While many folks are aware that 22 states have refused to expand Medicaid, at the cost of more than 4.3 million lives, they are not aware that many low income folks living in the (mostly blue) states, remain grievously shortchanged when it comes to affordable health care.
I live in the blue state of California, as a low income resident in San Francisco. Yet Obamacare's expansion to Medi-Cal does nothing to make my health care anywhere near "affordable." That is because California's version of Medicaid has instituted a share of cost fee in 1989, based on that year's cost of living! The first question that comes to my mind, is: "How on earth did they get away with this?"
And California has never adjusted this cost of living ever since. Which means that Medi-Cal will not cover any medical fees until I pay $518 any given month...based on my social security income of $1,243. This is almost half my income, therefore I can not afford any sort of health care, including preventative or maintenance. This 1989 cost of living means that any monthly income beyond $600, is automatically stripped by Medi-Cal. Now, how can anyone survive on such an astronomical fee?
Some other states, such as Minnesota, New Mexico and Massachusetts, grant Medicaid recipients a much more reasonable cost. For example, Minnesota charges $0.00 (zero dollars) for anyone collecting $1,340 or less per month. Therefore, I conclude that California's version of Medicaid (Medi-Cal) is ripping off the poor even to the point where their own lives are at stake. And if not their lives, causing them much misery because they cannot afford any of the care required to ease their suffering.
I can only assume that many other blue states are equally cruel, with little exception (those reasonable states like the three cited above). It is up to other enlightened folks to do the math, for I am barely treading water in struggling for my own freedom. Thus do not have either the time or energy to parse all inequities of this Medicaid debacle.
Perversely enough, this matter of blue state rip off is not even on the political radar, though red state issues around Medicaid are. As if every blue state has all its poor residents totally covered, with no reason whatsoever to complain. Here is a good example of how only the red (conservative) states are being blamed for outrageous out-of-pocket Medicaid fees:
Charging Medicaid Premiums Hurts Patients and State Budgets
In speaking out against this death sentence to the poor, I am usually slammed by my own progressive peers...accused of being a right-wing saboteur. (I am a Democrat, who voted for Obama FYI.) Very few have followed up on my claims, to see if I am correct regarding this matter. They are totally brainwashed.
And our government--along with the progressive media--are implicit in sweeping this horrid truth under the proverbial carpet. Meanwhile, time is ticking for this neglected soul, until the day comes when I suffer a major ailment, injury or emergency, which fees required by Medi-Cal will make me so poor, I can no longer feed myself, or keep a humble roof over my head. This is indeed a death sentence, for which I am greatly angered at our government, and wish it no good any more. For I need annual eye checkups to keep from going blind. Checkups which I can no longer afford. And who knows what other ailments I will suffer that are common to the elderly (for I am now 66 years old)? What about prostate cancer, arthritis, pneumonia, or going deaf? Many other medical issues occur to me, that I cannot afford to take care of, even if they are readily managed by our modern health care system...and for which I become ever more susceptible, due to my advanced age.
AMERIKA, GO FUK YOURSELF!
I am forced by a diabolical system to fight for my own life...as if I were the only one in this nation suffering such egregious abuse. For in my daily life--online as well as offline--I have yet to encounter anyone else with a similar gov't boot stomping on his neck.
The only solution I can come up with, is to press for a class action lawsuit. Against both the state of California, and the White House! Which may land me in prison, or at best get me cut off from any social security and/or other government aid. For whistle blowers are not regarded kindly these days, in spite of a democratic president. I may likely perish in this fight to preserve my own life!
Thus I have arrived at a new faith in Our Creator: that He shall somehow grant me good health and fortitude through this battle that for whatever reason He has called me to wage. But do not think for a moment, that I have any faith in this nation, or any great love as some sort of hoodwinked patriot. For this Medi-Cal offense is more than an inconvenience: it is a willful threat towards my well being, and even existence, at the hands of Uncle Sam. So once more I say:
AMERIKA, GO FUK YOURSELF!
For proof of my claim about share of cost, see: California Share of Cost. Quote:
“For example, if an individual earns $1,100 a month, that person must incur $500 in medical costs each month before receiving any coverage from the Medi-Cal program. For consumers with a high share of cost, Medi-Cal provides little more than catastrophic coverage and does not enable them to access health care services.”
To my detriment, I do indeed have a "high SOC." Talk about milking the poor unto their own death bed!
ADDENDUM
I tracked down four Youtube videos about Medicaid scam, that further verify my own assertion. Here we go:
1. What is the share of cost for Medi Cal?
To which I added my own comment:
"As if anyone poor enough to be eligible for Medicaid can even afford an estate planning attorney. Plus, the spouse is left with having to clean out his savings, until it is below Medicaid's allowable assets, which is less than $3,000. Shoving the spouse into extreme poverty: way to go, Medi-Cal!"
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2. The Medicaid bill that doesn't go away when you die
My comment:
"As if that isn't bad enough, monthly share of cost for Medi-Cal recipients is the remainder of their income OVER SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS! Example: if you receive $1,100 soc. sec. per month, your share of cost is $500! This is more of a death sentence than anything else. See:
"Expanded Medicaid = Sick Joke
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3. Medicaid is Ruining My Life
This man's from Idaho, and his story is heartbreaking. But this video gives solid affirmation that even with expanded Medicaid, many states that have accepted it, are killing off the low-income disabled. He also stated that New Mexico has /no/ share of cost for its Medicaid recipients, and is therefore far more reasonable. In /my/ research, I discovered that Minnesota is likewise decent. BUT NOT CALIFORNIA! My comment:
"Randy: California is just the same as Idaho...very cruel. In my research, I discovered that Minnesota is like New Mexico: no share of cost. I've been trying to put the word out there, but I usually get accused of lying, and being a right-wing infiltrator...so it's been a painful, uphill climb. I am so glad, however, that refinancing has proven a godsend for your situation...though millions of others still suffer, and will likely die before their time, and possibly be homeless first.
"I would really like to get a list of which states that accept expanded Medicaid charge a SOC, and which do not...to get a sense of how extensive the corruption. Many of these same people now suffering under Medicaid's draconian rules voted for Obama, in faith he would improve their lot. Instead, he's handed them a death sentence.
"I am now 66 years old; I do /not/ own a home, nor any other considerable asset, so I'm really screwed!
"You are welcome to view my three blog entries on this egregious cross dumped on the shoulders of the poorest, here in California. Do you think pursuing a class action lawsuit is feasible...both against each guilty state, and against the Federal Government? If so, I wonder why the ACLU hasn't ever bothered to try to rectify this horrendous and deadly abuse by both state and Federal agencies. Here are those three Medi-Cal articles of mine, in chronological order:
Obamacare Defecates on the Poor
Expanded Medicaid = Sick Joke
No PrEP for the Poor
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4. Understanding healthcare costs: Medicaid
No comment from this outraged client! They make everything look so generous and accommodating to the low income, I could puke.
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And for the rest of you, who live the affluent lifestyle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXJS4HxMlmM