URGENT!!. Need Clarfication on Health Care Reform in FLA

[Sebass1271]

My husband, who is a LPN and works independently for a home health agency visiting Patients at their homes once they are released from the hospital, just called me frantic because of what he’s been told by his "employer" . They told him he will lose his job and many other nurses starting January 2010. Medicare will cut costs, therefore costs will be cut for home health agencies as well. This will affect my husband's job!. I have been unemployed for seven months, trying to find a job and taking birth control pills became pregnant!. My husband makes decent money, not a lot, but for today's standards and how the economy is, and seeing Americans struggling to find a decent job, his salary is ok, we have been able to survive on his salary, which sometimes fluctuates by weeks and by the amount of patients he is referred to take care, and my unemployment benefits. We don't have medical insurance because it is too expensive and we were not approved by the state Medicaid (at least for me) because my husband to them "makes too much money" which he doesn’t, but whatever, i guess the government has to see people living below the poverty level to give you a hand when you are having difficulties.

My point is my husband just told me he was told that he might lose his job come January. The state will be cutting funds on medicare and therefore will be cutting funds on home health agencies and other health care facilities. My husband is crushed! He thinks this has something to do with what Obama is trying to do with health care reform. He voted for Obama and now thinks he will become unemployed. I told him that maybe what the state of Florida will do has nothing to do with the bills that are pending in congress. I reminded him there are several bills but none have been voted on and P. Obama hasn’t signed anything yet. That we don' know what the final might say or look like.

He says it does have something to do with it because The Sate is paranoid of will happen and will cut funds on Medicare. I am stunned! How can they cut funds on the elderly that need treatment and follow visits for sick people!!..
I am really confused. Does any DU'er have any information as to what is going on in my state and Medicare funds? Does this have to do with what is happening at the national level? All home health care facilities are in state of panic and are making my husband to panic!.

[abluelady]

1. Heard on TV

that AARP just endorsed Obama's plan. Can't imagine they would endorse something that would endanger their following. FLA may have its own problems, but I don't think Obama can be blamed.

[SharonAnn]

2. He's safe. There'll probably be more opportunity for him.

The cuts they're talking about in Medicare are the cust in the profits that are paid to some of the "Medicare Advantage" companies who "sell" policies that provide various types of services and are reimbursed by Medicare an additional 14%.

Here's how it works:

1.) A customer pays Medicare $100 for a monthly premium. Medicare covers their medical services.

2.) A customer pays a Medicare Advantage plan $100 for a montly premium. The Advantage plan receives an addition $14 from Medicare. The Advantage plan covers some of their services, depending on the particular plan. They do not cover all the Medicare serrvices, though some do offer limited additional services such as eyeglasses or dental. Frankly, I'd rather have chemotherapy covered at a reputable clinic than have a pair of new eyeglasses.

The cuts would come from the additional $14 that Medicare pays to the Advantage plan.

[Sebass1271]

3. these advantage plans cover the payments to home health

agencys?