Medicaid for the middle class (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Dungeon of Political and Religious Discussion



Message

defiantbadgirl -> Medicaid for the middle class (6/22/2011 8:17:56 PM)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110621/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_health_overhaul_glitch

Why is a middle class couple qualifying for Medicaid with an income of $64,000 a problem? Divide that by 2 and each spouse would only be making $32,000/yr. The biggest "glitch" I see mentioned in the article is the federal poverty level of $14,710 for a household of two. This isn't the 1920's when one income could support a family. I want to know when the government plans to fix the federal poverty level "glitch" of no difference between household adults and household children.



erieangel -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/22/2011 8:21:41 PM)

Good question. Even with the glitch i'm living beneath the federal poverty line--and i work full time at a job i love which offers great benefits but low pay. i also do a weekend job once a month and am looking to make it twice just for the extra cash.



Marini -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/22/2011 8:41:13 PM)

I definitely think those in the lower Middle Class/ and Middle Class should have more assistance available to them, especially when they are down on their luck, risking foreclosures, homelessness, medical crisis, etc.

BUT, we have to realize we are living in a time, that "many of the powers that be" want to CUT assistance to the POOR and the ELDERLY.
Do you honestly think this is a time when the Middle Class can expect assistance?

The answer to a lot of this is......NATIONAL HEALTHCARE.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 5:02:27 PM)

So the answer to the budget deficit is to expand welfare. Makes sense.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 5:56:28 PM)

Actually, willbe, expanding the medical aspect of welfare would take away alot of the pinch for the middle class.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 5:57:53 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

Actually, willbe, expanding the medical aspect of welfare would take away alot of the pinch for the middle class.


More magic I guess!



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 5:59:03 PM)

lol.... right back to your snark again, i see. No magic, just plain fact. Sadly, I dont forsee it happening.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:00:26 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

lol.... right back to your snark again, i see. No magic, just plain fact. Sadly, I dont forsee it happening.


Not snark at all. Hint: it has to be paid for. There actually is no golden goose.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:30:25 PM)

No one is talking about gooses, golden or otherwise. The Middle class is the working class of this country. If they get sicker, our businesses suffer. Lots of money is spent in sick time.

Have you noticed the insurance companies discussing how their profits are increasing because people arent utilizing their insurance? This isnt a good thing either. When people cut back, health care is typically the first area.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:39:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

No one is talking about gooses, golden or otherwise. The Middle class is the working class of this country. If they get sicker, our businesses suffer. Lots of money is spent in sick time.

Have you noticed the insurance companies discussing how their profits are increasing because people arent utilizing their insurance? This isnt a good thing either. When people cut back, health care is typically the first area.



And of course claims decrease when utilization priced into premiums declines. But once again you are continuing the fallacy that they are "profits", rather than increases in reserves, and since the vast majority of policies are rated, the reserves will be given back in the form of premium reductions.

Now demonstrate that the decrease in utilization has resulted in poorer health outcomes. It sure cant be shown from studies of sick day utilization.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:48:07 PM)

Um.. willbe... that wasnt a snark at insurance companies, just using the term that is out there.

The parent of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois raked in $1.1 billion in profit last year, a doubling of 2009's results that is likely to stoke the controversy over skyrocketing health insurance costs.

Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp. has kept up the torrid pace in 2011, with net income leaping by nearly two-thirds to $437 million in the first quarter from $275 million a year earlier.

The robust financial performance comes amid nationwide criticism of the health insurance industry, which is basking in record profits thanks to double-digit premium increases and reduced claims, as budget-minded consumers put off going to the doctor. Just this month, non-profit Blue Shield of California said it would take the rare step of refunding $167 million to customers and place a cap on future profits after an outcry about premiums and executive compensation.



Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110618/ISSUE01/306189984/blue-cross-profits-surge#ixzz1Q9bL8Qx8
Stay on top of Chicago business with our free daily e-newsletters

Now, is net income not profit? Its not the basis for my previous post. I said their profits were up because people were not going to the Dr. As the article above reflects.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:49:33 PM)

quote:

Now demonstrate that the decrease in utilization has resulted in poorer health outcomes. It sure cant be shown from studies of sick day utilization.


That part is common sense, willbe. Anyone putting off health care is increasing their future utilization needs, in return, increasing the time they will need to recover.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:50:16 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


Now, is net income not profit?


No, its not. Ive explained the difference already.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 6:52:37 PM)

As profit and earnings are used synonymously for income (also depending on UK and US usage), net earnings and net profit are commonly found as synonyms for net income.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 7:12:58 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

Now demonstrate that the decrease in utilization has resulted in poorer health outcomes. It sure cant be shown from studies of sick day utilization.


That part is common sense, willbe. Anyone putting off health care is increasing their future utilization needs, in return, increasing the time they will need to recover.


No, you have made an unsupported assumption that the decrease in utlization is a decrease in NECESSARY utilization. When people become more responsbile for the cost of their decisions, they make BETTER decisions, not necessarily CHEAPER decisions.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 7:14:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

As profit and earnings are used synonymously for income (also depending on UK and US usage), net earnings and net profit are commonly found as synonyms for net income.


I dont give a fuck what is "commonly used". That is why I said your use of "profits" merely perpetuates the myth that they are the same, a very convenient and self serving myth for those who's favorite pasttime is to demonize the industry.

Its analagous to the "Ooohhh so and so didnt pay any taxes and had blah blah blah profits" bullshit that permeates "common" use.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 7:15:20 PM)

Cutting back on health care due to economic downturns is never a decision that is better health wise.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 7:18:05 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

Cutting back on health care due to economic downturns is never a decision that is better health wise.


If it is NECESSARY health care I agree. Unfortunately you cant demonstrate that the cutbacks ARE on necessary health care, nor that it its due to the economic downturn. In fact it is far more the result of increases in employee's share of health care costs and BETTER decisions.



tazzygirl -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 7:19:23 PM)

You cannot prove that their decision making skills have suddenly turned towards the better. It is more likely that money is a bigger motivating factor.



willbeurdaddy -> RE: Medicaid for the middle class (6/23/2011 7:21:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

You cannot prove that their decision making skills have suddenly turned towards the better. It is more likely that money is a bigger motivating factor.


Actually I have several studies that show just that. See a PM coming shortly.



Page: [1] 2   next >   >>

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
0.046875