Click on a state for more information on expansion efforts.

Maryland
In 2007, the Maryland House of Delegates enacted a law to significantly expand Medicaid eligibility for adults and help small businesses provide health coverage to workers. Click here for more.

Montana
In November 2008, Montana voters approved an initiative to expand eligibility for Montana's Children's Health Insurance Program, extending coverage to more than 30,000 uninsured children. Click here for more.

Utah
In Utah, several different stakeholders are coming together to discuss comprehensive health reform. A coalition called U-SHARE is bringing consumer voices into the debate, and the United Way Financial Stability Council is working with business and community leaders to develop a plan for reform. Click here for more.

California
While California lawmakers were unsuccessful in enacting their comprehensive health reform proposal in December 2007, their innovative attempt to reform the state's health care system and California's incremental achievements in expanding and improving coverage can serve as a guide for other states seeking ideas for reform. Click here for more.

Connecticut
After the failure of several health coverage expansion bills, Connecticut has some good news: The HealthFirst Connecticut and Healthy Kids Initiative (SB 1484) became law on June 19, 2007. The bill will expand eligibility for state health programs, increase reimbursements for Medicaid providers, and improve the state’s electronic health information systems. Click here for more.

Colorado
Colorado lawmakers are approaching health care reform incrementally, and have achieved a few important successes. Click here for more.

District of Columbia
Washington, DC has expanded its Medicaid program, increased Medicare Part D low-income subsidies, and created a health coverage program for childless adults called the DC HealthCare Alliance. The District has also approved a health coverage program for residents with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty ($70,400 for a family of three in 2008), but is yet to implement it. Click here for more.

Illinois
In 2006, Illinois implemented Governor Blagojevich's All Kids program, becoming the first state in the nation to offer health coverage to all children. Lawmakers have worked to implement other incremental changes. Click here for more.

Indiana
In fall 2006, Governor Daniels proposed a new health care plan involving health savings accounts (HSAs) to cover the state’s uninsured. The plan was signed into law on May 10, 2007. It uses state cigarette taxes as a source of funding. Click here for more.

Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Health Reform of 2006 requires everyone in the state to obtain health insurance—if affordable coverage is available. In order to increase access to health coverage, the state expanded MassHealth (the state's combined Medicaid and SCHIP program), introduced private insurance subsidies, and created an agency to help uninsured people find affordable coverage. Click here for more.

Maine
In June 2003, Governor Baldacci signed Maine’s Dirigo Health Plan into law, creating the first universal health coverage program in the continental U.S. Click here for more.

Minnesota
On May 25, 2007, Governor Pawlenty signed HF 1078 into law, which will extend health coverage to 30,000 children and 20,000 adults in Minnesota. The state has also created commissions to explore ways to reduce health care spending, improve quality, reduce disparities, and ensure that all Minnesotans have health coverage by 2011. Click here for more.

New Mexico
The Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee (HCNMC) was created to identify health coverage models that could realistically lead to universal coverage in New Mexico. After evaluating several different proposals, the committee released its recommendation on June 25, 2007. Click here for more.

New Jersey
In July 2008, New Jersey legislators enacted a law that mandates coverage for all children under age 19 in the state, expands coverage to more low-income parents, and reforms the health insurance market. Click here for more.

New York
In April 2007, Governor Spitzer announced that he plans to expand eligibility for the Child Health Plus program as the first step toward covering all of New York’s uninsured children. In April 2008, the Governor signed legislation to allow small businesses to purchase coverage for their employees through Family Health Plus, the state’s public coverage program. Click here for more.

Ohio
In September 2007, Governor Strickland appointed a team to craft recommendations for comprehensive state health reform. The State Coverage Initiative (SCI) team published their proposal for Ohio in July 2008. The Governor's 2010-2011 budget proposal includes a number of the SCI provisions, and it is now up to the legislature to implement them. Click here for more.

Oregon
On June 28, 2007, Governor Kulongoski signed the Healthy Oregon Act into law, establishing the Oregon Health Fund Board. The board developed a comprehensive health reform plan to cover all Oregonians by 2019. Some of the plan's components, as well as the Governor's Health Kids Plan, are included in the Governor's 2009-2011 budget proposal. In addition, HB 2009, a bill to enact many of the Health Fund Board's recommendations, was introduced in early 2009. Click here for more.

Pennsylvania
In January 2007, Governor Rendell introduced Prescription for Pennsylvania, a proposal that would significantly expand health coverage for low- and middle-income families. Lawmakers and the governor have been struggling to enact a compromise package to no avail. Click here for more.

Vermont
In May 2006, Vermont enacted two health reform laws collectively known as Catamount Health. The laws, which are to be implemented in 2007, expand public coverage, improve care for people with chronic illnesses, and introduce new consumer protections. Click here for more.

Washington
At the close of the 2008 legislative session, Governor Gregoire signed three important health reform bills: SB 5261, to give insurance regulators oversight of insurance premiums; SB 6333, calling for the modeling of three comprehensive state health reform proposals; and HB 2537, to support affordable coverage for small employers and low-income workers. However, due to state budget cuts announced in December 2008, Washington will not implement HB 2537. Click here for more.

Wisconsin
In November 2007, Wisconsin lawmakers successfully enacted Governor Doyle's BadgerCare Plus plan, which will make health coverage available to all uninsured children in the state. The plan expands health coverage to children of all income levels, parents/caretakers, and pregnant women in Medicaid and BadgerCare. Click here for more.