[LPNer]

Originally Posted by Tommybabe

Not all of the working poor in this country are eligible for Medicaid. In some cases, even making $6 an hour is too much. For instance, I found out from some of my CNA classmates that they called one of the social services offices in the state (New Jersey), and found out that in order for a family of two to qualify for Medicaid benefits, they can't earn over $400 per month. If you work full-time at the minimun wage of $5.15 per hour, then you still earn too much. What happens to workers who make $7 per hour, and their jobs don't provide health benefits? I know people who work as hotel maids during the day, and waiters/waitresses at night, but don't have any medical benefits at all. They are certainly not lazy, but the myth in this country seems to be that only non-working people need medical care, but many working people around here don't have any medical benefits at all. What about them?

I am sorry, I didn't mean to imply that ALL working poor can get Medicaide. I am aware that benefits are based on wage:number of family members; often number of minor family members. My point was, those of us who pay dearly for medical care will continue to do so and we will likely end up paying more to "cover" those who can't or won't pay for themselves. While those of us who DO PAY, will continue to realize a smaller disposable income.

[Tommybabe]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

For some reason this working poor person cannot get Medicaid because I choose to work and make too much money. But than I don't have any kids that I can claim. I know!!!! I'll get pregnant that way I can get the gall bladder removed and my life will be good. Right now that seems to be a better option because I sure am having a hard time getting the medical people to work with me on setting up a payment plan to have this done. <sigh>. I guess that I could wait until things turn ugly and the pancreatitis and/or liver failure set in. Naw--I really hate emergency rooms so I'll just hope that this thing waits until I retire in 25 years. Maybe Medicare will still be around.
Fuzzy

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Have you looked into charity care? In my state, if you need care at a hospital, and meet certain income requirements (for family of two, you can't earn more than $24,000), you won't be charged for hospital bills.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by LPNer

I agree with so much of what you are saying, but as far as insuring the working poor, we already do. Working poor can get Medicaide (and food stamps).
My son, his girlfriend and 2 kids are on it. And ya know what? They have very good care, no out of pocket expenses not even an insurance premium.
I on the other hand, I work and pay my insurance premiums (as well as buy groceries), I also have co-pay on Dr visits, meds, tests, etc.
Given what I pay for health care and groceries : what they don't pay, their disposable income is higher than mine! and I make 30,000 $ more a year than they do!
Where is the sense in all that? No matter how you look at it, insurance premiums, co-oays, etc or taxes. The "theys" of this country will still be getting better care than those of us who pay for it.

well would you please just tell that to my friends who *are* working and are MEDICAID-INELIGIBLE, please? Then, maybe they can get on "easy street" like your son.

My friends can only get COBRA, which they cannot *AFFORD* so they have NO medical insurance whatsoever. I think it royally sucks that anyone who puts in 9 or 10 hours a day at work can't get medical coverage, dont' you?! So sorry, I stand by my original post. Before we build more bombs, spend more money on overseas charity, we need to take care of the ones who have to do without basics like healthcare first.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by LPNer

I am sorry, I didn't mean to imply that ALL working poor can get Medicaide. I am aware that benefits are based on wage:number of family members; often number of minor family members. My point was, those of us who pay dearly for medical care will continue to do so and we will likely end up paying more to "cover" those who can't or won't pay for themselves. While those of us who DO PAY, will continue to realize a smaller disposable income.

I would rather pay for the medical care of people in this country than one more war, myself!!!

[LPNer]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

well would you please just tell that to my friends who *are* working and are MEDICAID-INELIGIBLE, please? Then, maybe they can get on "easy street" like your son.

My friends can only get COBRA, which they cannot *AFFORD* so they have NO medical insurance whatsoever. I think it royally sucks that anyone who puts in 9 or 10 hours a day at work can't get medical coverage, dont' you?! So sorry, I stand by my original post. Before we build more bombs, spend more money on overseas charity, we need to take care of the ones who have to do without basics like healthcare first.

I and my children went for years without medical coverage. I really don't want to hear any stories about how it's soooo bad. I have no bleeding heart! I managed to make do without it and am offended by the thought of having to make it easier for those who don't have it now. I worked HARD to raise my kidswith a husband who did not help financially and added to my financial responsibilities.
Fact is, I could not afford, nor qualify for health care and did without. I treated my kids injuries myself, a couple of times while at "war" with a school nurse who thought a cut should have been stitched where I believed it could heal just fine without stitches.
I've been there, it's not fun. BUT, I still want no part of offering more of my hard earned money and benefits to those who can't afford it. Quite frankly, their health care is not my problem!
Please, do not come back with the insult, not a week arguement that I must not be a very caring nurse, or just not a good nurse at all because I can see the big picture and accept the fact that "we" can never realialistically provide for the entire population nor can socialized anything truly work where human beings are involved.

[fergus51]

I wonder if you would feel the same if your child had cancer instead of a cut...

Personally, I think the real problem Americans have is that they don't understand the way healthcare in other countries really works. In Canada, EVERYONE pays for healthcare. It isn't free. Your tax dollars pay for it, so everyone who works has to contribute. That isn't the case here in the US. Here, we can all gamble by not buying health insurance, then still get emergency care that we can't pay for.

[LPNer]

Originally Posted by fergus51

I wonder if you would feel the same if your child had cancer instead of a cut...

Personally, I think the real problem Americans have is that they don't understand the way healthcare in other countries really works. In Canada, EVERYONE pays for healthcare. It isn't free. Your tax dollars pay for it, so everyone who works has to contribute. That isn't the case here in the US. Here, we can all gamble by not buying health insurance, then still get emergency care that we can't pay for.

I can not speak for every state, but I do know that Ohio has a provision for people who do not qualify for or have private health insurance in the case of catostrophic illness.. A child with major medical problems will be provided medicaide, the rest of the family will not likely get it, but the sick child will. And, I have known people in years past that the county "took custody of" and then placed the child with her natural parents so medical bills would be taken care of. The parents did not loose their parental rights, so it does work out.

[SMK1]

Originally Posted by LPNer

I and my children went for years without medical coverage. I really don't want to hear any stories about how it's soooo bad. I have no bleeding heart! I managed to make do without it and am offended by the thought of having to make it easier for those who don't have it now. I worked HARD to raise my kidswith a husband who did not help financially and added to my financial responsibilities.
Fact is, I could not afford, nor qualify for health care and did without. I treated my kids injuries myself, a couple of times while at "war" with a school nurse who thought a cut should have been stitched where I believed it could heal just fine without stitches.
I've been there, it's not fun. BUT, I still want no part of offering more of my hard earned money and benefits to those who can't afford it. Quite frankly, their health care is not my problem!
Please, do not come back with the insult, not a week arguement that I must not be a very caring nurse, or just not a good nurse at all because I can see the big picture and accept the fact that "we" can never realialistically provide for the entire population nor can socialized anything truly work where human beings are involved.

well thank your lucky stars that all you had to deal with were a few "cuts",others aren't so lucky, and yes i read that you don't care and have no bleeding heart. I can't be that insensitive that i can say i don't care when a person who works hard has to live with pain and illnesses that can be EASILY treated.

[Fuzzy]

My mother died of cancer when I was a teen---no insurance. That ruined our family. I'm trying hard not to follow in these footsteps with my own healthcare needs. I cannot get insurance because of pre-existing conditions namely epilepsy and bipolar disorder. I have looked into state aid but I make too much money. I'm unwilling to quit my job as I don't want to be 'on the dole' so to speak. I don't have all the answers but I sure feel like that I'm being punished by choosing (wanting) to remain a taxpayer by working.
Fuzzy

[iggynan]

Originally Posted by LPNer

I and my children went for years without medical coverage. I really don't want to hear any stories about how it's soooo bad. I have no bleeding heart! I managed to make do without it and am offended by the thought of having to make it easier for those who don't have it now. I worked HARD to raise my kidswith a husband who did not help financially and added to my financial responsibilities.
Fact is, I could not afford, nor qualify for health care and did without. I treated my kids injuries myself, a couple of times while at "war" with a school nurse who thought a cut should have been stitched where I believed it could heal just fine without stitches.
I've been there, it's not fun. BUT, I still want no part of offering more of my hard earned money and benefits to those who can't afford it. Quite frankly, their health care is not my problem!
Please, do not come back with the insult, not a week arguement that I must not be a very caring nurse, or just not a good nurse at all because I can see the big picture and accept the fact that "we" can never realialistically provide for the entire population nor can socialized anything truly work where human beings are involved.

How uncaring can you be? You really shouldn't be so quick to lump all those who can't afford Health Insurance into the burden category. This is why in America there are millions of people who cannot access health care. I was a hardworking RN who landed up with Cancer and could not afford my health insurance. Fortunately, my husband got fired from his job and I was eligible for Medicaid, otherwise I would have been accruing catastrophic charges, or gone without treatment. I think it is very sad that you feel like you do. You had a hard time and you feel no one helped you, and you resent it so much, and you are so bitter that you feel no obligation to help the less fortunate. I ,for one, am now on Medicare after 24 months of disability, and I feel an obligation to take a very strong stand for Health Care Reform. I would strongly encourage every nurse to join their local chapter of Americans For Health Care or Put Families First. Health Care Workers can have an educated and strong voice to call for action if we band together.