Medicaid and Insurances

Summary:

Talking to a friend earlier....

Medicaid and Insurances

Laura (guest) 30 Dec 2010 02:51

Hey guys. So, I was talking to a friend earlier, the same one who introduced this 2012 crap to me…the same one who believes that the economy is a sign Jesus is coming back and no money should be put in banks and nothing should be financed because all the banks are going to collapse….Anyway, she says that eventually Medicaid is going to be gone. I now they've made some changes to Medicaid and some prescriptions aren't covered any more, such as cough medicines because they can be bought over the counter. I, personally, don't think it would be a bad thing if Medicaid was done away with or the recipient was made to take mandatory drug tests and have a job. Then people would stop being so lazy.

My question to you guys is, Do you think Medicaid will be done away with and what will the consequences be???

Re: Medicaid and Insurances

Alene Y 30 Dec 2010 04:11

I don't think any of us here are experts on Medicaid, but I haven't heard anything about it being discontinued. The following is strictly my point of view, and not anything to do with this site.
I wonder if you mean Medicaid or Medicare. Medicaid is for certain low income people who also meet the other requirements in their state. These include things like being blind or disabled or having children under 18. The requirements vary by state.
Medicare is for people over 65. These people have been paying into Medicare up to their retirement. When they retire and go on Medicare, they have to pay $98/ month to Medicare, plus pay for supplemental insurance (part B Supplement, around $180/month, and D Supplement, about $50/month). These amounts vary widely by what insurance company and plan the person has.
If Medicaid were discontinued, there would be lots of low income, disabled, blind, etc. who would have no way to get medical care. I don't believe these people deserve to die because they have suffered some misfortune.
If Medicare were discontinued, all the retired people who have worked all their adult lives and paid into it in order to have medical care when they retired would no longer have it.
Those who think that social programs should be done away with might want to consider what would happen to them or their loved ones if they became disabled, blind, or lost their job. Or, on the Medicare side, think about your grandparents. Would you want them to lose the Medicare they have paid for (and are still paying for) and have no way to get medical care?

Last edited on 30 Dec 2010 04:12 by Alene Y Show more

Laura (guest) 30 Dec 2010 05:03

I think Medicare is important. It should not be taken away. I tried to tell my friend that they can't do away with Medicaid. Her kids are on it. So many people depend on both Medicaid and Medicare.

Alene Y 30 Dec 2010 05:33

Good for you. There are so many people who just don't care what happens to others. I'm glad you're not one of them.

Re: Medicaid and Insurances

TheGreatJuju 30 Dec 2010 07:50

I dunno. On one hand, I despise being forced to pay for others' health-care at gunpoint through any government-run Ponzi scheme. On the other hand, too many people have been led into dependency, and just pulling the plug would be both cruel and disastrous. Possible middle ground is phasing out entitlement programs over a generation or so, not just taking them away.

All that notwithstanding, I don't see Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security being "done away with," at least not on purpose.

---

"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Re: Medicaid and Insurances

obaeyens 30 Dec 2010 22:35

On one hand, I despise being forced to pay for others' health-care at gunpoint through any government-run Ponzi scheme

I have been paying for this for 20 years now and my parents did this for many years before.
Yes it is expensive but a few years ago I could not work for 2 months and they had to pay me.
Also my father got ill many times, he got his medical bills paid for it. And my mother got a knee replacement last year.
And my GF depends on in because of some handicap.

It is really worth paying for.

Last edited on 30 Dec 2010 22:35 by obaeyens Show more

Re: Medicaid and Insurances

TheGreatJuju 31 Dec 2010 00:06

I have been paying for this for 20 years now and my parents did this for many years before.

Regardless of how long you've been paying or who paid before you, it's still a government-run Ponzi scheme enforced at gunpoint, that I didn't volunteer for. If you think it's a good system, I'm all for you paying in to whatever extent you consider prudent. Just don't force me to join you.

Yes it is expensive but a few years ago I could not work for 2 months and they had to pay me.

Yes, this would be some of that dependency I referred to. I'd call it by design, but I think it's more of a convenient side-effect for politicians.

Also my father got ill many times, he got his medical bills paid for it. And my mother got a knee replacement last year. And my GF depends on in because of some handicap.

What does that have to do with anything I said? I never claimed it can't work or be incredibly useful to some people. In fact, I directly stated that many people are wholly dependent on it.

It is really worth paying for.

Only because you have no other options. Even if you did have a realistic second option, you'd still be forced to pay for everyone else, so you have no motivation for seeking that alternative in the first place, even if it's better.

Please note the rest of my post, past the one line you quoted.

---

"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Last edited on 31 Dec 2010 00:08 by TheGreatJuju Show more

Re: Medicaid and Insurances

Alene Y 31 Dec 2010 01:15

JuJu,
Funny thing, I don't recall ever being forced at gunpoint to do anything. Also, a Ponzi Scheme is a fraudulent investment scheme. I really don't see where there is any fraud being comitted in the Medicare system. I paid through payroll deductions until I retired recently. I am now paying what I listed in my previous post. Admittedly, I am now paying more for Medicare and the two supplemental plans than I did for my group medical insurance with my employers, but if Medicare were not available, I would have to pay much more for an individual medical insurance plan. I don't feel that I have been defrauded or that I am taking anything from anyone else. I have paid and am still paying for everything I get.

Laura (guest) 30 Dec 2010 13:09

I think maybe the reason I brought this up was because she's the one who told me about 2012, and because as you can see from my description of her, she's a worrier over dumb stuff. So I think I was trying to tell myself I shouldn't have let her get me wrapped up in 2012 when she believes in some crazy stuff.

obaeyens 30 Dec 2010 22:39

They do this in a hypnotic way:

• Very slowly, under the radar so you don't get noticed that you are being brainwashed.
• Repeat often, so often that you start to believe it.
• Use scare. Being scared blocks you conscious mind and your subconscious is wide open to repeated suggestions.

Alene Y 31 Dec 2010 00:40

Hi Laura,
I considered mentioning that (as in "remember she is the one who told you the 2012 nonsense"), but you already had that figured out.