Quote:
Originally Posted by kane
Just for the record getting Medicaid is not as easy as you might make it out to be. First off, most Medicaid is controlled primarily at the state level so the qualifications and availability of it can vary from state to state. Secondly, there are almost always other qualifications beyond just being poor to get on medicaid. For example, in my state if you are poor and pregnant you will almost always be accepted. If you are poor and have some kind of serious illness you are more likely to be accepted, but if you are just poor, the odds are not in your favor. They hand it out on a need by need basis so those who are just poor are at the back of the line.
Case in point. About 8 years ago my mom gets laid off from her job. She was 61 years old and had spent the last 20 years working in a job that really doesn't exist anymore. Her job prospects were not very good. With unemployment her only source of income she didn't have any health insurance and eventually the unemployment ran out. For about a year I was able to support her as she looked for a job and tried to get herself back on track. She applied for medicaid but even with no unemployment income and the only income she had being what I gave her to survive, they still denied her. Eventually she got sick. It turns out she had diabetes and didn't know and ended up in the hospital twice before finally having a seizure and having to be transported by ambulance to the ER and admitted for a few days. So then she qualified for a form of Medicaid that helped pay for her health care. To make a long story short she eventually got on disability, but she had to be checked into a nursing home because she had other health problems and needed more care. They gave her full medicaid and paid for everything, but they took all but $50 of her monthly disability check for as long as she stayed in the nursing home.
So yes, a person can get medicaid, but it is not easy and almost always comes only with other circumstances surrounding it. It isn't like you can walk in, show them that you are poor and get medicaid.
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nothing, when dealing with the government is easy. But, she did get coverage.
I am aware that they make you jump through hoops for those type of programs, medicade, disability, etc. They typically deny about 70% of the disability claims.
Now imagine having to deal with the government for every medical procedure you might ever need to have if govt run health care was for everyone. I am thankful I can pay for my own insurance. I am happy paying for it each month so I don't have to deal with the govt when it comes to my health.
If I had no choice because i was poor, or disabled or old, I would just have to deal with and be glad it was there instead of nothing. But I am glad I don't have to deal with them.