And it's done! Proud to be a Virginian!

[Anonymous]

The Virginia Senate has just passed a budget that includes Medicaid expansion (the House has already voted for it, so its going to be law)

Thanks to everyone including every voter last November, who helped get us to this.

[Anonymous]

400,000 more Virginian's will be covered! Proud to support Medicaid expansion.


"By resisting Medicaid expansion, Virginia has given up approximately $142 million in federal funding every month."

https://thinkprogress.org/virginia-senate-democrats-and-rogue-republicans-pass-medicaid-expansion-2c5c26b6029c/

[Anonymous]

wow that was late. VA lost almost four years of federal money for the expansion. By 2020, feds will only cover 90% rather than the 100% from 2012 to 2020.

[Anonymous]

As someone with a disabled child on Medicaid, I’ll be honest, I’m torn. While I’m glad so many people will have health insurance now, it may mean those of us who qualified under the original program which the federal government reimburses less for will be squeezed. Childless adults will be prioritized to some degree since the feds pay so much for them. We are so lucky to be covered but recent years have felt the threat of budget cuts and the potential for lost services. VA will be on the hook for more money no and I’m concerned about my DS who is 12. I may be flamed for this, but I’m just a mom who wants the best for my kid... while other people have access to care too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone with a disabled child on Medicaid, I’ll be honest, I’m torn. While I’m glad so many people will have health insurance now, it may mean those of us who qualified under the original program which the federal government reimburses less for will be squeezed. Childless adults will be prioritized to some degree since the feds pay so much for them. We are so lucky to be covered but recent years have felt the threat of budget cuts and the potential for lost services. VA will be on the hook for more money no and I’m concerned about my DS who is 12. I may be flamed for this, but I’m just a mom who wants the best for my kid... while other people have access to care too.

Interesting. Are you involved with any advocacy groups for children with disabilities? Were any of them expressing these concerns in opposition to the expansion for these reasons?
I would think that over the entire lifetime of your child, as they become older, this expansion will be better than if it had not happened.

[Anonymous]

I just found out that VA medicaid through Aetna provides a free cellphone to recipients. I find that a bizarre benefit of health insurance.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that VA medicaid through Aetna provides a free cellphone to recipients. I find that a bizarre benefit of health insurance.

This is not quite accurate. Virginia has a program called "Lifeline" that provides free or discounted cellphones and service to eligible recipients. This is the infamous "Obama Phone" program (which actually started before Obama). One indication of eligibility is being a Medicaid recipient. Aetna is simply referring its eligible members to Lifeline. You can find out more about Lifeline here:

https://www.assurancewireless.com/lifeline-services/what-lifeline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with a disabled child on Medicaid, I’ll be honest, I’m torn. While I’m glad so many people will have health insurance now, it may mean those of us who qualified under the original program which the federal government reimburses less for will be squeezed. Childless adults will be prioritized to some degree since the feds pay so much for them. We are so lucky to be covered but recent years have felt the threat of budget cuts and the potential for lost services. VA will be on the hook for more money no and I’m concerned about my DS who is 12. I may be flamed for this, but I’m just a mom who wants the best for my kid... while other people have access to care too.

Interesting. Are you involved with any advocacy groups for children with disabilities? Were any of them expressing these concerns in opposition to the expansion for these reasons?
I would think that over the entire lifetime of your child, as they become older, this expansion will be better than if it had not happened.

Yes I am. So the expansion is a catch 22. The newly eligible people (generally those up to 138% of the federal poverty line) are “worth more” to the states since the feds pay approximately 94% of their costs. For a state that’s a great deal. Those those of us where were previously enrolled the feds pay 60-ish%. Therefore a state has to pay way more for us. All that to say it’s better economics for a state to prioritize the new people. Who I’m not arguing are not deserving.

In my interactions with some advocacy groups they support the expansion since they see it as more members. When talking with our therapists or other special needs parents they are all concerned. Opposing Medicaid expansion isn’t popular so everyone feels forced into silence due to a fear of being labeled as uncaring.

It’s a slippery slope in my opinion because we have seen services and quality slip in the past, I just hope we aren’t used to make up budget shortfalls. Medicaid expansion in every other stage has cost more than predicted. I just want my DS to continue receiving services.

[Anonymous]

I never see much discussion about the doctors who participate in Virginia Medicaid. I applaud them yet I think we all know Medicaid attracts a certain amount of "bottom feeder" doctors.

Does anyone here have any direct experience with this? Thank goodness Virginia has an increasingly robust Virginia Board of Medicine, albeit much Medicaid abuse is on the financial end.

Myself, I think all Virginia doctors being required to take a certain percentage of Medicaid patients (like it use to be) would help maintain quality in medical care. Just some food for thought for Medicaid and Medicare advocates like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that VA medicaid through Aetna provides a free cellphone to recipients. I find that a bizarre benefit of health insurance.

I think it makes sense for people with conditions that might require calling emergency services who can't afford cell phones, or for handicapped people who need to call for rides (although those services tend to require 24 hours notice and tend to provide horrible service). Also, perhaps for some cognitively impaired people who might need help navigating day to day interactions where verbal instructions might be enough to avoid a potentially serious situation.

As a poverty alleviation measure (cell phones make getting/keeping a job easier) I could also see it, although that would be unrelated to health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Claims that the costs of Medicaid expansion have far exceeded expectations are overstated, misleading, and substantially inaccurate, based on a review of the credible evidence from either academic or government sources. The primary basis of this claim is the fact that many expansion states have enrolled more people than they initially expected. However, because the federal government pays for most of their costs, this increased enrollment has not translated into large percentage increases in states’ Medicaid budgets.

To the contrary, the leading peer-reviewed, academic study on this question documented, based on comprehensive data from the National Association of State Budget Officers that, by 2015, “there were no significant increases in spending from state funds as a result of the expansion.” Although states will start to incur some costs in years following 2015 as their 10 percent funding requirement is phased in, several expert analysts predict that those costs are likely to remain modest, despite increased enrollment.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/usc-brookings-schaeffer-on-health-policy/2018/03/26/do-states-regret-expanding-medicaid/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with a disabled child on Medicaid, I’ll be honest, I’m torn. While I’m glad so many people will have health insurance now, it may mean those of us who qualified under the original program which the federal government reimburses less for will be squeezed. Childless adults will be prioritized to some degree since the feds pay so much for them. We are so lucky to be covered but recent years have felt the threat of budget cuts and the potential for lost services. VA will be on the hook for more money no and I’m concerned about my DS who is 12. I may be flamed for this, but I’m just a mom who wants the best for my kid... while other people have access to care too.

Interesting. Are you involved with any advocacy groups for children with disabilities? Were any of them expressing these concerns in opposition to the expansion for these reasons?
I would think that over the entire lifetime of your child, as they become older, this expansion will be better than if it had not happened.

Yes I am. So the expansion is a catch 22. The newly eligible people (generally those up to 138% of the federal poverty line) are “worth more” to the states since the feds pay approximately 94% of their costs. For a state that’s a great deal. Those those of us where were previously enrolled the feds pay 60-ish%. Therefore a state has to pay way more for us. All that to say it’s better economics for a state to prioritize the new people. Who I’m not arguing are not deserving.

In my interactions with some advocacy groups they support the expansion since they see it as more members. When talking with our therapists or other special needs parents they are all concerned. Opposing Medicaid expansion isn’t popular so everyone feels forced into silence due to a fear of being labeled as uncaring.

It’s a slippery slope in my opinion because we have seen services and quality slip in the past, I just hope we aren’t used to make up budget shortfalls. Medicaid expansion in every other stage has cost more than predicted. I just want my DS to continue receiving services.

While I understand your concern, can you explain how your position isn't virtually the same as a wealthy person who opposes tax heights? He's got his, and doesn't want benefits to others to impact what he has. Same thing you're saying.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that VA medicaid through Aetna provides a free cellphone to recipients. I find that a bizarre benefit of health insurance.

This is not quite accurate. Virginia has a program called "Lifeline" that provides free or discounted cellphones and service to eligible recipients. This is the infamous "Obama Phone" program (which actually started before Obama). One indication of eligibility is being a Medicaid recipient. Aetna is simply referring its eligible members to Lifeline. You can find out more about Lifeline here:

https://www.assurancewireless.com/lifeline-services/what-lifeline

Ok, that website makes much more sense.
From the Aetna site, it makes it appear as a benefit form Aetna which seemed weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone with a disabled child on Medicaid, I’ll be honest, I’m torn. While I’m glad so many people will have health insurance now, it may mean those of us who qualified under the original program which the federal government reimburses less for will be squeezed. Childless adults will be prioritized to some degree since the feds pay so much for them. We are so lucky to be covered but recent years have felt the threat of budget cuts and the potential for lost services. VA will be on the hook for more money no and I’m concerned about my DS who is 12. I may be flamed for this, but I’m just a mom who wants the best for my kid... while other people have access to care too.

Interesting. Are you involved with any advocacy groups for children with disabilities? Were any of them expressing these concerns in opposition to the expansion for these reasons?
I would think that over the entire lifetime of your child, as they become older, this expansion will be better than if it had not happened.

Yes I am. So the expansion is a catch 22. The newly eligible people (generally those up to 138% of the federal poverty line) are “worth more” to the states since the feds pay approximately 94% of their costs. For a state that’s a great deal. Those those of us where were previously enrolled the feds pay 60-ish%. Therefore a state has to pay way more for us. All that to say it’s better economics for a state to prioritize the new people. Who I’m not arguing are not deserving.

In my interactions with some advocacy groups they support the expansion since they see it as more members. When talking with our therapists or other special needs parents they are all concerned. Opposing Medicaid expansion isn’t popular so everyone feels forced into silence due to a fear of being labeled as uncaring.

It’s a slippery slope in my opinion because we have seen services and quality slip in the past, I just hope we aren’t used to make up budget shortfalls. Medicaid expansion in every other stage has cost more than predicted. I just want my DS to continue receiving services.

While I understand your concern, can you explain how your position isn't virtually the same as a wealthy person who opposes tax heights? He's got his, and doesn't want benefits to others to impact what he has. Same thing you're saying.

I am conflicted in answering since you seem to have your mind made up about me already. I would hardly equate ourselves to the “rich” people in your analogy. I am concerned that healthy (albeit low income) individuals will eat up precious resources (I.e state dollars) that had been using to support my incredibly disabled DS. He will never walk, never talk and will be under our care our whole lives. His therapy is vital to his life and we have already had issues of getting services approved due to budget shortfalls.

[Anonymous]

Yeah VA...welcome to 2015. I guess you're less far behind than Mississippi?