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State by state: Implementation of health law

A look at the how states are putting in place President Barack Obama’s health care law, including health insurance exchanges and expansion of Medicaid coverage, along with the number of people in each state who don’t have health insurance:
STATE EXCHANGE OPTION MEDICAID OPTION UNINSURED RESIDENTS
Alabama Federal exchange Not expanding 696,000
Alaska Federal exchange Decision pending 128,000
Arizona Federal exchange Expanding 1,306,000
Arkansas Federal-state partnership Decision pending-x 545,000
California State exchange Expanding 7,471,000
Colorado State exchange Expanding 817,000
Connecticut State exchange Expanding 391,000
Delaware Federal-state partnership Expanding 115,000
Washington, D.C. State exchange Expanding 65,000
Florida Decision pending Decision pending 3,952,000
Georgia Federal exchange Not expanding 1,992,000
Hawaii State exchange Expanding 102,000
Idaho State exchange Decision pending 239,000
Illinois Federal-state partnership Expanding 1,795,000
Indiana Federal exchange Decision pending 856,000
Iowa Federal-state partnership Decision pending 292,000
Kansas Federal exchange Decision pending 361,000
Kentucky State exchange Decision pending 727,000
Louisiana Federal exchange Not expanding 811,000
Maine Federal exchange Not expanding 146,000
Maryland State exchange Expanding 734,000
Massachusetts State exchange Expanding 215,000
Michigan Federal-state partnership Decision pending 1,336,000
Minnesota State exchange Expanding 453,000
Mississippi Decision pending Not expanding 530,000
Missouri Federal exchange Decision pending-x 780,000
Montana Decision pending Decision pending-x 179,000
Nebraska Federal exchange Decision pending 226,000
Nevada State exchange Expanding 555,000
New Hampshire Decision pending Decision pending 136,000
New Jersey Federal exchange Decision pending 1,334,000
New Mexico State exchange Expanding 506,000
New York State exchange Expanding 2,780,000
North Carolina Federal-state partnership Decision pending 1,583,000
North Dakota Decision pending Decision pending-x 74,000
Ohio Federal-state partnership Decision pending 1,578,000
Oklahoma Federal exchange Not expanding 597,000
Oregon State exchange Expanding 678,000
Pennsylvania Federal exchange Decision pending 1,319,000
Rhode Island State exchange Expanding 122,000
South Carolina Federal exchange Not expanding 754,000
South Dakota Federal-state partnership Not expanding 108,000
Tennessee Federal exchange Decision pending 982,000
Texas Federal exchange Not expanding 6,654,000
Utah State exchange Decision pending 424,000
Vermont State exchange Expanding 61,000
Virginia Federal exchange Not expanding 1,023,000
Washington State exchange Expanding 812,000
West Virginia Federal-state partnership Decision pending 266,000
Wisconsin Federal exchange Decision pending 562,000
Wyoming Federal exchange Not expanding 84,000
x-governor supports legislature must approve
Sources: Associated Press Research, U.S. Health and Human Services Department and the Urban Institute.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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