Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
Medicaid is the program for people who cannot afford health insurance. It is an entirely different program from Medicare.
And it also is not a perfect program. Many doctors will no longer accept Medicaid patients because some states are extremely slow in payment reimbursements and they pay nowhere near what it costs the doctor and facility to provide the service.
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I am aware that Medicare and Medicaid are two entirely different programs.. However, for some seniors Medicare is their only choice and is not the "be all to end all" that many people assume it is.. My DH has been on Medicare for going on 5 years now and they have never paid one DIME for any of his medical care.. We have a supplemental policy that we pay for each month that is basically for emergencies only (if we happen to be somewhere that doesn't have a VA hospital nearby).. We were forced to turn his healthcare over to the VA because the supplemental policy would cover only $500 worth of medications per year and my DH's medications run in the THOUSANDS per year.. So - now he gets his substandard care at the VA - where we pay co-pays for all of his medications.. That means we are paying for his Medicare (which is taken out of his SS check each month) - the supplemental policy (that is pretty much useless except in an emergency that would require hospitalization) and his VA co-pays each month..
Now here's the "hitch" with all of these so-called "programs" for people who cannot afford insurance or have been disqualified for health reasons.. You can NOT do anything to "help yourself" or you will be PENALIZED for it.. Our experience with the VA is a perfect example.. When my DH had to resubmit his financial certification recently the allowable income had been reduced significantly to approximately $12,000 per year for a family of two..
Now - the logical thing would be for me to go out and get a job - right? Wrong.. Because if I did so - in order to still qualify for the VA program, I could only
clear $32
a week.. Anything more than that, and he is disqualified.. I could attempt to work a full-time job and a part-time job (while still caring for him at the same time, taking him to his doctors appointments, etc.) but it still would not come close to what is needed to pay for his medications each month, his oxygen, his co-pays under the supplemental health insurance, etc..
Another possibility would be for us to sell everything we own - spend all of that money on healthcare for the next year or two at best - and then go on welfare.. And who is footing the bill then? Right back to the tax payers..
And before someone jumps in here and says we should have "planned better", let me tell you that when my DH retired he had a significant amount of money in pension, IRA, savings, etc. and
every cent of it is GONE.. Gone where? To doctor bills, hospital bills, treatment bills, and medications..
So - how do you correct situations like this?
Subsidize what people need - don't make it an "all or nothing" venture.. It's the same problem that plagues the welfare system.. Rather than subsidize the person who is struggling to get by, they would rather pay people ALL of what they need and have them sit at home doing nothing..
All of the programs that are currently in place "could" work - if they were managed in a realistic manner.. One that would allow the person in need to HELP THEMSELVES to the best of their ability, while at the same time subsidizing the additional dollars that are needed to achieve the goal..
