Trump administration considering lifetime limits on Medicaid benefits

[jpak]

Source: Portland Press Herald

WASHINGTON — After allowing states to impose work requirements for Medicaid enrollees, the Trump administration is now pondering lifetime limits on adults’ access to coverage.

Capping health care benefits – like federal welfare benefits – would be a first for Medicaid, the joint state and federal health plan for low-income and disabled Americans.

If approved, the dramatic policy change would recast government-subsidized health coverage as temporary assistance by placing a limit on the number of months adults have access to Medicaid benefits.

The move would continue the Trump administration’s push to inject conservative policies into the Medicaid program through the use of federal waivers, which allow states more flexibility to create policies designed to promote personal and financial responsibility among enrollees.

<more>

Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2018/02/05/fpx-yx-yx-yx-yxxy-e-fues-feyf-seyf-efyy-efy-efy/

[bullimiami]

1. Theres your Death Panels.

[shenmue]

4. Exactly

[Bernardo de La Paz]

35. My first thought too. Republicons soon do every ridiculous accusation they make against Democrats.nt

[JDC]

47. Yep

[yurbud]

57. the death panels already exist in private insurance--this will be the first state run one

[lostnfound]

67. ACA abolished lifetime limits for private insurance, didnt it? Ny

[yurbud]

71. I don't know, but it probably didn't abolish their discretion about what therapies are

"experimental" or when they can deny claims.

If someone else knows for your question or mine, I would be glad to be enlightened.

[lostnfound]

72. From the HHS website

You’re correct about the experimental designation. But yes, the ACA did outlaw what had previously been the norm. It was one of many benefits that ACA brought to even worker-based plans.

Lifetime Limits
Under the current law, lifetime limits on most benefits are prohibited in any health plan or insurance policy. Previously, many plans set a lifetime limit — a dollar limit on what they would spend for your covered benefits during the entire time you were enrolled in that plan. You were required to pay the cost of all care exceeding those limits.

Annual Limits
The current law bans annual dollar limits that all job-related plans and individual health insurance plans can put on most covered health benefits. Before the health care law, many health plans set an annual limit — a dollar limit on their yearly spending for your covered benefits. You were required to pay the cost of all care exceeding those limits.

Exceptions
Plans can put an annual dollar limit and a lifetime dollar limit on spending for health care services that are not considered essential health benefits.
Grandfathered individual health insurance policies are not required to follow the rules on annual limits.

[yurbud]

78. that last line is an awful big loophole.

[sofa king]

75. One can simply drop everything after, "lifetime limits."

Because that's what it is, a lifetime limit. No fucking term limits on Congress, but they can decide how long you're going to live.

[Kablooie]

81. You can always count on Republicans doing exactly what they accuse Democrats of doing.

It seems to be a law of nature.

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. After they run out, you can just die...

you aren't a productive member of society anyway, nor are you rich, SO JUST DIE ALREADY.!!

[Freethinker65]

3. Gotta find a way to pay for those tax cuts to the 1%.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

36. Yes. They have PROMISED to take AWAY medicare / medicaid benefits & now they are. . . nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

5. Well, trump has been handed everything in life, has never worked a single day in his life

so no surprise he wants to KILL Americans.

[Lifelong Protester]

6. So what about Nursing Home folks?

Will there be a limit on them?

[exboyfil]

12. Not yet.

That is the next phase.

[Ohiogal]

7. I had posted this earlier

I'm glad it's being seen again....... maybe my timing was wrong .... lol

My thoughts were: We should impose lifetime caps on Congress critters receiving taxpayer funded health insurance, so that we don't have lifetime bloodsuckers like Orrin Hatch bleeding us taxpayers dry. What's good enough for us is good enough for them.

Or, make their health insurance subject to the same requirements as Medicaid. You only get it if you show financial need. Make them jump through all the same hoops we have to.

[Deb]

8. Spreading disease is the GOP way.

Cruel idiots

[Hortensis]

9. GOOD! Let's hope they do it!

Remembering that laws this legislature passes can be repealed by the next one.

But whether it's done now or not, let's hope someone gives all our trumpster neighbors a heads-up on the way their big wind is blowing.

After all, they may be needing, oh, an extra room for an elder relative or pair to live in, one on the ground floor with bath that can be retrofitted to get a walker into? And just think of all those people who might have to learn to live on only one income because someone has to stay home with dad. (7 times more often it's going to be her.)

Best they know as soon as possible.

[TheDebbieDee]

28. These inhumane laws and needed tax increases

Can only be accomplished with veto-proof Dem majorities in the Congress and Senate...

[Hortensis]

40. Veto-proof Republican majorities? :)

COUNTDOWN TO MIDTERMS: 272 days.

[TheDebbieDee]

43. I was referring to veto-proof Dem majorities

That can over-ride the Orange Menace's veto...

[Hortensis]

44. YES! We can create those this November.

Chop the Repuplicans off at both knees.

[moonscape]

82. As a cancer patient who, thankfully, doesn't need

Medicaid, I still cannot wish anyone getting caught in the middle of treatment without resources to pay for it, whatever their condition/disease. They are not all 45 voters, and even for those who are, punishing anyone that way is beyond anything my brain can process.

[Hortensis]

83. Understand. My family has two who need chronic

long-term care if their conditions are not to become terminal.

What those who're directing the Republican Party are trying to do NOW, though, is only a first stage. The goal is to ELIMINATE all programs like SS, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Unemployment Insurace.

The CDC right now is forced to cancel 80% of its global disease prevention activities for lack of funding.

Insane? Only to us.

They say they want to create a stronger, healthier and more moral America by ending reliance on government. I call it mass murder because that is what everyone who looks ahead realizes would be the inevitable result of cutting off access to modern medicine to millions.

Or to use the "cleansing" terminology of evil movements, "population cleansing."

[TheDebbieDee]

10. They'll cut you off after the 4th of 8 chemo treatmts!

[Ohiogal]

13. and halfway through the treatment!

[TheDebbieDee]

17. They'll walk by your bed and yank the IV tubes

Out of your arms as your account ticks down to $0 .

They'll outfit the hospital beds to catapult you through the window and onto the sidewalk when the meter on your account teaches $0.

[progree]

50. I'm sure Susan Collins will make them promise to allow a small deficit and put a mattress on the

sidewalk, in order to get her vote.

[jmowreader]

55. They wouldn't be nearly that cruel

They'll wait until your treatment has ended, then walk you out to the paddy wagon that'll take you straight to debtor's prison.

And they'll make sure to use an old-fashioned one like this...



and make you sit with your face in the window, so everyone can see what a bad boy or girl you have been.

"He got sick on the Public Purse? That will never do. Off with his head!"

[Rollo]

77. Passenger-side Tommy gun... nice...

[DownriverDem]

11. If there is a hell

repubs will all be rotting there. Unite and vote next November. That is the only way we can slow down the trump/repub agenda.

[olegramps]

34. I afraid this is our heaven or our hell. Its our choice.

[Aristus]

14. I agree.

Medicaid benefits should be limited to the span of your lifetime.

Once you're dead, you should be cut off. No exceptions!

[TheDebbieDee]

58. A rule like that just gives them an incentive

To kill you sooner rather than later...

[Aristus]

60. I thought about that.

But I really wanted to explore the potential humor in it.

Take note of my sig line. That's why...

[Corgigal]

15. Not only will this kill lots of people,

Including people who vote for them, but also collapse the hospitals and nursing centers.

[procon]

16. That sounds fair... if people only had one bad setback in their entire lifetime.

Unfortunately life is not fair, and for poor folks who are more vulnerable to financial, health and every other misfortune, that's not a practical solution. Again this attitude that Republicans have against POC, the disabled, children, women, immigrants, the elderly, and people who are out of work or stuck in jobs that are a minimum wage hell. This is just the latest battlefront in the Republican's ongoing War on the Poor.

[Marthe48]

18. Pay attention trumpites

It'll be your parents, your in-laws, your disabled child, your not-endearing mentally ill cousin, or not-quite fatally injured loved one that you or your spouse will be caring for, in the comfort of your hut. Somebody will have to quit working, or the able-bodied in your family will have to adhere to a remarkably tight schedule in order to attend the permanently sick/disabled loved one 24/7. Say goodbye to eating, sex, and quality time with your healthy family members. Quality time like vaca, 8 hours of sleep, clean clothes, warm, homemade food. As time goes on, you will probably pull that healthy teen out of school and have him/her cover day shift. That's ok, your teens might get college credit for life experience* as they learn to change O2 tanks, IVs and soiled bedding. And don't forget spoon-feeding and oral medicine.

*not they'll attend college, but hey, keep the hope alive until the harsh reality of trumpiteism sinks in

[dawg day]

26. That's the truth-- Families used to do all the health-care

Few people are old enough to remember before Medicare and Medicaid, when the younger healthier members of the family were expected to support and care for the ill. No freedom to move, get better work, go to college, even have a family of your own.

People in Trump's tax bracket don't have that problem. They can hire all sorts of nurses and attendants. The rest of us need Medicare or Medicaid, and that's what Trump wants to end.

I know many Trump voters are hopelessly in thrall, and that others are already contentedly collecting Medicare and figure they'll kick off before Trump's horrific policies badly affect their grandchildren. But surely some care about the future? About the children? Surely?

[Marthe48]

73. I do remember

because my great-aunt had a stroke and moved in with us. By the time I was 8, I got to stay home after school, weekends and breaks in case she fell, so I could call someone.

Two of my sibs had major medical issues, and my family owned and operated a grocery store. Before Medicare, before Medicaid.

[yellowcanine]

19. Well isn't that special?

[malthaussen]

20. "allow states more flexibility to create policies...

... designed to promote personal and financial responsibility among enrollees."

That, right there, is a textbook example of the way editorial commentary is allowed to slip into what should be a straight news story.

-- Mal

[not fooled]

38. Exactly

We live in the most heavily propagandized country in the history of the world. The genius of the propagandizers is that they hide their actions so well. So well that most 'Muricans believe this truly is the "land of the free" and that they believe what they do because it's just the natural and right way to think.

No, people, you have been coached from birth to believe certain things that the aristocracy wants you to believe. And because you do, they now can propose heinous policies such as this and people will nod in agreement when by all rights they should be taking to the streets. Or, at the very least, voting out every puke and other politician who supports such genocidal actions. Because that's what this is--genocide of the many to enrich the few.

"Yes, kill me. Take away my health care. Better that than having the ebil Fed'rul gubmint forcing socialism on meeeee."

[MFM008]

21. And now you see

Why Ryan and the GOP are sticking
with this maggot POS even if he is a traitorous
Sell us out bitch.

[rtracey]

24. BECAUSE

Because the congress and the maggots that are supposed to serve us are on the take for themselves... they don't care because they will never need medicaid, or medicare, or Social security, or anything middle-class, or lower-middle class need.

[dawg day]

22. There you go, Trump voters

You are sick and can't work full-time? Don't worry! You'll be able (maybe) to get Medicaid for awhile.

Then at some point in your chemo treatment or dialysis, Trump will cut you off.

After all, giving huge amounts of tax money back to his billionaire friends is FAR more important than YOUR LIFE.

To him, anyway. I'm hoping that you, Trump voter, matter more to yourself and your family than you do to Trump.

Vote against nihilism and hate next time, because you, Trump voter, are Trump's ultimate victims.

[rtracey]

23. what goes up....

What goes in.... can come out.... its the way our government works. Its the way or congress works. What Fuckump signs today and be taken away tomorrow, and he knows it....they all do. This is why it is IMPERATIVE, IMPERATIVE, IMPERATIVE to win at least the Senate in 2018....A MUST.... GET OUT THE VOTE... VOTE DEMOCRAT

[still_one]

25. For those self-identified progressives who refused to vote for the Democratic nominee, FU

[paleotn]

33. Agree!

[Codeine]

62. Seriously.

Fuck those people.

[dalton99a]

66. +1

[True_Blue]

74. +1000

[harun]

79. Nominate a Progressive instead of a Conservative and we can talk.

[still_one]

80. Bullshit.

[marble falls]

27. So how would that not be a "death committee" decision???

[standingtall]

29. repukes are disgusting

and to think there were members of Democratic underground who said adding work requirements to medicaid was no big deal, because it only would effect a handful of people according to them which they were wrong about. This shows it was never about employment or lifting people out of poverty, but about taking healthcare away from poor people.

[yellowcanine]

30. "Sorry Grandma, your benefits are finished. Enough slacking!"

fuckers.

[logosoco]

31. America is in the trash now.

I have very little hope for the Constitution any more.

This is so disgusting.

If I was another country and the trumpster and the rethugs get away with what they want to do, I would no longer do any trade or visit here.

And anyone over 62 or who has any family member over 62, should be very ashamed. (If they are even capable of human emotions at all!)


eta: my mother, who is 82 just went through hoops to get a Medicaid bed for my elderly aunt who is just too mean for anyone else to live with but she needs much care. That is why I mentioned the retirement age.

[paleotn]

32. So when Grandma runs out of Medicaid funds....

They kick her out in the street. Nice family values. Typical of the Christo-haters.

[Politicub]

37. The cruelty of lifetime limits

His position on medicaid is cruel.

Lifetime Limits have the potential to spawn a genocide of the most vulnerable members of our society. The poor, the old, the disabled, and the people just getting by. Where will they turn for care -- for a kidney stone, a broken limb or pneumonia -- when they have no money to do so?

What if insulin doses had a lifetime cap? "You are on your own. You are a noncare."

"We the people" would be saying collectively, "Sorry. No more health care you. You have reached your maximum. Good day and go die."

We must turn the tide in this country.

A blue wave can come; We can make it happen. The majority of Americans do not approve of President Trump. There are more of us than them.

[CountAllVotes]

39. A family friend in on Medicaid by choice

She sold everything she had to get on Medicaid as she is on kidney dialysis 3X a week.

I do not know what it costs, but Medicaid is paying for it.

She in her 90's.

What will they do, tell her no more dialysis for you?

These people caring to do this are murderers and they are seriously 'effed in the head IMO.

[Lonestarblue]

41. The evil of this administration knows no limits.

A large portion of Trump supporters in poor red states like Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee rely on Medicaid when they can no longer take care of elderly parents at home or when they have an adult child whose mental or physical care needs exceed their ability to pay or to handle the care. People like this go into nursing homes that are paid for by Medicaid. So once the lifetime maximum is reached, just what is it that the elderly and disabled are supposed to do other then try to die quickly? I am so disgusted and angry! Republicans are among the most hateful people on the face of the Earth! And yes, I know we must vote this fall, but Republicans have shown that they will do anything to stay in power and I simply do not trust that they will not steal this election too.

[red dog 1]

49. + 1

The Koch brothers have pledged to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help the GOP retain control of Congress this November.

[annabanana]

42. So the older and sicker you are.. the quicker they will kill you off. . .. n/t

[FreeStateDemocrat]

45. According to recent AARP publication: "62% nursing home residents receive Medicaid assistance."

Set the old farts out on the curb is the puke policy in the end. Throw away people and this proves it that they would even discuss paying for the tax cuts for the rich by denying healthcare to the poor. Fox spews will spin this shit into chocolate pudding for their tone deaf minions to eat up.

[mrmpa]

46. My 87 year old mother was recently assessed as Nursing Home eligible.........

however here in Pennsylvania, they would rather you have care in your home, rather than a Nursing Home. I just filled out my mom's application for a Waiver. If approved she will have both her medicare (a medicare advantage plan) and medicaid. This will allow for mom to have the care she needs at home.

I was with her at her apt. during the assessment. The social worker asked me to care for my mom (8 hours a day) 4 days a week. I said absolutely not. That is something I cannot & will not do + there's no compensation.

Until the waiver is approved, mom will have someone come in 3 days a week, 2 hours a day; to help her clean, bathe and plan and prepare her meals. She will also have a volunteer companion one day a week for on hour. This will cost her about $50 a month. If and when the waiver is approved she will have more services.

I think this is the perfect plan for mom right now. If she were to go into a Nursing Home, she would be contrary, and probably die quicker.

Two of my 3 brothers do not agree with this decision. One brother has never visited her in her apt. and the other show up about once every 2 months. The latter started the heave ho toward a Nursing Home, because mom had an accident with her bowels while he was there. She didn't tell him or ask him to clean it up. It was found by the brother who does her laundry every Friday.

So let's see what happens if medicaid is capped.

[PRETZEL]

51. One word of caution,

assumig your mom would be determined eligible for MA (and the Aging Waiver is both NFCE and financial) at some point she will eventually have to pick a Managed Care Organization that may or may not be her Medicare Advantage plan.

The program is called Community Healthchoices (aka CHC). It rolled our in the Southwestern part of the state on 1/1/18. If you in the Southeast region (Philly, Bucks, Montco, Chester and Delaware) that rolls out on 1/1/19 and the rest of the state on 1/1/20.

CHC is a mandatory sign up. She won't have a choice since she'll be determined "dual eligible".

[mrmpa]

65. Her advantage plan is UPMC for life.................

the UPMC medicaid program is UPMC for you. So I think she will be okay.

[lostnfound]

70. So Marco Rubio and Ivanka would let you use up your own social security instead

Under their proposed approach, you could take “family leave”to take care of your mom (for months o years), and give up your own social security month for month, thereby deferring your own benefits and retirement to do it.

Spend a couple of years doing it, and when you’re really worn out and your brothers haven’t interrupted their own careers to do it, you can just keep working and they can retire from their (probably higher paying jobs) earlier than you.

[SunSeeker]

48. And then what? Let them die in the street?

Good God, these are evil assholes.

[LeonardShelby]

52. They already did this with Medicare

I wanted to take the time to post a reply to this thread. This is already happening with Medicare. Specifically, physical therapy for Medicare.

Physical therapy benefits for Medicare have always had two "caps": the first is now $2,010, and the second is now $3,700 ( or it was ). The first is called the "hard cap". Until this year, physical therapists could simply put a "modifier" next to the billing code, after a patient reached $2,010 in physical therapy visits, and Medicare would ok the visits, up to the second limit of $3,700. This was called an "automatic exception".
It's been done this way since 1997, when the Balanced Budget Act was originally passed, which set these caps on physical therapy. The exceptions process had to be renewed every year, and it has been...until last year.

On January 1, 2018, the exceptions process for physical therapy ended. This was the same bill that extended CHIP through Januar 1, 2018. CHIP has now been reauthorized, but not the Medicare Physical Therapy Exceptions process. That means once someone on Medicare reaches $2,010 in physical therapy expenses, they are cut off. They are 100% responsible for the remaining costs. I know that $2,010 may sound like a lot, but it's not. Think of the amount of physical therapy someone needs after a stroke. Now consider that speech language therapy is also included in the cap. Now consider that speech language therapy is included in the *same* cap as physical therapy. Meaning, physical therapy and speech language therapy share the same $2,010 pot of money. A stroke victim can reach that limit quickly.

The APTA has a #StopTheCap campaign on Twitter. I am trying to get the word out. For the past two years, I have needed the full $3,700 of physical therapy benefits. I don't know how I'll get through this year.

I've already called both of my senators, and my US congressman.

[pansypoo53219]

53. didn't the moron say he could do health insurance cheaper + better?

that does not sound beautiful.

[pioche4]

54. Exactly my first thought

....'death threats', and wasn't there a scare tactic by Republicans re: universal coverage that there would be 'death councils'....looks to me that the R's are a 'death party'

[red dog 1]

56. In 2015, Trump promised not to cut Medicaid

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/03/10/trump-promises-not-to-cut-medicaid-newday.cnn

[pnwmom]

59. So what will they do with nursing home residents? Throw them out on the streets? n/t

[Codeine]

63. Are there no prisons?

Are there no workhouses?

[pnwmom]

64. There are still plenty of spots under bridges, I understand. n/t

[Codeine]

61. This motherfucker.

What a shitshow.

If we can’t turn out the numbers necessary to send this fishfart packing in an absolutely humiliating fashion then we don’t fucking deserve anything better.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

68. What next? The V.A.?

Those aging vets have been using a lot of health care in their old age. Time for them to quit drinking from the public trough - that's for Mnuchin and DeVos and Trump and the rest.

[Vinca]

69. Isn't that special? Do they plan to send faith healers around?

It's not as if a medical condition magically disappears overnight when a person is threatened with losing benefits.

[CTyankee]

76. I doubtthat the American people will let that happen....

republicans will be wiped out in the coming election.

You have already seen what happened in Congress when they tried to cut health care benefits under Medicare...big disaster for the GOP and they dropped it quickly.