The Medicaid Coverage Gap in Missouri: Implications for Healthcare Access Due to Increasing Out-of-Pocket Burden

by Abigail R. Barker, PhD; Leah M. Kemper, MPH; Lindsey M. Nienstedt, MPH, MSW; Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH; and Timothy D. McBride, PhD | June 2020

Low-income individuals and families in Missouri face rising healthcare costs in a policy environment that offers uneven levels of assistance. This brief compares estimated healthcare utilization that would be sought – if out-of-pocket cost were not an issue – to the percent of annual income that would be required to meet that need. In addition, we provide historical context by comparing out-of-pocket burden in 1996 to current burden.