Maine: Where Many of Nation's Eldest Population Stand to Lose Health Insurance

As Mainers head to the polls this week, many seniors await the federal government’s decision regarding Gov. Paul LePage’s plan to cut MaineCare benefits by $37 million.

LePage said that cutting off about 65,000 people from MaineCare would bring Maine closer to the average state's enrollment. It would save Maine $66 million in the next 18 months, according to the proposal. Not doing so, LePage maintains, would put the state at risk of defaulting.

Those who would lose coverage include: low-income adults who are not disabled; the parents of children enrolled in MaineCare, who would not meet tighter income guidelines; nondisabled 19- and 20-year-olds; and low-income senior citizens who qualify for MaineCare to cover a portion of their Medicare premiums...