Kansas urged to expand Medicaid and close the coverage gap for uninsured workers | Opinion

Better health

Kansas is one of the few states that has not expanded Medicaid. As a result, about 150,000 Kansans are caught in a cruel coverage gap: They earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to qualify for financial assistance through the Affordable Care Act to purchase private coverage. Most are employed yet remain uninsured and without access to affordable health care.

Expanding KanCare, the state’s Medicaid program, would close the coverage gap and provide health coverage improving their health and financial security. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that expanding Medicaid would reduce the number of uninsured Kansans by 90% and save the state $1.1 billion in uncompensated care costs.

Expanding KanCare would also boost our state’s economy. Kansas has already given up $6.6 billion in federal funds. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, expanding Medicaid would create 23,000 new jobs and generate $700 million in new tax revenue.

Expanding Medicaid is a compassionate and commonsense solution to improve the health and financial security of thousands of Kansans, boost our state’s economy and create thousands of new jobs. Urge your legislators to support expanding KanCare.

- Roy Nickum, Overland Park

How to atone

I have always had a great deal of respect for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. I think they could make up for their bit of unsportsmanlike behavior after last week’s game by contributing to the Patricia Allen Fund at Buffalo Children’s Hospital.

- Michael Golebiewski, West Seneca, New York

Help the Army

Christmas is when the Salvation Army goes into overdrive, with many volunteers feeding people, ringing bells and manning kettles to help our neighbors.

To run our assistance programs, disaster recovery services, thrift stores, summer camps and social ministries, we need volunteers. As a matter of fact, the Salvation Army would be a less impactful organization without the help of our many volunteers. So, I want to explain why the concept of volunteering is so crucial to the Salvation Army and our ability to make a difference.

When people are hurting and in need, they come to the Salvation Army for help. And we rely on the generous donations of individuals, volunteers and companies during Kettle Season and beyond to fund the critical programs that help our neighbors. People give to people. So, when we don’t have enough volunteers at the kettles, donations go down. That means fewer funds to do our important work.

Simply volunteering two hours to take donations at a Salvation Army kettle means we can help more people. Please consider volunteering at your local Salvation Army Corps. Your help is vital to our mission.

- Kelly Collins, Divisional Commander, Kansas and Western Missouri Division, The Salvation Army, Kansas City

No to menthol

The White House is in the final stages of considering rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in the U.S. As officials get closer to finalizing these rules, the tobacco industry is working harder to try to stop the rule to protect their profits at the expense of the health of Kansas and Missouri residents.

While the tobacco industry spreads false claims about job losses, policing issues and illicit trade, it is important to focus on the facts:

• More than 40% of kids who smoke cigarettes use menthol cigarettes, and close to 65% of kids who smoke cigars consume flavored ones.
• More than 15% of adults in Kansas and 17% in Missouri smoke.
• Nearly 26% of high school students in Kansas and 25% in Missouri use a tobacco product.
• Smoking is estimated to cost Kansas more than $1 billion annually and Missouri more than $3 billion annually in health care costs.

Banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars would save lives and protect our youth. Join the American Lung Association in urging the Biden administration to finalize the proposed rules to end their sales by year end. Sign the petition at Lung.org/Stop-Menthol

- Sara Prem, Overland Park