Medicaid. Is it being abused?

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Medicaid was a great idea when first introduced to assure that even the very poor could get quality health care. I just wonder when I see someone drive up in a newer car come up to the triage desk in designer clothes and lots of gold jewelry and they are on medicaid. I know of many who are the working middle class who are struggling to pay their own insurance premiums. Why do so many folks get a free ride? Or am I missing something here?

I agree with the other posters who said you cant judge by the outer trappings if a person is deserving of assistance. Maybe the girlss with the coach bags and fancy shoes do what I do:know a really great thrift store :chuckle I have a real Dooney and Burke, myself.

I will say there are times I have gotten really resentful of the others that scam the system (or try to) by what Dr Laura calls "stupid childbearing". I remember one time I fell and badly sprained my ankle (tore some ligaments). It was bad enough I thought I had broken it (I got that funny shocky feeling you get when you break a bone). I went to our local county hospital for the indigent- we had no insurance even tho both Dh and I had full time jobs, the kicker was we could not get any aid for medical care for my ankle because (drum roll) we had NO CHILDREN and we had a second car (so I could work) not a nice late model car, but a semi reliable old beater. :angryfire But all these people who happily reproduce at the state expense can use the ER for hangnails. Anyway I paid a small fortune out of pocket, making monthly payments until my bill was taken care of.

I believe in CA that once you do get on welfare there is a cap on the grant, meaning a time limit as to how long you amy receive help (5 yrs I think) that is long overdue. Around here they are training the welfare moms to be CNAs!

Laura

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Hey, I've been working on my bankruptcy paperwork this morning and so far we are up to $30,000 in debt, not including the $80,000 + dh owes in student loans that is mostly interest. Of the $30,000 about half is medical and I'm not done yet! But I can't get any help..............

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...In reply to appearances. I wear name brand clothes, department store make-up, and expensive perfume. We have nice furniture in our apartment, and I own a Coach bag and some Prada shoes. My car is only a 99, but it looks brand new because we keep it cleaned and hand waxed. My children are well dressed and clean. But I'm poor... Our only luxury is cable and internet. And I don't feel I am abusing the system.

Basically, many people do. But every situation is different, and you can't judge a persons circumstances based upon appearances alone.

Good points...

Many people's problems are with such things as (that I've witnessed):

All of a sudden deciding to have the whole "clan" seen at the ER, when initially coming for just one kiddo (at 2200)

Coming in at 2300 for you who has had a hangnail for a month, and dragging ALL of your kiddos in w/ you (with the free taxi ride - and you have attitude because the taxi company didn't have corificeats for your 5 kiddos)

Getting a Medicaid card out and having to flip past the - GOLD AMEX (100/year), the Blockbuster card, the GOLD Visa, The LA Fitness card (30/month), etc...

Hair extensions

Manicures, French pedicures (w/ studs in the nails at times)

A grocery cart full of ONLY (BRAND name mind you, why not generic???): Oreos, Pepsi, Doritos, Reeses, etc. (I'm talking a FULL cart full of junk ONLY - no healthy food; AND not using a discount/club card that would help stretch the food stamp!!!)

I buy generic and ALWAYS have my club discount card.

I'm not saying people shouldn't go without some goodies while on aid, but come on...

And not having the cable would save you 30/month which could help buy the med essentials (tylenol, motrin, benadryl, etc) all of which people ask us to write a script for (As they open a new pack of smokes, or eat the super-size Whataburger, and tell you they have no money for Tylenol)

Sorry if I sound harsh...

I have been on Medicaid (while an undergrad) and was while I was a kid...I went without oreos, cable, the gym, etc.

EVERYTHING I bought at the store was generic and on sale, AND I ate healthy. (I still meticulously watch all of the ads, and save (w/ coupons) 50% on my grocery bill, EASY)

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i have always wished that there would be some caps and limits to the medicaid and welfare assistance programs. (not for people with permanent disability) I wish that inorder to recieve monthly checks they have to prove that they have been to job interviewa or community education classes or are enrolled in some type of training program. I also feel that community centers should be utilized to provide child care rooms staffed by those on the program (regular drug testing and cpr/first aid training of course is a must). Anyway just imagine if child care was available for people to actually get a job or go to school for training! So many people could be helped to help themselves and get off of asistance or at least reduce their needs. Making job training etc.. mandatory would stop some people from sitting having baby after baby to increase their checks. Having an active community center with free or sliding fee childcare, education and job training will also strengthen community bonds and elevate personal resposibility and by training and staffing it mostly with people on assistance the cost would be minimal. Just wish somebody would implement something like this!

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Cable tv, Internet services and all of the name brand junk food? This is where our tax dollars are being spent? I work a full time job, pay my own health insurance and drive an old beater car because I dont want to have to take on a high car payment. I dont have cable tv. I buy generic store brand food, no chips, sodas or oreos. I use the internet as part of my job.

I pay taxes (1/3 of my paycheck) so others can enjoy the easy life on assistance?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am so sure you do not mean your reply to sound so offensive and judgemental, so please excuse me if my reply seems laced in ice.

Good points...

Many people's problems are with such things as (that I've witnessed):

All of a sudden deciding to have the whole "clan" seen at the ER, when initially coming for just one kiddo (at 2200)

Coming in at 2300 for you who has had a hangnail for a month, and dragging ALL of your kiddos in w/ you (with the free taxi ride - and you have attitude because the taxi company didn't have corificeats for your 5 kiddos)

Getting a Medicaid card out and having to flip past the - GOLD AMEX (100/year), the Blockbuster card, the GOLD Visa, The LA Fitness card (30/month), etc...

Hair extensions

Manicures, French pedicures (w/ studs in the nails at times)

A grocery cart full of ONLY (BRAND name mind you, why not generic???): Oreos, Pepsi, Doritos, Reeses, etc. (I'm talking a FULL cart full of junk ONLY - no healthy food; AND not using a discount/club card that would help stretch the food stamp!!!)

I buy generic and ALWAYS have my club discount card.

I'm not saying people shouldn't go without some goodies while on aid, but come on...

And not having the cable would save you 30/month which could help buy the med essentials (tylenol, motrin, benadryl, etc) all of which people ask us to write a script for (As they open a new pack of smokes, or eat the super-size Whataburger, and tell you they have no money for Tylenol)

Sorry if I sound harsh...

I have been on Medicaid (while an undergrad) and was while I was a kid...I went without oreos, cable, the gym, etc.

EVERYTHING I bought at the store was generic and on sale, AND I ate healthy. (I still meticulously watch all of the ads, and save (w/ coupons) 50% on my grocery bill, EASY)

First, I don't do ER visits. I've been in the ER ONCE in my life, two years ago, when my OB/GYN thought I was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. BTW, my husband had Kaiser insurance. You didn't pay for my visit. :angryfire

Second, I shop with coupons. Every time. I shop off-brand stores like Aldi. I don't do large chain stores like Wegman's because I know the value of a dollar or food stamp for that matter. :uhoh3:

Third, if I have a headache, I jump my *** in my vehicle and go to the drugstore where I buy my own damn Tylenol, without a script, out of my checking account. Yea, my husband gets a check, I am not on full welfare. :o

I do not believe just because a person is down on their luck, they should have to suffer completely with no pleasures at all. I don't go out to eat, I don't go to the movies, I don't have hair extensions although I did PAY to get my hair done for the first time in 6 months yesterday. I pay my bills, and I am an upstanding citizen.

I don't do drugs, smoke cigerettes, drink alcohol, or drink caffeine.

*I AM USING CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A NURSE SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE ANYMORE*

Please don't judge me or say comments in regards to saving thirty dollars to buy my own meds.

FYI, I bearly qualified for the assistance I do receive, and that was only AFTER they did reductions for the hella child support my husband pays for his three from a previous marriage. One of which is not even his! (Yea, he's not a deadbeat father on drugs, either).:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I shared my story to show a point, not to be flamed or judged.:crying2:

God bless the poor.

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I was on the chip program for kids until I graduated high school. I then applied for medicaid and was denied. They told me and I quote, " you have to either be pregnant or quit your job" I went for a year without coverage which is dangerous if your a nursing student cause you never know what might happen. I then applied for adult basic and was denied and they told me I was eligible for medicaid. I got it but then lost it when I turned 21. I'm going to be 22 at the end of the month and am still on the waiting list for adult basic, but can buy it at cost for get this nearly 250 dollars a month, I'm not kidding! And like most college students I am limited by the hours/ days I can work. If your part time you just don't get benefits like health coverage. But I'm not a freeloader and do not have a fancy car or wear name brand clothing. I go to the doctor only when necessary and I must see the eye doctor annually. At walmart I made about 450 a month but had school supplies, gas, car insurance, food, and other expenses too. So health insurance programs are helpful to those that need them. It's the freeloaders that have made the rules so strict.

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kiyasmom,

My post was not an attack on you. I was speaking in terms of things we have all seen, and the frustration the abuse brings.

None of those were thrown onto you for you to own. And the cable comment was directed at those who do ask us for RXs for the OTC meds who brag of the cable TV and the satellite TV (an ex coworker of mine)...

I support the program as it was MEANT to be used (the way you are using it - as a stepping stone)

Calling me from a cell phone for medical advice while eating at MCDONALDS is not the way free medical care was meant to be used, and I didn't single anyone on this board out, just giving personal examples that I HAVE EXPERIENCED!! (REREAD MY POST: I stated: "Things that I have witnessed")

SW Florida hit it on the head

sean

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... It's the freeloaders that have made the rules so strict.

The rules AREN'T strict, that's the problem.

One can shack up w/ a sugar daddy/mommy and have all the bills paid, and qualify for AID.

We had a known SURGEON bring his live in girlfriend (with whom he's fathered a child) in and their kid was on freakin' Medicaid.

Show me the strictness in THAT scenario...

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Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.
Hey, I've been working on my bankruptcy paperwork this morning and so far we are up to $30,000 in debt, not including the $80,000 + dh owes in student loans that is mostly interest. Of the $30,000 about half is medical and I'm not done yet! But I can't get any help..............

you cant bankrupt on those student loans....can you?

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All the medicare/medicaid lingo is confusing to me....

What I do know is my grandmother who is 75 was just cut from the program that helps pay for her meds..she takes 8 diff meds totalling > $400 a month...she draws aprox $800 in SS..that's not enough to live on...it's sad when you get old and NEED assist it's NOT THERE!!!...Like others have said..If you need assist I'm all for you having it...who knows I may need it one day...but, those able bodied lazy butts really gripe my orifice :(

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you cant bankrupt on those student loans....can you?

Unfortunately, no. THey are in default and I am unsure but I think they are almost old enough to be written off I think? Or maybe it was that dh filled something out for hardship and they are being written off by the government..I'm not sure! Thank God it won't affect me getting my loans!

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