Health Journalism Glossary

Private option

  • Health Policy

Remember the debate over the “public option” in the health law? Some states have pursued what’s been dubbed the “private option.” Arkansas paved the way (and won over some liberal doubters). The “private option” means that the state takes the federal Medicaid expansion money and uses it to buy insurance in the exchange for low-income people rather than putting them in traditional Medicaid.

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