For those who like to insist the poor get medicaid

[gaspee]

Look at the damned requirements before you go spouting off what you know nothing about.

You do not qualify for medicaid in a lot of states if you do not have dependent children.

Those of us who chose not to procreate (gay, here) are pretty much told to fuck off and die.

Me - 40 years old, BA, MA, underemployed, make less than 10,000 a year, haven't seen a doctor in a decade, untreated high blood pressure, can't win the lottery to get into the damned free clinic.

Don't fucking tell me I get medicaid or that under this stupid bill I'm only going to have to pay 8% of my income to the insurance parasites - like I can afford 8% to hand over to these FUCKERS. The only reason I live a halfway decent lifestyle is that I live in my elderly mother's house, caring for my high-functioning DD brother. Guess what, they both get health care (medicare) - ah well - lack of health care is a GREAT way to make sure a high percentage of the peons never claims their SS benefits! Win/Win for our corporate lovin masters!

[golddigger]

1. +1

:thumbsup:

[mdmc]

2. you would be better off with public insurance v. private

peace and low stress ..

[EFerrari]

3. +2

I've pretty much given up on ever getting actual medical care of any continuity.

[napi21]

4. AT your income you would get a subsidy to pay for your HC.

The "no more than 85" refers to people with a higher income than yours.

[CoffeeCat]

12. ...but doesn't that come in the form of a tax break???

That's what I heard...that lower-income earners would get tax breaks.

I'm sorry, but a tax break does nothing to address the main problem--that people don't have
an extra $1,000 or $2,500 just sitting around the house.

[napi21]

17. NO! It's a "check". I put that in quotes because I don't know what form

the $$ would be in, but it would only be usable to pay for ins. and not just for what ever you want!

[DJ13]

5. Same experience we've had

No children, no Medicare no matter how little we make.

[leftstreet]

6. +1

[Warpy]

7. No shit. The requirements in this state haven't been changed since 1966

That means a recipient can't have assets over $1500.00, total. Medicaid might have been set up to help the working poor, but now it's only there for the totally destitute. The only way to get it in this state is to get seriously ill, lose every single thing you own, and then you just might qualify--if you still have an address.

Tying anything to fixed dollar amounts is a conservative's wet dream. It's the easiest way to gut social programs, by eliminating people who qualify through the passive means of inflation.

It's worked best of all in Medicaid.

Conservatives are evil.

[Raineyb]

8. K&R

I'm so tired of hearing that "you can go on medicaid" bullshit as though it were some sort of panacea. I'm a single woman under 40 with no kids so the resource level for the year is 8,462 dollars. I have to make more than that just to make my RENT (without eating). So if I manage to make enough to pay my rent I STILL wouldn't qualify for medicaid.

[bobbolink]

9. Thank you for trying to educate the untrainable about reality.

The willful ignorance is........

Enormous?

Unbelievable?

Unexcuseable?

Fill in the blank...

And, thank you. It's an ugly job, but some of us have to do it.

[girl gone mad]

10. Tried to help a friend of mine get Medicaid two years ago.

She was suffering from depression after the loss of a child. I was certain she would qualify, she's never had anything to her name, the father was always a deadbeat, she was unemployed. It turned out her car was too valuable, which was an absolute shock to me since it was a 3 year old, low end model. If she had been making payments, she might have qualified, but because she owned it outright (gift from her father), she was denied.

[tonysam]

21. A three-year-old car is way too new to qualify

She could have sold it, is the attitude of those who administer Medicaid. She wouldn't have been able to get food stamps, either, in all likelihood.

In my state, when I got food stamps temporarily last year, I believe the car had to be a 1995 or older model.

[CoffeeCat]

11. Are you saying...

...that if you don't buy into government healthcare--then you can be denied getting Social Security benefits?

I'm referring to your comment, "ah well - lack of health care is a GREAT way to make sure a high percentage of the peons never claims their SS benefits!"

[StarfarerBill]

13. I read it as saying that many of us without health care won't live to collect SS.

[gaspee]

19. Yes

That is exactly what I meant. I don't think I'll see 65 - or is it even older now - I can't keep up with the changes.

[tonysam]

23. It's 67 now, with the bonus or whatever it is called for delaying retirement

at 70.

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. No, it's 62

You can begin drawing at 62 or wait for a higher benefit at 65.

[EFerrari]

14. Don't you have to live long enough to collect?

[Lyric]

51. Gay people don't get to collect on their partners' SS.

Therefore, when half of a gay couple dies, the government gets to keep all the money that would have gone toward survivor's benefits if the couple had been heterosexual and married. That's a LOT of money--in fact, Obama's DOJ argued in their DOMA brief (forgive my memory--I'm paraphrasing here) that if the government had to pay out the same benefits to gay couples that it does to straight couples, it would bankrupt Social Security.

Anyway, we gay folks can sometimes feel a little bitter about the fact that straight couples not only enjoy more rights than we, but that our LACK of rights is vital to keeping Social Security alive and well. It's a sick, sick system that requires inequality and discrimination in order to function.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. K&R ..... there are far too many here who will say any damned thing to defend the brand.

[Leftist Agitator]

16. We are in similar situations.

I am 28 years old, BA, MA, underemployed, make less than 10,000 a year, and haven't seen a doctor in a decade.

In WV, you aren't eligible for Medicaid unless you have children or are disabled.

And yet I've had more than one DUer insist that because my income was so low that "you either qualify and haven't checked or you're lying".

[amborin]

18. k&r

[AngryAmish]

20. Have you thought about trying to get on medicaid?

[tonysam]

22. If you don't have dependents, you can't get it

If you are an able-bodied adult with no dependents, forget it.

[gaspee]

25. Missing the point?

Not you, the person you responded to.

I thought my OP was pretty clear - those of us who haven't procreated are told to eat shit and die.

Thank you for actually reading my OP and responding to the person who didn't.

[NMMNG]

46. Procreate for The Lord or die

You're worth nothing if you aren't spawning, except as a worker bee to support the breeders.

[Vinca]

24. In New Hampshire the amount of money you can make and qualify

for Medicaid is so small, you would have to be living in a shelter to qualify or maybe be a person who can live without eating. It's not easy to get. Disability is even harder, even if you're on your death bed.

[My Good Babushka]

26. You would be covered in the Medicaid Expansion.

The proposed health care legislation would extend Medicaid eligibility to all childless adults who earn up to 133 percent of poverty- that's a little over $29,000– a change that would add millions of people to Medicaid , which already covers about 60 million Americans.

[gaspee]

27. I've searched for that in the bill

Not being snarky - I have - can you point out to me where? I've heard that and looked for it in the bill. Are they changing the asset requirements - as in you can have NO assets at all to qualify?

[My Good Babushka]

31. I haven't read the bill but..

I've read it in several different places- here's a few
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/LED-243764/Former-Current-GOP-Governors-Bash-Medicaid-Expansion-Plan
http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/expanding-medicaid-may-leave-some-democrats-feeling-conflicted/

I am a parent, but don't qualify for Medicaid right now either. Our Unemployment benefits are way too luxurious, I guess. We are hoping to get covered under Medicaid when this passes.

Well, actually, we hope we'll be able to get good paying jobs with super excellent benefits, but we'll take what we can get.
Hang in there, gaspee.

[ipaint]

33. Families.

Alabama offers Medicaid to children under age 5 from families who earn up to 133 percent of the poverty limit, or $29,326.50.

[My Good Babushka]

41. We don't qualify for Medicaid but

we have our children on SCHIP. It has been really great, my oldest son needs glasses, frequently, and they are covered.

[gaspee]

28. oh, and

The states set the medicaid requirements - but I can't find it in the bill where the feds would now do this.

[ipaint]

32. Please stop posting this without a link.

The FPL for a single adult is $10,830 x 133% is $14,404.

Either link to what you are claiming is true or do a little math and stop posting it.

[dflprincess]

56. The federal povery level for a single person is $10,830

133% of that is $14,404

The $29,000 you quoted is for a family of 4 (poverty level of $22,050)

This is a link to the 2009 FPL by family size

http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/tools-for-advocates/guides/federal-poverty-guidelines.html

[Ladyhawk]

29. I don't qualify and I'm poor.

I have no access to mental health care since the budget cuts because Medi-Cal recipients are not allowed to seek care out-of-county and the county psychiatrists (all two of them) suck. I've seen them both. Doing nothing is preferable, but doing nothing is making me very sick.

I don't have any real options.

A friend just called me and told me to be my own doctor...sigh. I'm too sick and tired to be my own doctor.

[madmom]

30. My daughter is in the same boat. Full time college student, no kids, no money,

no insurance. Her female cousins all have insurance along with their welfare checks and at least 2 kids and live in boyfriends. Like she told the guy at social services "so I'm being the responsible adult here, and I'm being punished for it?" His answer "yeah, pretty much!"

[ipaint]

34. An updated, 11/19/2009, calculator for eligibility including medicaid.

http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

[treestar]

35. Could you at least look at the bill first?

You would get medicaid.

[gaspee]

37. I have looked at the bill

And I can't find in it where I would get medicaid - and since the states set medicaid requirements individually, I want to know where in the bill that takes away that state control and gives it to the feds.

And to get medicaid, you must have almost zero assets (which I do) but what if I get assets? Not that I see that happening, but to first apply for and then accept medicaid, you are guaranteeing your future poverty to get a little bit of health care.

Nice future.

And have you ever tried to apply for any kind of benefit? Humiliating, degrading and invasive, just to give you a little hint what it's like.

[treestar]

42. This is supposedly an analysis

I don't think the states can make their own rules, except about abortions.

http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

[ipaint]

39. Is there a section where doctors are required to accept it.

If not, a large portion 20 million plus new patients are going to be up shit's creek.

[blogslut]

36. I'm pretty sure that as a single adult

...with an income under $10,000, you will now be eligible for Medicaid - that is if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act stays in the Bill:

http://www.opencongress.org/senate_health_care_bill

[EFerrari]

38. And being eligible and actually getting coverage

is a whole 'nother fight.

[blogslut]

40. Trust me

I know about that all too well. I'm a veteran of the system from the "You want aid? Well then, jump through these hoops, cowgirl!" state of Texas. :hi:

PROTIP: Social workers lie to your face and make up rules that don't exist. Never take their word when they tell you that you're ineligible. Always ask for an official Fair Hearing.

[EFerrari]

48. In 2001, I had one close a SSI claim of mine right over the phone

which happened to be illegal at the time. But he won. I was too burned out to fight them.

[blogslut]

49. I'm sorry for that

When I had my fair hearing, it was a hell of an eye-opener. The person who conducted it had this huge book of rules - like 4 inches thick. She referred to it when mediating between myself and the social worker. I had filled out new forms that had not yet been processed and because they had not been processed, my case was designated as "open" and the social worker had no right to kick me off the rolls because I had missed a followup appointment.

At the time I remember thinking how much I wanted access to that damned rule book.

[EFerrari]

50. I hear you. And guess what, that 10 minute call WAS my "fair hearing".

Los Angeles County, what can I say.

[blogslut]

52. Youch!

I can't imagine the horror story it would be to fight for your benefits in L.A. County. Maybe what we (as the wee folk) need to do is fight for our right to access the rules and regulations listed in that big damned book!

[EFerrari]

54. For a while, I ran a "Community Mental Health Report Card" site.

And I posted reports from all over. It worked pretty well in validating good care and in shaming @ssholes. If I had a willing twin, I'd put it back up. Reports came in from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY and most of them read as legit.

[blogslut]

57. You could make a free Wordpress.com site

...and use SCRIBd as a free online document repository. That way, you can allow trusted others to monitor comments, write blog entries and more community type stuff. The software auto-archives and allows searches by tags and categories. It's a the bestest free site management/free hosting option I know of.

[EFerrari]

58. I'd love to do it but really would need an evil energetic twin

to keep up with the traffic and the reaching out part -- I used to post "Best of the Week" and "Month" posts praising PDs or EMT teams or clinics or whoever did a good job and then mail them a copy for their files. Especially police departments seemed to like those because they really are the front lines in MH.

:)

[blogslut]

60. Have you asked around in the Activist Corps forum?

I see you eyeing me but I'll tell you this right now, I maybe might set it up for you but that's as far as I would go. I'm the laziest person in the world and that's the absolute truth.

[EFerrari]

61. Oh, honestly, I'm not. Just reminiscing.

I could set it up myself but there's literally not enough time even though I'm only working half time right now.

And you can't possibly be lazier than I am. lol :hi:

[Lyric]

55. Want to hear a horror story?

I got no prenatal care at all during my pregnancy until I was 36 weeks along. I was living in Virginia at the time, and although we were poor, my family had generally shied away from welfare, so I knew nothing about Medicaid. A friend told me to call and see if I might qualify, so I called, and the lady on the phone informed me that because (1) I was under 21, (2) living with my Mom, and (3) Mom had a job, I didn't qualify. I thought that was the end of it.

I got a terrible stomach virus when I was 35 weeks along, and got checked into the ER for dehydration. They asked who my Ob/Gyn was, and I told them I didn't have one because I couldn't afford one. The nurses were absolutely astounded, and got a hospital social worker up to my room within 10 minutes. The social worker proceeded to inform me that whoever I talked to had been dead wrong; that pregnancy Medicaid is different than regular Medicaid, and that the rules were much less strict; basically, all you have to do is tell them you can't afford a doctor, provide a few identification documents, and they'll approve you.

I saw an Ob/Gyn for the first time less than a week later, only to find out that I'd had gestational diabetes the whole time and had never known it. He checked me into the hospital for a week for "diabetes training," and I went home with a blood sugar monitor, pee strips to check for sugar, ketones, and protein, and a strict diet schedule. My baby was enormous--born 10 lbs, 11.6 ounces--but thankfully, we were both okay. It could have been awful, though. He could have had serious health problems. I could have destroyed my kidneys.

To this day, I have a really hard time trusting social workers.

[blogslut]

59. I absolutely believe you

Mind you, I admire earnest social workers but the thing is, the aid offices don't necessarily hire people with an actual degree in social work. They'll take anyone with a degree and a willingness to labor for peanuts. On top of that, caseworkers are notoriously understaffed because the agencies have to pay them more than the basic office types. So, you end up dealing with a caseworker who is overwhelmed and under-qualified - all because jerkwad, greemongering legislators run around demonizing the poor and stripping federal/state money.

[Cleita]

43. Your story is exactly why we need to have Medicare extend to everyone

regardless of the ability to pay. Medicare doesn't means test anyone. Only you have to be 65 and older to get it. If the age were lowered to 0, it could be done. Sure it needs some fixing but if the Senate had spent the time they wasted on the Welfare For Health Insurance Companies bill improving Medicare for all, stories like yours would be history. Future generations would talk about back when people were allowed to die for lack of money to pay for health care, like today we talk about people in the nineteenth century being thrown in prison for stealing a loaf of bread.

[Edweird]

45. Yep.

[adamuu]

44. A friend of mine recently died due to untreated high blood pressure.

I know that's not what you need to hear, but it's the truth.
K&R

[glitch]

47. The only thing that comforts me about no health insurance is the statistics:

deaths from medical mistakes number around 300,000 a year, while the deaths from no medical access only number around 30,000 a year.

And now "mandates" threaten to take away even that small comfort.

[Motown_Johnny]

53. I'm sorry, but under this bill you would get medicaid

if you make 133% of poverty level or less (about 14,400 per year for an individual) you should qualify for Medicaid

[FrenchieCat]

62. Don't fucking tell me I get medicaid??? you say......

You would get medicaid or subsidies depending on your income.

Sorry that I told you.

[Divine Discontent]

63. you bring up a very important, but rarely discussed point - death before SS benefits

the peons are wanted to die in their 60's because they will 'take' SS benefits, so why give us care.

And, I am like you (Gay, no kids, and speaking for myself, I also didn't fake heterosexuality just to make family happy like some I know and have kids like some I know) and basically am screwn and have to get lucky to get a call back for free care. I guess I will just have to be a rude ass (oh yeah, like that will work) and call them daily to where they eventually give me care (not).

Anyhow, great post - and thanks for bringing up the SS benefits fact that I haven't heard in years.

[truedelphi]

64. Chris Rock does a really funny routine about how black males should be eligible to

Collect Social Security when they turn 29 years old.

The blacks in his audience get it.

I think most of the rest of America never stops to realize how slim their chances of living to collecting the 7.5 to 15% taken away as Social Security if they don't have health insurance and good doctors and good care before they are in their mid sixties...

And it does seem like it is all quite planned.

[Raine]

66. THANKS

Medicaid is being used as the ultimate solution when it's far from it.

[Kitty Herder]

67. K&R!

[1776Forever]

68. Oh am I with you there - about not getting help unless you have minor children!

It was 5 years ago and my 38 year-old son, who had been pretty much disabled from an illness he had since a baby and I didn't have insurance then to send him to our local hospital, developed MS. He has since received Medicaid but it took us 2 1/2 years to get it. He had no children and in Florida we were told there was nothing they would do for him. He went in and out of ER's and nursing homes until we finally got him seen at a State of Florida University Medical Center that finally diagnosed him correctly and gave him the medicines he needed.

We paid for his room and board for 2 years and became strapped with the housing bubble burst early in Florida and eventually had to file bankruptcy. It took most of our money to pay for him to stay in our mobile home and we finally were told we could get help from a so-called "faith based" service 1 month before his Medicaid kicked in. By that time it was too late. He is now much worse but is getting some therapy that keeps him going. It is a true shame what some people in this country along with their families and friends have had to endure in the "greatest" nation in the world. Greatest = wealthiest which doesn't equate to kindest and most compassionate!

[Echo In Light]

69. K&R

[mdavies013]

70. On the high blood pressure - Subligual Vitamin B - proven more effective than any drug

I have been using it. 4 kids = very high blood pressure. I have seen a substantial reduction. The People's Pharmacy did a show on it and were citing studies that showed that it helped improved blood pressure and mood more than any of the drugs on the market.

[BrklynLiberal]

71. Rec #100!!!

It is amazing how those who are sitting inside a sheltered room can say that the rain outside is not so bad....

[DesertFlower]

72. here in arizona you if you make more than $860 a month you

do not qualify. IMO that's poor.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bennyboy]

74. My situation...Poor, nowhere to get care.....

I am in CA and get CHSP. Which is like having absolutely nothing.

I tried. I slipped and fell twice since October. Both times I tried to get some medical care without going to the E Room. From Free Clinic to free clinic. To County clinic after county clinic. Got up at 4 in the Morning to get in a line I was told would be packed by 7 AM (they were right, I was there at 7 and they closed the line..)From the Richest community in the US to one of the poorest. And I got NOTHING. No doctor. A couple of nurses took my temp and weight then told me they did not have room for patients that were not in dire straits. "We are not accepting any more patients".

So now I sit, in total pain. I have eaten about 50 dollars worth of Ibprofen, some Motrins (that a friend gave me) and am in so much pain I cannot sleep. I have developed a toothache to go wth my shoulder back pain also.

Now I understand that I could have gone to the E Room and the taxpayers would have footed that bill. I knew what my injuries are though and know I don't need that level of treatment and would be wasting tons of money in the process. I have soft tissue injury. My shoulders are gone and now apparently my back is destroyed too. (too many years of hard labor as a tile setter). I know the injury and know that XRays are not going to show anything (As before)...