State participation in the Medicaid expansion provision of the affordable care act: Implications for uninsured individuals with a behavioral health condition

The ACA expands Medicaid coverage to adults below 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (i.e., $15,856 for an individual or $26,951 for a family of three in 2013). However, a June 2012 Supreme Court decision allowed states to opt out of Medicaid expansion.4 As of April 2015, 29 states, including the District of Columbia, were participating in Medicaid expansion, 6 states were undecided, and 16 states were not participating.5,6 In states that do not expand Medicaid or are undecided, many individuals may remain uninsured. This report compares estimates of Medicaid-eligible uninsured individuals with a behavioral health disorder living in Medicaid expansion, non-Medicaid expansion, and undecided states.