Oh good. Obama is saving the middle class

[henryclay]

Obamacare continues to unfold. Now we find that middle class families, , , at least those with $64,000 incomes), will qualify for free health care when the bill is finally in full bloom.

So, what's the big deal? If it was going to be THAT good, why did he want to keep it a secret?

And where is lunacy? Maybe it's a good thing he's busy somewhere else right now. He'll have a fit over this one.

President Barack Obama's health care law would let several million middle-class people get nearly free insurance meant for the poor, a twist government number crunchers say they discovered only after the complex bill was signed.

The change would affect early retirees: A married couple could have an annual income of about $64,000 and still get Medicaid, said officials who make long-range cost estimates for the Health and Human Services department.

Up to 3 million people could qualify for Medicaid in 2014 as a result of the anomaly. That's because, in a major change from today, most of their Social Security benefits would no longer be counted as income for determining eligibility.

Medicare chief actuary Richard Foster says the situation keeps him up at night.

"I don't generally comment on the pros or cons of policy, but that just doesn't make sense," Foster said during a question-and-answer session at a recent professional society meeting. It's almost like allowing middle-class people to qualify for food stamps, he suggested.

"This is a situation that got no attention at all," added Foster. "And even now, as I raise the issue with various policymakers, people are not rushing to say ... we need to do something about this."

Indeed, administration officials and senior Democratic lawmakers say it's not a loophole but the result of a well-meaning effort to simplify rules for deciding who will get help with insurance costs under the new health care law. Instead of a hodgepodge of rules, there will be one national policy.

washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/06/twist-obamas-health-care-law

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< The change would affect early retirees: A married couple could have an annual income of about $64,000 and still get Medicaid, said officials who make long-range cost estimates for the Health and Human Services department. >>>

...so there we have it... we can officially "go on the dole" now...

[dancinmama]

YEAH!! DH's pension will be under $64K!! Do they ask you anything about the value of your home when you sign up?

[floridayankee]

Jun 22, 2011 19:43:48 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

YEAH!! DH's pension will be under $64K!! Do they ask you anything about the value of your home when you sign up?

The way it sounds, it's based on income, not net worth. Assuming that's correct, even a multi-millionaire can benefit if they keep their income under a certain the magic $64k before social security.

[Deleted]

Yep-- it's welfare, except that you get fined if you turn it down..