Your thoughts on likelihood of rolling back SS, Medicaid, Medicare after first week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly Medicaid for illegal immigrants like in CA should never have happened. They also cover in home support services regardless of immigration status. This is a huge money pit and attracts even more illegal immigrants to the state. Might be good for companies but bad for regular taxpayers.

But that is paid for with state dollars only, not federal money. If there is a debate to be had over it, it should be a debate within California over how state tax money is used. It doesn’t have anything to do with the federal government.

Yes, you are right, I stand corrected.
How about SSI for elderly immigrant parents of well off software engineers? Parents haven’t worked a day in this country.

No, they should not get it.

It does against my interests as I have immigrant parents but I agree. It’s too generous. So if SS is cut in this way, and states are forbidden to pay for Medicaid of those without legal status, I think most Americans would actually approve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly Medicaid for illegal immigrants like in CA should never have happened. They also cover in home support services regardless of immigration status. This is a huge money pit and attracts even more illegal immigrants to the state. Might be good for companies but bad for regular taxpayers.

But that is paid for with state dollars only, not federal money. If there is a debate to be had over it, it should be a debate within California over how state tax money is used. It doesn’t have anything to do with the federal government.

Yes, you are right, I stand corrected.
How about SSI for elderly immigrant parents of well off software engineers? Parents haven’t worked a day in this country.

No, they should not get it.

It does against my interests as I have immigrant parents but I agree. It’s too generous. So if SS is cut in this way, and states are forbidden to pay for Medicaid of those without legal status, I think most Americans would actually approve.

Medicaid is very limited for those without status and usually only very specific situations. Most go without. If the kids were born here they get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a millennial I'd like to make ss optional so I can stop paying and cash out

"cash out"? It's a pay as you go system-- the most you can do is destroy the social safety net for seniors by ending social security but you are never getting your contributions back.

Don't be a tool and let the right wing propaganda tell you the money isn't there for social security-- it's only not there if they steal it for other things, like tax cuts for the wealthy.

but the money isn't actually anywhere. It's an IOU from the feds. Your payments into the system are spent by Congress immediately. Your payments aren't sitting anywhere compounding or earning interest.

All the money the government collects is then redistributed by the government. That's how taxation works.

People need to stop thinking about Social Security like some sort of savings account. It's welfare for the elderly (and a few other groups)

No. If that were the case, we'd means test it. Which we should be doing. I don't get why my mother and stepfather are driving around in a jag and collecting SS.

The only reason SS has lasted this long is that everyone gets some. The minute we start means testing, people will start thinking of SS like Medicaid. And you know how highly Republicans think of Medicaid.

Wish an enterprising local reporter would uncover how many Republican electeds have their parents/relatives in nursing homes under Medicaid LTC. Can’t imagine it is a small number as the annual salary for a senator/rep is $174K and the national median cost is $9733/month for a private room or $8669/month for a semi-private. That’s $116,796/year and $104,028/year, respectively. Can’t imagine they can swing either on that salary….

I highly doubt you will find many MoC whose parents are using Medicaid LTC. They are more likely to have parents who saved and invested, possibly have pensions. Their parents don’t need money from them, they are paying from their own savings and pensions. Medicaid LTC is for the very poor; it is very unlikely that elderly parents of MoC would be eligible for Medicaid LTC.

You’d be very wrong. We used it and many others do too. Many parents don’t have the money you think they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:42% of long term care in America is paid for by Medicad. Also 40% of American births. If anyone is foolish enough to believe that American families can afford to lose that coverage it’s because they are too dumb to understand how unaffordable health care is in this country.

I think what ppl usually forget is that many if not most of those who qualify for Medicaid LTC are immigrants who arrived via family reunification with their kids and haven’t worked here and therefore don’t have savings or income. It’s effectively spent on people who didn’t contribute and whose kids can afford paying for their care but they are not obligated so they don’t.

Prove it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a millennial I'd like to make ss optional so I can stop paying and cash out

"cash out"? It's a pay as you go system-- the most you can do is destroy the social safety net for seniors by ending social security but you are never getting your contributions back.

Don't be a tool and let the right wing propaganda tell you the money isn't there for social security-- it's only not there if they steal it for other things, like tax cuts for the wealthy.

but the money isn't actually anywhere. It's an IOU from the feds. Your payments into the system are spent by Congress immediately. Your payments aren't sitting anywhere compounding or earning interest.

All the money the government collects is then redistributed by the government. That's how taxation works.

People need to stop thinking about Social Security like some sort of savings account. It's welfare for the elderly (and a few other groups)

No. If that were the case, we'd means test it. Which we should be doing. I don't get why my mother and stepfather are driving around in a jag and collecting SS.

The only reason SS has lasted this long is that everyone gets some. The minute we start means testing, people will start thinking of SS like Medicaid. And you know how highly Republicans think of Medicaid.

Wish an enterprising local reporter would uncover how many Republican electeds have their parents/relatives in nursing homes under Medicaid LTC. Can’t imagine it is a small number as the annual salary for a senator/rep is $174K and the national median cost is $9733/month for a private room or $8669/month for a semi-private. That’s $116,796/year and $104,028/year, respectively. Can’t imagine they can swing either on that salary….

I highly doubt you will find many MoC whose parents are using Medicaid LTC. They are more likely to have parents who saved and invested, possibly have pensions. Their parents don’t need money from them, they are paying from their own savings and pensions. Medicaid LTC is for the very poor; it is very unlikely that elderly parents of MoC would be eligible for Medicaid LTC.

Wrong. Most assisted living retirement places nursing homes etc all push you to put your family on Medicaid. It is huge in MOCO. They burn down the savings before entering these places and then Medicaid kicks in.

That could be just the people you’ve come in contact with- unless you work at one of these facilities?

In my extended family’s experience, in which most of the elderly had been very working class/blue collar, the expenses were paid by the elderly individual. A lot of the over 75 crowd were very frugal and saved every extra penny, so were able to pay for their own care when it was needed.

My own parents never made very much- in fact, I and my siblings all qualified for Pell Grants. But they saved a lot, especially after the kids grew up and left home. They were able to completely pay for their own care.

In fact, it would have been difficult to use up all their savings to qualify for Medicaid. And they would have been too embarrassed to take Medicaid, anyway. Same story for the elderly parents of many of my cousins.

My parents always said that the best gift they could give their kids was to be able to pay for their own care in old age, and they were right. And this was a very common belief among their working class/blue collar peers.

You hit the nail on the head!! My parents were poor/LMC. They saved and were extremely frugal. at age 75 they still had over $800K to their name after selling their home. That was enough to get into one of the nicest CCRCs in their area (minus the $400K+ entry fee---we had to fund that). 10 years later, they are still frugal and worth over $700K and will likely never "run out of money" until mid to late 90s. And then they get to stay in the CCRC with no charges.

How they saved that much I don't know---they invested and were extremely frugal. Never made more than $50-60K/year combined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:42% of long term care in America is paid for by Medicad. Also 40% of American births. If anyone is foolish enough to believe that American families can afford to lose that coverage it’s because they are too dumb to understand how unaffordable health care is in this country.

I think what ppl usually forget is that many if not most of those who qualify for Medicaid LTC are immigrants who arrived via family reunification with their kids and haven’t worked here and therefore don’t have savings or income. It’s effectively spent on people who didn’t contribute and whose kids can afford paying for their care but they are not obligated so they don’t.

Most immigrants who come legally have to provide proof of "income to care for them"---my IL had to. You cannot just come in your 60s and never work and collect. Your family does have to support you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not going to be a good future for the sick, elderly or poor in America. Buckle up your olds.

Sounds like a good chunk of Trump's base. I'm starting to care less and less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:42% of long term care in America is paid for by Medicad. Also 40% of American births. If anyone is foolish enough to believe that American families can afford to lose that coverage it’s because they are too dumb to understand how unaffordable health care is in this country.

I think what ppl usually forget is that many if not most of those who qualify for Medicaid LTC are immigrants who arrived via family reunification with their kids and haven’t worked here and therefore don’t have savings or income. It’s effectively spent on people who didn’t contribute and whose kids can afford paying for their care but they are not obligated so they don’t.

Prove it.

Not true at all. We used it and were in the nursing home a few times a week for years. Very few could have been illegal, if any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not going to be a good future for the sick, elderly or poor in America. Buckle up your olds.

Sounds like a good chunk of Trump's base. I'm starting to care less and less.

That's whats so bizarre is much of his base is lower income who needs these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a millennial I'd like to make ss optional so I can stop paying and cash out

"cash out"? It's a pay as you go system-- the most you can do is destroy the social safety net for seniors by ending social security but you are never getting your contributions back.

Don't be a tool and let the right wing propaganda tell you the money isn't there for social security-- it's only not there if they steal it for other things, like tax cuts for the wealthy.

but the money isn't actually anywhere. It's an IOU from the feds. Your payments into the system are spent by Congress immediately. Your payments aren't sitting anywhere compounding or earning interest.

All the money the government collects is then redistributed by the government. That's how taxation works.

People need to stop thinking about Social Security like some sort of savings account. It's welfare for the elderly (and a few other groups)

No. If that were the case, we'd means test it. Which we should be doing. I don't get why my mother and stepfather are driving around in a jag and collecting SS.

The only reason SS has lasted this long is that everyone gets some. The minute we start means testing, people will start thinking of SS like Medicaid. And you know how highly Republicans think of Medicaid.

Wish an enterprising local reporter would uncover how many Republican electeds have their parents/relatives in nursing homes under Medicaid LTC. Can’t imagine it is a small number as the annual salary for a senator/rep is $174K and the national median cost is $9733/month for a private room or $8669/month for a semi-private. That’s $116,796/year and $104,028/year, respectively. Can’t imagine they can swing either on that salary….

I highly doubt you will find many MoC whose parents are using Medicaid LTC. They are more likely to have parents who saved and invested, possibly have pensions. Their parents don’t need money from them, they are paying from their own savings and pensions. Medicaid LTC is for the very poor; it is very unlikely that elderly parents of MoC would be eligible for Medicaid LTC.

Wrong. Most assisted living retirement places nursing homes etc all push you to put your family on Medicaid. It is huge in MOCO. They burn down the savings before entering these places and then Medicaid kicks in.

That could be just the people you’ve come in contact with- unless you work at one of these facilities?

In my extended family’s experience, in which most of the elderly had been very working class/blue collar, the expenses were paid by the elderly individual. A lot of the over 75 crowd were very frugal and saved every extra penny, so were able to pay for their own care when it was needed.

My own parents never made very much- in fact, I and my siblings all qualified for Pell Grants. But they saved a lot, especially after the kids grew up and left home. They were able to completely pay for their own care.

In fact, it would have been difficult to use up all their savings to qualify for Medicaid. And they would have been too embarrassed to take Medicaid, anyway. Same story for the elderly parents of many of my cousins.

My parents always said that the best gift they could give their kids was to be able to pay for their own care in old age, and they were right. And this was a very common belief among their working class/blue collar peers.

You hit the nail on the head!! My parents were poor/LMC. They saved and were extremely frugal. at age 75 they still had over $800K to their name after selling their home. That was enough to get into one of the nicest CCRCs in their area (minus the $400K+ entry fee---we had to fund that). 10 years later, they are still frugal and worth over $700K and will likely never "run out of money" until mid to late 90s. And then they get to stay in the CCRC with no charges.

How they saved that much I don't know---they invested and were extremely frugal. Never made more than $50-60K/year combined.

They were very lucky and you keep bragging about it but that's not everyone. My MIL was extremely frugal but never made more than minimum wage so she was always pay check to pay check. She had very little in terms of material things and her clothing was terrible (and yes, I bought her tons of clothes which she did wear and other things). She lived in a mobile home for many years. She got early onset dementia and could no longer take care of herself and I got her on social security disability not realizing it was early onset dementia and thinking it was mental health. Eventally we move her into our very small house after she lived with a woman who stole pretty much anything of value, including her car, jewelry (nothing worth that much) and cash from selling the mobile home. She came with almost nothing and the police or social services wouldn't do anything to help. I replaced everything and took care of her for about a year but I could no longer care for her anymore as I couldn't safely leave her home alone, the adult day care was horrible and it because too much with young kids. Our only option was medicaid LTC.

$50-60K is a lot way back when. Try making $15-20K a year then brag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly Medicaid for illegal immigrants like in CA should never have happened. They also cover in home support services regardless of immigration status. This is a huge money pit and attracts even more illegal immigrants to the state. Might be good for companies but bad for regular taxpayers.

Parents who are “reunited” do have a status, they are permanent residents.


But that is paid for with state dollars only, not federal money. If there is a debate to be had over it, it should be a debate within California over how state tax money is used. It doesn’t have anything to do with the federal government.

Yes, you are right, I stand corrected.
How about SSI for elderly immigrant parents of well off software engineers? Parents haven’t worked a day in this country.

No, they should not get it.

It does against my interests as I have immigrant parents but I agree. It’s too generous. So if SS is cut in this way, and states are forbidden to pay for Medicaid of those without legal status, I think most Americans would actually approve.

Medicaid is very limited for those without status and usually only very specific situations. Most go without. If the kids were born here they get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:42% of long term care in America is paid for by Medicad. Also 40% of American births. If anyone is foolish enough to believe that American families can afford to lose that coverage it’s because they are too dumb to understand how unaffordable health care is in this country.

I think what ppl usually forget is that many if not most of those who qualify for Medicaid LTC are immigrants who arrived via family reunification with their kids and haven’t worked here and therefore don’t have savings or income. It’s effectively spent on people who didn’t contribute and whose kids can afford paying for their care but they are not obligated so they don’t.

Prove it.

I mean, imagine a legal permanent resident who receives their green card at 70, through their kids. In CA and NYC at least they get Medicaid right away. They are eligible for other benefits since they are low income, like subsidized housing. 5 years pass, they become citizens and are eligible for Medicare (Medicaid covers their monthly), and for SSI. What’s there to prove?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:42% of long term care in America is paid for by Medicad. Also 40% of American births. If anyone is foolish enough to believe that American families can afford to lose that coverage it’s because they are too dumb to understand how unaffordable health care is in this country.

I think what ppl usually forget is that many if not most of those who qualify for Medicaid LTC are immigrants who arrived via family reunification with their kids and haven’t worked here and therefore don’t have savings or income. It’s effectively spent on people who didn’t contribute and whose kids can afford paying for their care but they are not obligated so they don’t.

Most immigrants who come legally have to provide proof of "income to care for them"---my IL had to. You cannot just come in your 60s and never work and collect. Your family does have to support you.

Yes, it’s done when they apply for an immigrant visa. But then, at least in CA and NYC, they are eligible for Medicaid right away. They also can get subsidized housing - not dirt cheap but maybe 2/3 of the market price. They can get section 8 or HCV as it is called now even though there is a long waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:42% of long term care in America is paid for by Medicad. Also 40% of American births. If anyone is foolish enough to believe that American families can afford to lose that coverage it’s because they are too dumb to understand how unaffordable health care is in this country.

I think what ppl usually forget is that many if not most of those who qualify for Medicaid LTC are immigrants who arrived via family reunification with their kids and haven’t worked here and therefore don’t have savings or income. It’s effectively spent on people who didn’t contribute and whose kids can afford paying for their care but they are not obligated so they don’t.

Prove it.

Not true at all. We used it and were in the nursing home a few times a week for years. Very few could have been illegal, if any.

I am talking about legal permanent residents who were petitioned by their adult kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a millennial I'd like to make ss optional so I can stop paying and cash out

"cash out"? It's a pay as you go system-- the most you can do is destroy the social safety net for seniors by ending social security but you are never getting your contributions back.

Don't be a tool and let the right wing propaganda tell you the money isn't there for social security-- it's only not there if they steal it for other things, like tax cuts for the wealthy.

but the money isn't actually anywhere. It's an IOU from the feds. Your payments into the system are spent by Congress immediately. Your payments aren't sitting anywhere compounding or earning interest.

All the money the government collects is then redistributed by the government. That's how taxation works.

People need to stop thinking about Social Security like some sort of savings account. It's welfare for the elderly (and a few other groups)

No. If that were the case, we'd means test it. Which we should be doing. I don't get why my mother and stepfather are driving around in a jag and collecting SS.

The only reason SS has lasted this long is that everyone gets some. The minute we start means testing, people will start thinking of SS like Medicaid. And you know how highly Republicans think of Medicaid.

Wish an enterprising local reporter would uncover how many Republican electeds have their parents/relatives in nursing homes under Medicaid LTC. Can’t imagine it is a small number as the annual salary for a senator/rep is $174K and the national median cost is $9733/month for a private room or $8669/month for a semi-private. That’s $116,796/year and $104,028/year, respectively. Can’t imagine they can swing either on that salary….

I highly doubt you will find many MoC whose parents are using Medicaid LTC. They are more likely to have parents who saved and invested, possibly have pensions. Their parents don’t need money from them, they are paying from their own savings and pensions. Medicaid LTC is for the very poor; it is very unlikely that elderly parents of MoC would be eligible for Medicaid LTC.

Wrong. Most assisted living retirement places nursing homes etc all push you to put your family on Medicaid. It is huge in MOCO. They burn down the savings before entering these places and then Medicaid kicks in.

That could be just the people you’ve come in contact with- unless you work at one of these facilities?

In my extended family’s experience, in which most of the elderly had been very working class/blue collar, the expenses were paid by the elderly individual. A lot of the over 75 crowd were very frugal and saved every extra penny, so were able to pay for their own care when it was needed.

My own parents never made very much- in fact, I and my siblings all qualified for Pell Grants. But they saved a lot, especially after the kids grew up and left home. They were able to completely pay for their own care.

In fact, it would have been difficult to use up all their savings to qualify for Medicaid. And they would have been too embarrassed to take Medicaid, anyway. Same story for the elderly parents of many of my cousins.

My parents always said that the best gift they could give their kids was to be able to pay for their own care in old age, and they were right. And this was a very common belief among their working class/blue collar peers.

You hit the nail on the head!! My parents were poor/LMC. They saved and were extremely frugal. at age 75 they still had over $800K to their name after selling their home. That was enough to get into one of the nicest CCRCs in their area (minus the $400K+ entry fee---we had to fund that). 10 years later, they are still frugal and worth over $700K and will likely never "run out of money" until mid to late 90s. And then they get to stay in the CCRC with no charges.

How they saved that much I don't know---they invested and were extremely frugal. Never made more than $50-60K/year combined.

They were very lucky and you keep bragging about it but that's not everyone. My MIL was extremely frugal but never made more than minimum wage so she was always pay check to pay check. She had very little in terms of material things and her clothing was terrible (and yes, I bought her tons of clothes which she did wear and other things). She lived in a mobile home for many years. She got early onset dementia and could no longer take care of herself and I got her on social security disability not realizing it was early onset dementia and thinking it was mental health. Eventally we move her into our very small house after she lived with a woman who stole pretty much anything of value, including her car, jewelry (nothing worth that much) and cash from selling the mobile home. She came with almost nothing and the police or social services wouldn't do anything to help. I replaced everything and took care of her for about a year but I could no longer care for her anymore as I couldn't safely leave her home alone, the adult day care was horrible and it because too much with young kids. Our only option was medicaid LTC.

$50-60K is a lot way back when. Try making $15-20K a year then brag.

The most my parents ever made in one year was $30,000- and that was one particularly good year. But they still managed to save enough to take care of themselves in old age with no need for Medicaid LTC. They had one child with special needs who was never able to move out of their home, but they were extremely frugal and careful with their money. They had always been poor so they didn’t have expectations of living what they would consider a luxurious life.