Fewer Missourians Fed, Covered and Helped In November 2019
Missouri continues to be a lousy place to be poor, unhealthy or hungry.
Per the Department of Social Services Monthly Management Report for the Family Support Division and MO HealthNet for November 2019, well, the number of citizens provided with health care declined from October to November. The number receiving food stamps declined in November, and, the total of kids and parents on Temporary Assistance bounced about the same low plateau.
A few quick reminders:
The significant, unacceptable drop in the number of people on Medicaid (aka MO HealthNet) means better than 125,000 citizens – mostly kids – who qualify for care don’t get it.
Despite claims that the “surging” economy has risen all boats, more than 100,000 additional Missourians ought to be getting food stamps.
Compared to a decade ago, only about one of five struggling parents and kids now gets Temporary Assistance.
The decline in the three basic benefit programs means than millions of dollars a month in benefit funds – money which would go to local grocers, medical providers, utilities and such – does not get cycled into the state economy.
Missouri Benefit Programs
Nov. 2019 Oct. 2019 Nov. 2010
Temporary Assistance
Kids 16,746 17,071 73,022
Parents 4,997 5,142 37,274
Total 21,743 22,213 110,296
Benefits $2,109,626 $2,141,483 $10,176,863
Per Family $228.21 $227.07 $237.31
Per Day $ 7.61 $ 7.32 $ 7.91
MO HealthNet
Enrolled 851,985 853,795 898,654
Covered 876,148 878,229 936,614
Cost $737,092,001 $756,641,618 $561,803,733
Per Patient $841.29 $861.55 $599.82
Managed Care 598,254 596,768 445,479
Premium $267.85 $269.72 $179.91
Food Stamps
Participants 673,160 678,716 931,933
Benefits 82,191,657 $83,247,979 $117,180,703
Per Person $122.10 $122.71 $125.74
Per Meal $ 1.36 $ 1.32 $ 1.40
Top Food Stamp Counties
November 2019
St. Louis Co. 96,896
Jackson Co. 91,392
St. Louis City 67,401
Greene Co. 33,050
Jefferson Co. 17,829
(The top five counties include 46% of all food stamp recipients)
Sources:
https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/1110.pdf
https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/1910-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf
https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/1911-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf
Glenn