Virginia Senate passes Medicaid expansion

The Virginia state Senate on Wednesday approved an expansion of Medicaid, likely ensuring the state becomes the 33rd to expand the healthcare program under Obamacare.

The state budget, which includes the long-battled expansion, now goes back to the state House of Delegates, which has already passed a version of the expansion. Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to sign it as he has pushed for the move to extend coverage to 400,000 state residents.

The provision, created under Obamacare, will allow people who make less than roughly $16,643 a year to enroll in Medicaid, a health insurance program the government pays for. Residents will be allowed to start signing up for the program beginning Jan. 1.

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