More than 133,000 signatures have been gathered in support of a ballot initiative to authorize Medicaid expansion in Nebraska, according to the Nebraska-based activist group Insure the Good Life. The required number of signatures to put the issue on the ballot is 85,000 signatures.
The measure seeks to extend Medicaid coverage to 90,000 Nebraska residents who currently do not qualify for the program but have difficulty paying for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
Like many Republican leaders, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts opposes expanding Medicaid. Currently 34 states, including Washington, D.C., have expanded Medicaid.
