

Even before COVID-19, it was crystal clear that Texas needed Medicaid expansion. In fact, this recent Kaiser Family Foundation report summarized over 400 studies of Medicaid expansion, concluding that expansion has been a success — in multiple ways — in the states that have implemented it.

You Can Help Us Keep the Momentum Going

Help us keep up the pressure! If you didn't call Governor Abbott as part of the #SickOfItTX campaign last week, you can call him TODAY at 1-877-880-6704 and urge him to expand Medicaid. Here's more information, including a sample message.

And if you haven't registered for #SickOfItTX's May 5th online rally to push for Medicaid expansion in Texas, then we urge you to sign up now!