Alaskans turn to government for food and health care amid recession, prompting worry about cost

JUNEAU — Tens of thousands of people have turned to the government for health care and food amid Alaska's recession, prompting questions from state lawmakers about the sustainability of those safety-net programs.

Gov. Bill Walker's administration projects 240,000 people to be enrolled in the Medicaid health-care program next year, up from 163,000 in 2015. And 101,000 Alaskans were receiving food stamps in September, up from 72,000 a year earlier, according to preliminary federal data.

The federal government covers most of the cost of Alaska's food stamp program.

But Medicaid — supported by both the state and federal governments — is one of the biggest line-items in Alaska's budget, at about $700 million. And some conservative lawmakers say they're worried about the growth in enrollment.

In total, the program covers nearly one-third of the state's population.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/2018/01/28/alaskans-turn-to-government-for-food-and-health-care-amid-recession-prompting-questions-about-costs/