Over the last several weeks, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has taken several positive steps to help groups in need secure affordable health care and gain relief from medical debt.
On February 20, in a gathering with parents, children, and child-health rights activists, the Governor announced that, after bipartisan negotiations with members of the State Legislature and approval from the Biden/Harris Administration, KidsCare would be expanded to include 10,000 new enrollees.
The children gaining access qualify with their families earning income 225 percent of the federal poverty level.
Furthermore, with support from the Biden/Harris Administration and child care activists, the Governor announced that parents of 3600 disabled children will be eligible for reimbursement as paid caregivers.
On social media, the Governor and her team issued several posts including:
January Contreras, the head of the Arizona Children’s Action Alliance, also took part in the event and issued the following social media post:
The Alliance also released an information sheet (please click here) to advise families how the new changes may affect their wish to enroll in KidsCare.
On Monday, March 4, the Governor, surrounded by health care patients and providers, announced a new plan, called RIP Medical Debt that will forgive approximately $2 billion in medical debt, in part by using up to $38 million of American Rescue Plan Dollars.
In her comments to the press, the Governor said:
“This is a huge weight taken off the shoulders for every single one of them (people eligible for debt relief.) This is an investment in our future and reflects my commitment to put the needs of working Arizonans first…Hardworking middle class Arizonans should not be forced to have those difficult kitchen table conversations because of medical debt from conditions they can not control…This is a win win that will give so many Arizonans a clean slate and open the doors for a better future…”
Later on social media, the Governor and her team posted:
According to a press release from the Governor’s office, to qualify for medical debt relief:
“Your salary can be up to 4-times the federal poverty level. That’s about $60,000 for individuals, $80,000 for a family of two, and just over $100,000 for a family of three.”
Discover more from Blog for Arizona
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.