The American College of Emergency Physicians noted that thousands of residents of Washington state could be denied emergency room care due to their Medicaid plans.

The report examined Oregon patients who, if they were living in Washington, would be locked out from receiving such care. In addition, nearly $100 million in Medicaid funds are used in Washington - less than 2 percent of which is used for emergency-related healthcare.

The information also suggests that 35 percent of cases have nothing to do with emergencies, which is far off from the national average of just under 10 percent.

"The Washington State Medicaid plan is flawed because it assumes that physicians know the final diagnosis when a patient walks in the door," said Dr. Robert Lowe, professor in the department of medical informatics and clinical epidemiology at Oregon Health and Science University. "But many patients come in with minor symptoms that turn out to be serious medical conditions."

Consumers who are on a publicly-funded health insurance plan, but not happy with it, may want to consider using a private option. There are many options available that are affordable, and comparing affordable health insurance rates may help a person find what they need.