Posted on 11/16/2005 8:02:21 AM PST by robowombat
Maine Now Has Biggest Medicaid Population in Nation By IPR Nov 9, 2005, 20:42
PORTLAND -- The Maine Heritage Policy Center today cited updated 2004 data from the Kaiser Family Foundation that shows Maine now has the largest Medicaid program in the country, covering 21 percent of all non-elderly individuals, those under 65 years old, within the state. Almost all Mainers over 65 have Medicare coverage.
"Maine once again is an example for the nation of an unsustainable level of Medicaid spending," said Tarren Bragdon, director of health reform initiatives for The Maine Heritage Policy Center. "Maine is number one in tax burden, and now it is number one in Medicaid. This new data does not bode well for Maine taxpayers."
From 2000 to 2004, the portion of Maine people under 65 on Medicaid increased 9.7 percent, while the uninsured rate dropped a scant 0.4 percent. This means for every 97 new people on Medicaid the number uninsured dropped by just 4. 1 This shift shows that almost all of the increase in Maine Medicaid came from individuals dropping Maine's expe! nsive private health insurance coverage. Maine has had the largest increase of all 50 states in its Medicaid program from 2000 to 2004. 2
"This new data shows that Maine's elected officials need to act soon in lowering Maine exorbitant health insurance costs," said Mr. Bragdon. "There is clearly a correlation between the growth in Medicaid and a reduction in those purchasing private health insurance. Maine has some of the most expensive health premiums in the country as a direct result of Maine's expensive insurance regulations including guaranteed issue and community rating. Elected officials have the ability to lower private health insurance premiums and they must act soon to slow the growth! of Medicaid."
The portion of Maine adults 19-64 on Medicaid is 16 percent or almost one in six - also the highest in the nation, double the national average of 8 percent or about one in twelve. The portion of Maine kids 0-18 on Medicaid is 34 percent over one in three- 7th highest in the nation, 8 percent higher than the national average of 26 percent or one in four.
Maine has maintained a low uninsured rate of 12 percent of non-elderly Mainers. Eight other states have the same or a lower rate of uninsured. 3
Interestingly, Maine's high Medicaid numbers are not driven by a particularly large low-income population, compared to other states. Twenty-two states have the same or a larger portion of their residents who are low income (below 200% of poverty). 4
Stated Mr. Bragdon, "Maine Medicaid has become the TennCare of this decade. In the 1990s Tennessee began its massive Medicaid expansion called TennCare and recently had to drop coverage for over 200,000 individuals because the program was bankrupting the state. Maine is setting itself up for the same problem."
The Kaiser Family Foundation data is available at: www.StateHealthFacts.org.
1 Kaiser Family Foundation. Health Coverage and the Uninsured. Coverage Trends Among Nonelderly. % Point Change by Coverage Type. 2 Kaiser Family Foundation. Health Coverage and the Uninsured. Coverage Trends Among Nonelderly. % Point Change in Medicaid. 3 Kaiser Family Foundation. Health Coverage and the Uninsured. Health Insurance Status: Non-elderly (0-64). 4 Kaiser Family Foundation. Demographics and the Economy. People in Poverty. Distribution by FPL (federal poverty limit).
How proud they must be!!
See above story if you want to see the End-game of Socialism. And or France.
Take a look at Tennessee. There are over 1 million people on Tenncare, many who are completely able to work and afford other insurance.
"Maine has had the largest increase of all 50 states in its Medicaid program from 2000 to 2004."
No mention of Maine's illustrious governor. I thought he was going to solve the healthcare problems in Maine. Seems like he's made 'em worse. What happened?
Maybe they'll all freeze to death this winter and lighten' the load (just kidding)
You yanked those words right out of my fingertips...LOL! Right...those Mainers must be so damn happy! The rats who own property must be dancing in the streets. I can't imagine how high property taxes etc must be in comparison with other states.
No wonder they charge $32 for a pint of lobster stew!
See above story if you want to see the End-game of Socialism.
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That says it all.
Who in their right mind would freeze to death nearly year round to be poor? I could just as easily be poor on the white sands of a Florida beach.
must be all those somalian refugees.
Well, the Hemlock Society ought to be able to help in Maine, too, like they're doing in Florida.
Maine and Vermont have become priority states for many gays for early retirement after cashing out their homes in California.
When we first saw this trend in our area, we were wondering why in hell were these gay couples moving to Maine or Vermont for their early retirement after selling their homes here. These were not winter ski nuts longing for the cold winters.
The trend of these gay couples moving to Ashland, Eugene and Portland Oregon seems to have slowed down and have replaced with Maine and Vermont.
The wonderful health care programs of those states seems to be the lure.
Ooops. I forgot to ping you on this reply of mine.
Well said! I live near a FL "white sands" beach..hehe! And have cousins in different parts of Maine. They are very bitter about the tax situation too. They may give up and move BACK to Massachusetts...Taxachusetts.
LOL
Well, that helps narrow down the states I might move to.
Avoid New England like the plague.
I visited there a few times over the years. The colors of the leaves in fall are pretty.
Every thing else made me shudder with fear and loathing.
Although I was thinking about NH for a while since it has no income or sales tax and has a reputation for being conservative. And then I saw the property taxes, and read that liberals from MASS(destruction) are moving there in droves.
The destruction of Maine is directly proportional to the Masshole migration. They have left the hell of their own creation without a clue that they are the ones who made the place uninhabitable. Now they are busy doing their number on Maine.
And then there are the Somalis...
Thanks for the ping. I need to read this. heh! What else is new!
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