The New Health Care Option Some States Might Offer: Medicaid -- for Sale

More than a dozen states either have or are still considering the idea of letting people buy Medicaid -- regardless of how much money they make.

Medicaid, as we know it, is the nation's government-run health care program for the poor. You have to make below a certain amount of money to qualify for it, and it's free for most. But what if people -- regardless of their income -- could buy a Medicaid plan?

That idea is gaining popularity among state lawmakers. Last year, a "Medicaid buy-in" or "Medicaid-for-all" bill made it as far as the governor's desk in Nevada. Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed it, but it inspired similar efforts around the country.

Six states -- Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and Washington state -- have active legislation to establish a Medicaid buy-in program. In four others, bills were proposed but stalled. New Mexico has set up a task force to study a Medicaid buy-in program, and Connecticut may do the same.

More