State and federal laws conflict, leaving poor Americans worse off.
State Medicaid laws, conflicting with federal Obamacare law, have created an odd scenario in which the estates of recipients of Medicaid can be tapped to repay medical expenses after their deaths. According to the Seattle Times, Medicaid has always sought to recoup costs from estates for nursing homes and long-term care, but has never attempted to recoup normal healthcare costs because most low-income adults without disabilities did not qualify.
But with Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid to low-income adults, all of that changes. The result is an odd system in which older people who have retired and end up in low-income brackets, despite the fact that they have assets. Medicaid recovery, then, ends up penalizing low-income adults with assets.
And it gets worse: Obamacare doesn’t give people a choice about whether to join Medicaid if they qualify. That’s because they can’t receive a subsidy for typical health insurance plans if they qualify for Medicaid.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
1 comment:
This is the source of the statement that not buying into Obamacare could result in them taking your house.
That statement isn't quite accurate, but you see now how it came about.
If you buy into Obamacare, then have an income decrease eligible for Medicaid, you are automatically put there. When you die, instead of passing anything on to your heirs, it goes to pay off what you "borrowed" from Medicaid. If you keep your income up and get a tax credit, that doesn't have to be paid back.
Moral of the story? Don't get poor.
Post a Comment