As Medi-Cal soars, higher education loses

Maura Casey:

The U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Obama administration's health care law opens the door for millions more to get coverage through the expansion of Medicaid, the public health insurance for the poor. But if history is any guide, college students could feel the pinch as states cut aid to higher education to expand health care.

Why? Now Medicaid is split between states and the federal government. And although the federal government will pay the entire cost of the expansion beginning in 2014, three years later states will have to begin sharing the cost. That might leave less money than ever for higher education. The result: higher tuition and fees as academic institutions scramble for ever-scarcer dollars from state budgets.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 12, 2012 3:09 AM
Subscribe to this site via RSS/Atom: Newsletter signup | Send us your ideas