Thread: A Twist In Obama's Health Care Law

Good news boys and girls! Obama is about to declare you:

POOR!

That's right millions of American's will join the ranks of the poor and qualify for Medicaid:

President Barack Obama's health care law would let several million middle-class people get nearly free insurance meant for the poor, a twist government number crunchers say they discovered only after the complex bill was signed.

The change would affect early retirees: A married couple could have an annual income of about $64,000 and still get Medicaid, said officials who make long-range cost estimates for the Health and Human Services department.

Up to 3 million people could qualify for Medicaid in 2014 as a result of the anomaly. That's because, in a major change from today, most of their Social Security benefits would no longer be counted as income for determining eligibility.

Happy Days! Right?

Well... not everybody thinks so

Medicare chief actuary Richard Foster says the situation keeps him up at night.

"I don't generally comment on the pros or cons of policy, but that just doesn't make sense," Foster said during a question-and-answer session at a recent professional society meeting. It's almost like allowing middle-class people to qualify for food stamps, he suggested.

"This is a situation that got no attention at all," added Foster. "And even now, as I raise the issue with various policymakers, people are not rushing to say ... we need to do something about this."

That's right the guy that is supposed to make this all work... doesn't think it will.

But of course some folks want you on the government handout:

Indeed, administration officials and senior Democratic lawmakers say it's not a loophole but the result of a well-meaning effort to simplify rules for deciding who will get help with insurance costs under the new health care law. Instead of a hodgepodge of rules, there will be one national policy.

And what say the folks that will actually have to make this work?

But states have been clamoring for relief from Medicaid costs, complaining that just these sorts of federal rules drive up spending and limit state options. The program is now one of the top issues in budget negotiations between the White House and Congress. Republicans are pushing for a rollback of federal requirements that block states from limiting eligibility.

Yeah... sucks to be them... because:

The actuary's office said the 3 million early retirees who would become eligible for Medicaid are on top of an estimated 16 million to 20 million people that Obama's law would already bring into the program, by opening it to childless adults with incomes near the poverty level. Federal taxpayers will cover all of the initial cost of the expansion.

And... let's remember... you'll have no choice.

Socialist Medicine here we come!

Oh... and it's from the AP... and bastion of rightwing propaganda

AP NewsBreak: A twist in Obama's health care law | Health News - The News Tribune

People hear the word Socialism and run. The stigma of that word, as a hangover from Cold War propaganda, is ridiculous. Socializing medication, and education for that matter, would be extremely beneficial. It's becoming increasingly difficult for even middle-class citizens to afford health care, and we're still paying ~20% taxes. We need to quit trying to initiate reform with no capital to back it. Bring in the capital (via socializing) and institute the reform that this country needs.

30% taxes sounds egregious, out of context. But couple that with free medicine, doctors visits, secondary education, and I would hope Commie-fearers would realize that socialism isn't the Red Devil it's made out to be.

Originally Posted by Talk Easy

People hear the word Socialism and run. The stigma of that word, as a hangover from Cold War propaganda, is ridiculous. Socializing medication, and education for that matter, would be extremely beneficial. It's becoming increasingly difficult for even middle-class citizens to afford health care, and we're still paying ~20% taxes. We need to quit trying to initiate reform with no capital to back it. Bring in the capital (via socializing) and institute the reform that this country needs.

30% taxes sounds egregious, out of context. But couple that with free medicine, doctors visits, secondary education, and I would hope Commie-fearers would realize that socialism isn't the Red Devil it's made out to be.

You're either on a college campus, or you must really be lonely down there in Texas.

Originally Posted by Talk Easy

People hear the word Socialism and run. The stigma of that word, as a hangover from Cold War propaganda, is ridiculous. Socializing medication, and education for that matter, would be extremely beneficial. It's becoming increasingly difficult for even middle-class citizens to afford health care, and we're still paying ~20% taxes. We need to quit trying to initiate reform with no capital to back it. Bring in the capital (via socializing) and institute the reform that this country needs.

30% taxes sounds egregious, out of context. But couple that with free medicine, doctors visits, secondary education, and I would hope Commie-fearers would realize that socialism isn't the Red Devil it's made out to be.

Welcome aboard, Comrade Talk Easy. First post was a sensible one.

Both. I'm not modeling my ideas around any hippies (remember...I'm in Texas) but rather Northern Europe, primarily Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

The 16 Best Places In The World To Live

#7 being Switzerland and #4 being the Netherlands. They give a nice little bonus of where America sits on the list (Spoiler Alert: #71). Germany, a long standing "democratic" ally of the U.S. operates under Social Democracy.

Originally Posted by Rude Boy

Welcome aboard, Comrade Talk Easy. First post was a sensible one.

Thanks much, Rude Boy. I will enjoy my stay.

Originally Posted by Talk Easy

Both. I'm not modeling my ideas around any hippies (remember...I'm in Texas) but rather Northern Europe, primarily Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

The 16 Best Places In The World To Live

#7 being Switzerland and #4 being the Netherlands. They give a nice little bonus of where America sits on the list (Spoiler Alert: #71). Germany, a long standing "democratic" ally of the U.S. operates under Social Democracy.

And who do they rely on to keep them safe from attack? Or maybe they can provide for our safety, and we can get rid of our military. I'm surprised you did not mention Greece, Portugal or Spain. Their doing so well with their entitlement programs.

Originally Posted by Forplay

And who do they rely on to keep them safe from attack? Or maybe they can provide for our safety, and we can get rid of our military. I'm surprised you did not mention Greece, Portugal or Spain. Their doing so well with their entitlement programs.

1. Against who does the US keep Germany, Switzerland or the Netherlands safe from attack and how is this related to healthcare ?

2. Neither Spain, nor Portugal nor Greece are in trouble because of any entitlement programs. The issue is a bit more complex and unique for each country.

Married couples that make $64,000.00 a year will get MedicAid?

Where's the money to pay for that supposed to come from?

Oh wait, I get it, the Feds want to get their hands even deeper into how state funds are spent becasue they are creating a situation where the states will fail to met their portion of the increased cost and as such things will need to be restructured if states can't meet their commitment.

I enjoy my socialist VA medical benefits(free), that I received from being a member of the largest socialistic organization, the military. They will probably tweek this law, and no one 64 will get medicaid.