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Americans who won't be covered by Medicaid under Obamacare because of Republican opposition are disproportionally black or Hispanic and Southern, according to a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. ( http://kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/characteristics-of-poor-unins
ured-adults-who-fall-into-the-coverage-gap/)

The non-partisan foundation broke down the demographics of the nearly 5 million people who fall in the coverage gap in 25 non-expanding states.

Nearly eight in 10 (79 percent) live in the South. Blacks (27 percent) and Hispanics (21 percent) combined totaled more than whites (47 percent) in the gap.

The gender breakdown is roughly even: 51 percent male and 49 percent female. Childless adults, who usually can't qualify for the current Medicaid program, make up 76 percent of the coverage gap.

Half are younger adults between the ages 19 and 34. Nearly half (49 percent) are reportedly in good or excellent health -- but 20 percent are in fair or poor health. (Interactive map with figures at http://s3.talkingpointsmemo.com.s3.amazonaws.com/map/map.html

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Originally posted by kpo:
Jack, am I missing something? Shouldn't you expect to pay more as a smoker?

Smokers typically need more $$$ of healthcare treatment than non-smokers. If insurers are not allowed to charge smokers for their more expensive treatment, then that burden falls on everyone, including non-smokers. I think you would call that socialism.

And do you think smoking should be treated as a pre-existing condition? Isn't it a choice you've made?

It just seems to me, that smoking is a lot more expensive than you thought. Consider quitting. Apparently Obamacare can help you with that.

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK:
Why should I expect to pay more as a smoker?

As much as I hate myself and do bad things, I'm 5'7", 180lbs and i can still bench over 225 lbs, I'm still moderately attractive since I'm still single and will NEVER be undesirable until a thorough year of marriage, and I would sooner shoot myself in the face than get fat......

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