Even a poor [Red] state like Mississippi is opting out of Obamacare. Why would they do that?

[darce]

Surely they could use the money right? But, unlike bankrupt California [Blue state], they are responsible:

"House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said in a statement that the federal health care law could be "a budget-buster for our state." Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said adding 400,000 people to Medicaid would cost about $1.7 billion over 10 years.

Mississippi taxpayers simply cannot afford that cost, so our state is not inclined to drastically expand Medicaid," Reeves said in a statement. "True health care reform should look at reducing costs for services, not increasing the burden on taxpayers."

Are they smart?

Hint: Third Calif. city votes to declare bankruptcy.

The City Council in San Bernardino voted Tuesday night to seek Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, making it the third California city in less than two weeks to make the rare move.

[aenedleah10]

No, they're stupid. Even in Mississippi, people get sick. They have to pay for their healthcare somehow.

EDIT: No, silly, it won't cost more. When you get sick, you go to see a physician. You have to pay for it. If it's a serious illness, you pay a lot. Maybe, say, a quarter of a million dollars? What, you don't have that kind of money? Well, then you need insurance. If you don't have insurance, somebody still has to pay. Probably the hospital social worker will enroll you in Medicaid, and the taxpayers will pay. Maybe you'll declare bankruptcy, and your creditors will pay. What makes you think Obamacare is more expensive? What makes you think that it "plays favorites," more than the current system?

[naseem]

The fact that the third city in Cali went bankrupt has nothing to do with healthcare, seeing as how it doesn't go into effect for another 2 years, so I don't see why you bring it up...

Also, I wouldn't consider Mississippi smart, have you ever been there?

[larenzo]

Because the governor of Mississippi is a REICHwing nutjob who doesn't care at all about the healthcare of his people.

[teyo]

thats how stupid they are

[larry]

Mississipi has the lowest IQ score average of all 50 states.

[herald]

Mississippi has never treated its own residents well. That is why the state is so backwards.

[ealahweemah72]

The funny thing that the republicans don't understand is that when the states opt out the Feds take over. That's what the Federal Gov. wants. By opting out the states are giving up their power to the federal gov.

[reid]

I feel sorry for the people in Mississippi, they cannot help their condition, and could use the benefits of the ACA if their Republican leaders would put aside their hatred for Obama and partisan politics and just give their poor people a break.

[taryn31]

They cannot opt out of a federally mandated program like being insured. The state may choose not to pick up the Medicaid expansion funding that the federal government is willing to pay, 100% for 2 years instead of 50%. So all the poor people can go without medical care because many who are below 133% of poverty guideline cannot even buy insurance from the exchange.