Racing to beat Medicaid cuts

Racing to beat Medicaid cuts Thousands of poor, elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients across Missouri are hurrying into medical clinics and dentists' offices, hoping to get treatment before massive program cuts take effect and they lose their coverage in July or August. Gov. Matt Blunt and the Legislature cut the budget and changed the law, so fewer people qualify for coverage under the joint federal-state health insurance program. "They've been flooding in," said Fernandel Porter, a dental assistant at Grace Hill Water Tower Health Center in St. Louis. "There has really been a rush, especially with the elderly patients." At Byron Duvall's dental office in St. Louis, patients have been waiting in line outside the office beginning at 7 a.m., long before the staff shows up, office manager Rhonda Smith said. "Oh, my God," she said, "you remember when they were giving out government cheese? That's what the lines have been like."

The twenty year old getting dentures caught my eye. I'd love to fact check the whole article, but time is short.

Lots of whining from service providers has been a strong theme.

The safety nets were to be temporary, not permanent to keep them living in a higher standard of living.

We can't do everything for everybody, we can't afford it and we will sink like an anchor trying to do it.

The people are way too spoiled IMO.

It's happening in Wisconsin, too.

People are being asked to provide a listing of their total assets: insurance policies/investments/bank accounts/second homes/second cars and all welfare/Medicaid is being held up until the state has an accounting. They have to prove any insurance policy is term only. Variable and Universal Life is counted as an asset they can borrow against. People who earn over the poverty line in a given month have their medical benefits for that month reduced. If they utilized benefits in the month they earned more, they are being made to pay that money back. There are now co-pays for services. Payment plans are offered for those who need services (dental/vision included) they cannot qualify for.

I have only heard about this from people who were *working poor* w/variable incomes, but the ones I have heard are shocked! I guarantee they will access fewer services just for the heck of it and will now treat all medical/dental/vision needs in a prioritized manner, even saving up for new glasses or a teeth cleaning.

Just like the rest of us.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.