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In the first week since federal health officials approved Montana’s expanded Medicaid program, 5,500 people already have signed up for the coverage, Gov. Steve Bullock said Tuesday. ... Montana’s low-cost, expanded Medicaid coverage is available to anyone earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $16,200 for a single person. Many of those eligible will be required to pay annual premiums equal to 2 percent of their income. They’ll also have to make small co-payments for medical care, ranging from $4 for a doctor’s visit to 10 percent of the charge. However, for most, the total out-of-pocket expense is limited to 5 percent of their annual income. (Dennison, 11/10)

State health officials say they’re surprised at the number of Montanans who are signing up for expanded Medicaid. Jessica Rhoades with the Department of Public Health and Human Services says more than 5,500 people have signed up in a little more than a week since enrollment began. “We are so pleased to see that strong reaction. We knew that this program would be popular, but this is more popular than we even thought. We’re thrilled that these people will be getting the health coverage that they need.” (Jess, 11/10)

The nationwide uninsured rate has fallen to 13.4 percent since the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, was implemented. But uninsured rates vary dramatically across states. A new WalletHub analysis breaks down the numbers at the state level between 2010 and 2014. ... All of the states that saw the largest drop in their uninsured rate have also adopted the Medicaid expansion. This relationship isn’t surprising because the states that fail to expand Medicaid leave many low-income adults in a coverage gap, where their incomes are above Medicaid eligibility requirements but below the lowest threshold for marketplace premium tax credits. (Dent, 11/10)