Medicaid cuts to affect 13 million

[Glenda]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/02/02/medicaid_cuts_to_affect_13_million/

WASHINGTON --Roughly 13 million people, or about one-fifth of the nation's Medicaid beneficiaries, will face new or increased co-payments and premiums for doctors visits, non-emergency hospital visits and prescription drugs under soon-to-be-enacted budget cuts. Those payments and premiums will be set by individual states.

Nine million of these beneficiaries -- about half of them children exempt from such charges under current law -- would face cost-sharing burdens for the first time under the $39 billion package of cuts passed by the House on Wednesday and now awaiting President Bush's signature

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2015, the new charges will drive 65,000 people off of the Medicaid program for the poor, either because they will forego care rather than pay premiums for co-payments or get dropped for failing to pay their share of Medicaid bills.

In fact, about 80 percent of the $9.9 billion in savings will accrue from people dropping out of the program, with only 20 percent coming from the higher cost-sharing requirements, according to CBO.

...

Seniors, meanwhile, will find it more difficult to give away their assets to their children or others to qualify for government subsidized nursing home care.

[Skip Intro]

1. Yeah, but did you see Exxon's profits???!!!

That's good for us all. A rising tide raises all boats.

:sarcasm:

I want to shove this down my "christian" bushbot co-worker's throat.

Fuck the poor, fuck the elderly (our fucking parents - and us if we live long enough) - corporate wellfare and fake wars is what America stands for now.

Karma, where are you?

on edit - k&r

[napi21]

2. I'm not sure I disagree with the "not giving aways assets" part.

About a month ago, I was streaming Bob Brinker who airs on KGO radio on Saturdays. He has a call in financial advice show in Calif.

This 82 year old lady called, quite upset that she may not be able to afford nursing home care, if she needs it, unless she can give away some of her assets to qualify for medicare.

Bob was very nice with her, and asked her several questions, but finally got to the BIG one. So tell me, about how much $$ do you have in assets, other than your home?

She said.....$2,300,000.00!!!!!!!!

I swear, I heard Bob drop his mike! He nicely said, awe, I wouldn't worry mame. I think you'll be just fine.

Now, I haven't read this new budget bill, so I have no idea just how far they've gone with this cut. But, I don't want people who have $1 million+ to be able to give it away so they can qualify for a Medicare subsidy!

And before you start flaming me for not understanding, I'm 62, and not that far away from having to give serious considersation to nursing homes! And NO, I'll never see $1 million!

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. We are dealing with something similar with my mom right now

We thought she had quite a bit of money. But her nursing home will cost $65,000 a year. Her estate will be depleted in a few short years. Then Medicare will kick in and pay for her nursing home.

She worked for 40+ years and scrimped and saved. It is sad to see her money go for her care - and it will go quickly. But if she hadn't accumulated money, she could still go into the nursing home and have Medicare pay for it. Seems unfair to me.

[senaca]

7. The stipulations on charitable giving

The big question is how this will effect all those who are in assisted care now. Is this bill grandfathered in or does it look back on everyone for the past five years to see if they gave away money. If someone gave to the church and must be held accountable for that money before medicaid will kick in then who picks up the tab? Surely they wouldn't be kicked of assisted care for that.

[preciousdove]

9. From my lawyer and a question about political donations ie "free speech"

Does this mean that people cannot donate to candidates either? Donations have been ruled by the SCOTUS to be "free speech".

from a letter from our lawyer dated December 23, 2005:
"...It is our understanding that they apply to any transfers on or after the enactment date, which will be the day that the bill is signed by President Bush."

"...if all you do is spend $800 a year on holiday or birthday presents, or in donations to your favorite charities or your church, at the end of any five-year period you will have become ineligible for benefits for at least one month..."

"Based on these changes we make the following recommendations:
If you or your spouse is on MA, you should not make any transfers in excess of a total of $200 in any one month. This includes birthday presents, charitable gifts or any other gifts.

If you are not on MA at this time but expect to apply within the next five years, you should not make any further transfers once the bill has been signed by President Bush. If you have made transfers after the bill has been signed, the person to whom you make the gifts may have to return them to you. "

"Do not apply for medical assistance or be admitted to the Minnesota Veterans Home without first consulting with your lawyer."

My note: These lawyers do a lot of pro bono work they are not trying to drum up business they are trying to keep people from disaster of needing immediate medical care and not being able to get it because they gave grandchildren presents 5 years before when they were healthy. Think about even the weathy that lived in NOLA.

[Straight Shooter]

3. God forbid we get rid of tax cuts for the wealthiest, though.

Another shining example that "freedom isn't free" and it's costing more and more every day.

[0007]

5. This gonna jump up and bit em in the ass and cost more in the

long run. These people are so fucking dumb it's hard to believe.

[wiley]

12. The Repukes?

in Congress or those stupid enough to have believed anything they said?

[0007]

17. Both

[wiley]

19. Good!

Let them reap the rewards of their stupidity, greed and ignorance.

[justgamma]

6. After my MIL's money was gone

she got to keep a whole $30.00 a month for herself. The rest went to the nursing home. Medicade made up the difference.
That $30.00 had to pay for all her personal stuff. The nursing home supplied nothing.

[senaca]

8. That's just not right. Why can't people who can no longer

care for themselves, be able to maintain their dignity. We should have the political will as a nation to do that at least.

[October]

25. Same in PA with my mom

There's a 3-year "look-back," meaning my mother would have had to 'magically' know 3 years before she got sick that she ought to give away some of her assets (sell her house?).

They took everything. And she gets $40 per month. That's it.

Of all her assets (nice house which I was forced to sell, car which I was forced to sell) she was allowed to keep $2400 in the bank. They demanded 3 years' worth of bank statements, etc., so they could make sure she hadn't given any large sums away in that 3 year period. She was 60 years old and had a stroke during elective surgery. I'm sure she wasn't thinking it was time to liquidate her assets at 56/57!!!

It is sickening and shocking.

[Rainscents]

10. I worry about my Mom...

She is 86 and doing pretty well now. My brother live with her and take good care of her. Her home is worth 3.5 million dollar ( House has 8 bedrooms, 10 acreage and it was built in 1817... It is very beautiful house in NJ!) She is determined NOT to ever go into nursing home and she asked us kids, never to put her there.

[napi21]

11. I think this is the plan behind this bill.

They want to make it impossible for amyone to go into a nursing home, and force their relatives, whoever they may be, to care for them.

In some cases, that's fine, but what about the parents who both have to work just to keep their own home and family going? Who's going to be able to quite to stay home with an aged parent?

[Rainscents]

14. I know and my Mother is very aware of what the government is

doing to seniors. She is sharp cookie for 86. We talk politics all the times and she love to talk politics!

[area51]

18. Don't forget...

... about those of us who are childfree. There's no one to take care of us & if we can't go into a nursing home, we'll die. But of course, that's what the nazi party's "culture of life" means -- more death. :mad:

[deacon]

13. To fund the tax cuts for the rich n/t

[OneBlueSky]

15. and tonight they're working on $70 billion in tax cuts . . .

when oh when oh when will Americans wake the fuck up??? . . .

[salin]

16. Terrible public policy - from a health care cost pt of view

so 80% of the savings is from people dropping out of the program because they can not afford the premiums and/or copays. This is how they calculate the savings... they *know* this.

What this means is even less prevenative care, and less early stages care which means MORE emergency room and more expensive visits that will have to be covered by the hospitals - which will drive costs UP in the long run as the hospitals have to make up the losses by charging more to those who can pay. Either that, or we have to further enure the public to viewing more folks dying "in the streets"... ah the GOP "Culture of Life." :sarcasm:

[womanofthehills]

20. My mom went into a nursing home last month

She is 94 and just has less than $20,000 left which will go quickly as the nursing home is $4,000 a month. As an only child, I always thought I would inherit her house - stupid me. Assisted Living is about $l500 to $2000 a month and many seniors break bones and go back and forth between nursing homes and assisted living. Medicare will only pay for 22 days in a nursing home per year if one qualifies for rehab. A previous post was right, after they take all her money, she gets $30.00 a month.
Also, the main reason most people lose their minds after they go into a nursing home is ---- tons of drugs that their old bodies can't detox. Every time she goes into the nursing home I have to argue with them to stop giving her all the new drugs they suddenly add. I usually try to get her out of the nursing home as fast as I can but this time I think she is too sick and the end is nearing. The system is sick.

[LynnTheDem]

21. This is so SICK and WRONG. And PROOF that America is nothing now

No "beacon". Just a pile of shit with a few good people and far too many stupid/ignorant ones.

[CTyankee]

22. My brother was a Medicaid recipient

He was an advanced case of alcoholism. He threw away a promising life as a CPA because of his addiction. He lived with my mother until he had his second stroke and had to go into a nursing home at age 63. He died at age 66.

My brother was a lifelong Republican. He never took responsibility for his life and his obligations. He infuriated me. Nonetheless, I wanted to see him cared for.

So sad. I used to query him on his Republicanism. He would only shrug. What a waste.

[bettyellen]

23. 4 1/2 million kids hurt by this.

:cry:

[Lindacooks]

24. Hope a lot of them voted for Bush. Maybe this will wake them up.

And I feel very bad for any anti-Bush people suffering these cuts.

So much for the 'as you have done for the least of my children', huh?