Cross Posted from GD: Medicare/Medicaid and the ACA in Michigan - a question.

[laundry_queen]

So...I'm in this political science class (I'm in Canada) and our last discussion was about health care - Canadian and American. Ugh, I was forced to waste 7 minutes of my life watching a Ron Paul video... God, nothing that man says makes sense. And you could make a drinking game out of the words 'freedom' and 'liberty' and get right shitfaced in about 5 minutes....

Anyhow, this guy in my class says his 89 year old grandmother in Michigan has suddenly had 1/3 of her Medicaid coverage cancelled because of Obamacare and that the family is having to help her out. I think he means Medicare, but I'm not sure. Anyhow, is this for real? Is this happening or is it just one of those things that people don't understand? I certainly don't get it, as a Canadian - I know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid but can people be on both at the same time or is my classmate mistaken? His posts are pretty conservative and he asserts that because of what his grandmother is going through Obamacare isn't working. I tried googling some stuff but can't find anything helpful. I think it sounds suspicious that suddenly 1/3 of her coverage was cancelled - what does that even MEAN?

I don't want to reply until I know what I'm talking about, LOL, so I need some one to 'splain this to me. TYVM in advance.

[Festivito]

1. No clue.

Medicare has been typical insurance for people over 65. Medicaid had been for persons with less than $2000, car and house and offers permanent nursing home care. Under ACA Medicaid, not Medicare, expands to cover everyone under certain income levels regardless of age.

It should cover more, not less. The donut hole is gone.

The only thing I can think of is the homestead property tax credit used to return some property tax to persons depending on income. However, this credit was lowered by our current governor (ALEC Republican). An extra hundred bucks or more a month could really hurt someone on a fixed income. But, that has nothing to do with ACA / Obamacare.

Your classmate could be conflating the two or confusing them.

[laundry_queen]

4. Thanks. I think he is confusing them.

Not sure I'm going to reply...I've already come across in class as a bit of a know-it-all (that's what you get when you take poli sci 101 as an elective, after being on DU for 10 years ) Not sure how he'll react to me saying he is likely to be mistaken....

[Demeter]

2. Medicare is for people who have worked enough to collect social security and medicare

You have to pay into medicare to get it.

Medicaid is State-provided medical welfare is for the indigent...like my disabled daughter, who will never be able to work, or my clients, immigrants who never worked here, but their children do, and the kids brought them over when it was still permitted to bring one's elderly parents to live in one's new country....

Medicaid cuts I have not heard happening this year. Food stamps, home help care and cash assistance welfare, yes. The state of Michigan plays games with Medicaid all the time, though. Some years they provide eye glasses and dental care, some years, they don't. It could be true.

It is entirely possible that a person, say a widow, could get the absolute minimum social security as a widow's benefit, and be poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. Medicare doesn't come for free--there is a monthly charge, even if you qualify on your spouse's earnings.

Obamacare was supposed to throw more money at states to pay more people's medical care under Medicaid, and I believe Michigan accepted those funds, but in a squirrelly way. They may not get that money until later.

It is horribly complicated.

I wouldn't even bother debating with this person. I'm sure he has incomplete if not inaccurate information and not enough diligence to find out what's really going on. You would accomplish nothing.

[Demeter]

3. I spoke with my client after the previous post

If your assets do not exceed $2000, you can get Medicaid as well as Medicare. There has been no change to Mdicaid in Michigan this fall. She is 70, so she would know.

Hope this helps. Of course, they are always changing things....so it may not always be true!

[laundry_queen]

5. Thanks, it does help.

I was pretty certain that something is up....I have no doubt there is something not being communicated here, or my classmate is simply out to lunch and doesn't understand how the ACA works at all.

[Demeter]

6. Or Medicare, or Medicaid

Well, he wouldn't be alone. Our "systems" are so damn complicated that people cannot know what they have. Sometimes people have to sue to get their rights, even.

THe original goal must have been: "make it look like we are doing something, but don't actually do it."

Obamacare is the epitome of that policy.

We in the US need a leader who leads for the 99%. We need a Chavez.