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Up To Date

How newly eligible Missourians can apply for Medicaid

By Steve Kraske,
Zach Wilson
Published October 14, 2021 at 5:18 AM CDT
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Closeup of a standing medical worker's latex-gloved hand resting on the hand of female patient seated on an examination table in a blue hospital gown.
Fernando Zhiminaicela
/
Pixabay Creative Commons
Missouri's Medicaid expansion has resulted in the new eligibility of roughly 50,000 Kansas City area residents.

The battle for the expansion of Medicaid in Missouri ended in August as the application process opened making 275,000 additional state residents eligible for health coverage.

Right now, according to Jim Torres of Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, the biggest obstacle with the program is a lack of awareness; many patients simply don't know that they now meet the criteria to use this insurance.

So, what steps need to be taken by eligible Missourians in order to sign up for Medicaid?

People who now qualify for MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program, can apply for the program via this portal. If someone needs assistance signing up, free help is also available.

Up To Date was joined by Torres to break down how to apply for Medicaid and answer questions about the different kinds of health insurance services that MO HealthNet offers.

Tags
Up To Date PodcastMedicaidMissourihealth carehealth insurance
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Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
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Zach Wilson
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I want to pique the curiosity of Kansas Citians and help them understand the world around them. Each day, I construct conversations with our city’s most innovative visionaries and creatives, while striving to hold elected officials accountable and amplifying the voices of everyday Kansas Citians. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
See stories by Zach Wilson
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