From Monte Neitzel, CEO, Greater Regional Medical Center; and Kirk Norris, Iowa Hospital Association president/CEO

The Iowa Hospital Association supports Medicaid expansion for the simple reason that insuring more Iowans is good for everyone, whether you provide health care, have your own insurance, own a business or just want Iowa to be a better and more prosperous place. People who are insured are more engaged with the health-care system. People with insurance have a primary care physician, get routine care, keep up on their immunizations and medicines.

People who are uninsured find it difficult to do any of these things. They ignore health problems and delay care until they end up in an emergency room – the most expensive place there is to get health care. The problem, and the cost, is multiplied when an uninsured patient is dealing with a chronic health condition like diabetes, which is often the case. Their care is costly and anyone who is insured helps pay for it.