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"If you are Medicare enrolled, you are not eligible for an HSA."
And I think the Medicare enrollment is automatic. The veteran status also disquallifies him if he receives any benefits.
If he took the deduction he would probably be in violation from one of a variety of reasons.
by william shipley on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 04:26:56 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
regardless of his ability to pay. sounds pretty socialistic to me!
"Tell me, is that rolling thunder...or just the sinkin' sound of something righteous going under?" Bruce Springsteen - Livin' in the Future
by mooshter on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 04:54:12 PM PDT
As a Senator, he's our employee and we cover him under that plan.
As a Veteran, he's covered under the benefits we offer to encourage people to be in the military.
Under Social Security, that's a pension plan.
None of these things are tradionally means tested.
Now if he was getting medicaid, that would be another story.
by william shipley on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 04:57:25 PM PDT
(the health and disability variety) are not offered to encourage people to be in the military - they're offered because it is the responsibility of a society to take care of those who have been injured or fallen ill because we served honorably in difficult, dangerous, unhealthy roles to defend the society.
Many veterans would be in much better physical and psychological health had we never served, despite having free medical care in the service and for service-related problems after discharge.
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. - George Orwell
by kyril on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 05:52:36 PM PDT
Include health care for non-service related problems? Clearly, as you say, those should fall in the category of our obligations.
Some benefits are enticements, some are because of the responsibility you cite.
by william shipley on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 07:45:33 PM PDT
but the opportunity to stay in for 20 years and retire is by no means guaranteed when one joins. Also, after 20+ years in the military, one can argue that most of the medical problems a veteran has are likely in some way service-related - even things like heart conditions, which have been shown to be promoted by stress and diet, and servicemembers can't control their own diets.
For those of us who are discharged rather than retiring, the only care guaranteed is that for service-related conditions, with the exception of veterans with high disability ratings (the justification here being that injuries/illness incurred in the service is preventing these veterans from working and obtaining their own medical care, so we have an obligation to care for them).
While vets with lower disability ratings theoretically can get care for non-service-related stuff at VA medical centers, those centers are generally so overloaded that such is not possible; for those with no disability ratings, there's been a freeze on enrollment in the VA system for several years now, and even before that the odds of a non-disabled vet being able to get treatment for a non-service-related condition was virtually nil.
So the short answer to your question is: no.
by kyril on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 08:45:14 PM PDT
I thought the situation was better. You would think that taking care of military people and veterans would have the support of both sides of the aisle!
by william shipley on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 10:55:49 PM PDT
does not go to his local VA hospital for care.
Someone ought to ask him.
Again, just a big ugly double standard, VA care is fine for rank and file veterans, but not John Mccain.
Tell your healthcare and insurance horror stories at Guaranteed Healthcare
by nyceve on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 04:16:56 AM PDT
but. . .
1- Is he on Medicare?
2- Does his family have FEHBP High Deductible with HSA. Cindy and the children are insured undoubtedly through the FEHBP.
We're entitled to ask these questions and have them answered.
by nyceve on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 04:55:12 PM PDT
It's on his tax form. I assume if you are receiving social security you are automatically enrolled in medicare. I could be wrong about that, I'm not an expert.
Since Cindy is filing separately, there's no way to tell what her status is.
Certainly he is someone who is in the class of people for whom an HSA is a good idea -- he can certainly afford to pay the high deductable out of pocket.
I have no idea if he get's any healthcare from the veteran's administration -- if he does, he can't have an HSA on that basis.
by william shipley on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 05:01:53 PM PDT
comment, I just updated the diary.
The questions I have are:
1- Is McSame on Medicare?
2- Even if he is, what health plan do Cindy and the dependent children have?
FEHBP offers a very nice High Deductible with an equally nice HSA for residents of Arizona. Is this what she has? If McSame doesn't yet have Medicare, is this the plan he has?
Let me tell you something, it would be awfully nice to get McAge into a discussion of his medicare coverage--remind the voter how old he is. I love senior citizens, but not McCain.
by nyceve on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 05:22:17 PM PDT
I assume if you are receiving social security you are automatically enrolled in medicare. I could be wrong about that, I'm not an expert.
He would have Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) automatically. Medicare Medical Insurance (Part B) is optional, and he may not have it. For a person who is working and has health insurance from their employer, Part B is the secondary payer, so it makes sense to not have it. If he has Part B, the premium for it would be itemized on his Schedule A.
Renewable energy brings national security.
by Calamity Jean on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 07:28:37 PM PDT
I don't see this on his schedule A, so what does this mean?
by nyceve on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 04:24:36 AM PDT
covered by Medicare, and not eligible for an HSA, or receiving medical care through the VA. His length of service and service disabilities would entitle him to free care there.
Cindy should have an HSA, but if you are subject to the AMT, deductions hardly matter -- and she's certainly subject to the AMT.
whenever i have nothing particular to say i find myself always always plunging into cosmic philosophy or something -- archy (Don Marquis)
by mspicata on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 05:46:27 PM PDT
wide narrow
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