Protesters To March On Texas State Capitol To Demand Medicaid Expansion

More than 1,000 Texans plan to march on the Texas state capitol Tuesday hoping to change Rick Perry's mind about Medicaid.

The protesters want the Republican governor to reverse his position on the Medicaid expansion that is a key part of the Affordable Health Care Act, or Obamacare.

Perry announced last year that he would not expand Medicaid or implement a state health insurance exchange under Obamacare. The president's health care reform law offers federal money to states that agree to expand Medicaid, the government-subsidized health care coverage program for the poor.

Other Republican-led states have rejected Medicaid expansions including South Carolina, Louisiana and Wisconsin. Some Republican-led states -- including Florida and Arizona -- have agreed to expand Medicaid though.

The group organizing the rally, My Medicaid Matters Texas, argues that Medicaid improves people's health, lets some of the elderly and disabled live independently, provides health care coverage for children and creates jobs.

About one in four Texans lack health insurance: a higher share of residents than in any other state, according to The New York Times. Expanding Medicaid would provide health insurance to 1.5 million low-income Texans, according to the Associated Press.

From the Facebook page for the rally:

We need you!! And your friends and family!

March 5, 2013, Texans will gather at the Capitol to support Medicaid and call on state leaders to make real investments in the health and wellbeing of all Texans. We need your help to send a message to the legislature and state leadership that Medicaid is essential to the health and well being of millions of Texans.

10:00 a.m. - People begin gathering for march & rally on the south side of the Congress bridge.

10:45 a.m. - March begins.

11:30 a.m. - Rally on the south steps of the state Capitol

Over 1000 Texans have already committed to attending the march and rally on March, 5th. Let's get to 2000! Spread the word and share the MMM March and Rally information.

Learn more about My Medicaid Matters at:
http://mmmtx.squarespace.com/

(Hat tip: the New York Times.)

Earlier on HuffPost:

• Kansas

  Federal minimum in Kansas: 26 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn more than $4,963.40 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (26 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn more than $6,108.8 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (32 percent of FPL).

• Pennsylvania

  Federal minimum in Pennsylvania: 26 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,963.40 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (26 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $8,781.40 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (46 percent of FPL).

• Virginia

  Federal minimum in Virginia: 23 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,772.50 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (25 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $5,917.90 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (31 percent of FPL).

• Nevada

  Federal minimum in Nevada: 23 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,772.50 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (25 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $16,608.30 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (87 percent of FPL).

• Mississippi

  Federal minimum in Mississippi: 24 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,581.60 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (24 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $8,399.60 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (44 percent of FPL).

• Idaho

  Federal minimum in Idaho: 21 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,008.90 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (21 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $7,445.10 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (39 percent of FPL).

• Florida

  Federal minimum in Florida: 20 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $3,818 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (20 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $11,072.2 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (58 percent of FPL).

• Missouri

  Federal minimum in Missouri: 19 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $3,627.10 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (19 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $6,872.40 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (36 percent of FPL).

• Indiana

  Federal minimum in Indiana: 19 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $3,627.10 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (19 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,581.60 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (24 percent of FPL).

• West Virginia

  Federal minimum in West Virginia: 16 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $3,054.40 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (16 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $6,108.8 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (32 percent of FPL).

• Arkansas

  Federal minimum in Arkansas: 13 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $2,481.70 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (13 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $3,245.30 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (17 percent of FPL).

• Texas

  Federal minimum in Texas: 12 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $2,290 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (12 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $4963.40 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (26 percent of FPL).

• Louisiana

  Federal minimum in Louisiana: 11 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $2,099.0 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (11 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,772.50 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (25 percent of FPL).

• Alabama

  Federal minimum in Alabama: 11 percent of Federal Poverty Line Unemployed parents in a family of three who earn over $2,099.90 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (11 percent of FPL). Employed parents in a family of three who earn over $4,581.60 make too much to receive Medicaid coverage (24 percent of FPL).