AUSTIN, Texas — Nearly two million Texans fall in the Medicaid coverage gap. They don’t qualify for Medicaid, but they also can’t afford health insurance.

The COVER Now Act, a bill written by Texas congressional Democrats would allow local government to implement their own medicaid expansion programs. 

“It's about individual families being able to get access to a family physician, the medications they need and other healthcare they need,” U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, the lead sponsor of the COVER Now Act said. “I think if we just simply cover San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, we will get over half of the Medicaid eligible population in Texas. Naturally, I want to see this happen in Austin and throughout Central Texas and many other parts of the state.”

The COVER Now Act would authorize Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to contact directly with counties and other political subdivisions to establish demonstration projects, expanding Medicaid coverage to their residents.