The number of Texans enrolled in Medicaid has grown by 80,000 despite the Texas Legislature's decision last year to reject the program's expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act.
Health officials attribute the spike that began last summer and extended until May to greater public awareness about the health care reform law. Many people were made aware of their Medicaid eligibility when they inquired about joining the federal insurance marketplace created by the law.
The national Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reports more than 4.5 million Texans receive federal health coverage.
The Kaiser Family Foundation says an estimated 875,000 Texans are eligible for Medicaid but have not applied.
Nationally, Medicaid enrollment rose by 6.65 million from last summer to May.
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Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com
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