New med benefit gets little interest

A new Medicaid program targeted to benefit low-income "adults without dependent children" has drawn little interest in Colorado and Delta County.

The first two weeks of the program saw only 300 people signing up across the entire state. Delta County saw just 12 people interested in the program.

The new program rollout took place on April 1. According to a county health and human services department report, "Much to everyone's surprise, response from the public is not what was expected.

"Based on the experience of other states that have implemented this program, Colorado was planning for a large influx of cases and had plans for a lottery (to) determine the 10,000 slots being made available."

Eligibility requires the following: earn approximately $90 to $175 or less a month for a single adult ($125 to $210 for a married couple, some limits may be higher); be ages 19-64; not already have Medicare or Medicaid.

If fewer than 10,000 sign up for the new benefit, the program will still be available, administered instead as an "outreach program."

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