Previously, legal aliens below the federal poverty level did not qualify for Arizona’s Medicaid program, but President Barack Obama’s health law allows legal immigrants to qualify for federal subsidies if they purchase plans through states’ online health insurance exchanges. That means U.S. citizens in Arizona under the poverty level would not have qualified for the same benefits as legal immigrants.
Gov. Brewer defended her decision to expand the program despite other GOP governors’ resistance, arguing it would bring in revenue that would help businesses and reduce uncompensated care.
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