UPDATE: Bevin’s Medicaid plan includes small premiums

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – The Latest on Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s Medicaid proposal (all times local):

10:45 a.m.

The 400,000 Kentuckians who have health insurance through the state’s expanded Medicaid program would have fewer benefits and would have to pay small premiums to keep their coverage under a proposal released Wednesday by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.

Premiums would range from $1 to $15 per month. Beneficiaries would lose vision and dental coverage, but they could get it back by earning credits for such things as enrolling in a smoking cessation program or taking a financial literacy class.

The plan must still be approved by the federal government. If approved, Bevin said the plan will save taxpayers $2.2 billion. If the government does not approve the plan, Bevin said he would repeal the expanded Medicaid program. That would mean about 400,000 people would lose their health insurance.

A complete draft of the proposal is available online at http://chfs.ky.gov/kentuckyhealth or in hard copy at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of the Secretary, 275 E. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40621.

Written comments regarding the proposal may be mailed to Commissioner Stephen Miller, Department for Medicaid Services, 275 E. Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621, or sent via electronic mail to kyhealth@ky.gov.

All comments must be received by Friday, July 22, 2016 at 5 p.m.

Also, three public hearings will be held at the following dates and times:

1. Public Hearing 1: Western Kentucky University, Knicely Conference Center Auditorium, 2355 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Tuesday, June 28, 2016, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

1. Public Hearing 2: Advisory Council for Medical Assistance (MAC) Special Meeting, Kentucky Capitol Annex, 702 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601, Wednesday, June 29, 2016, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

1. Public Hearing 3: Hazard Community and Technical College Campus, Room 208, Jolly Classroom Center, 1 Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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4:30 a.m.

About 400,000 Kentuckians are about to find out what Republican Gov. Matt Bevin wants to do with their health insurance.

Bevin has scheduled a news conference for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to announce his plan to replace Kentucky’s expanded Medicaid program.

Former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear expanded the program’s eligibility requirements by executive order, resulting in about 400,000 people getting health insurance. The expanded program helped reduce Kentucky’s uninsured population form 20 percent to 7.5 percent.

But Bevin says the program is too expensive. He has said he wants to reduce the number of people on Medicaid. Last month, Medicaid Commissioner Stephen Miller said Kentuckians under the new plan likely would not have to pay a premium for their health insurance, but they could see reduced benefits.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.