Romney-Ryan plan would repeal Reagan's spousal safety net

[Tony_FLADEM]

One of President Ronald Reagan’s important achievements, protecting spouses from impoverishment under Medicaid, would be gutted under the plans of Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).


Perhaps the greatest fear facing senior citizens and their children is that they will be stricken with a long-term illness that will destroy all of their savings. This is still a concern today, but it was a much greater concern 30 years ago until President Ronald Reagan stepped up to protect spouses from impoverishment. Now, the two Republicans atop the presidential ticket in 2012 want to gut those protections.

Here’s what’s at stake. Medicare covers doctor bills and hospital bills but it provides for only a short period of nursing home care. If a nursing home patient exhausts his or her own Medicare coverage and all of his or her personal resources, which happens to most Americans after a year or so in a nursing home, Medicaid will then cover the cost of the care. About one-third of all Medicaid payments are for long-term care.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/243503-romney-ryan-plan-would-repeal-reagans-spousal-safety-net

Ryan's budget plan is to the right of Ronald Reagan.

[catbyte]

1. That's exactly what I say when I encounter an over 55

person who says they don't care who is elected because "I am safe-the cuts don't affect me." Besides the chewing-out I give them for being so fucking selfish, I bring the little matter of how the"Marvelous Ryan/Romney Budget" would decimate Medicaid and the food stamp program.

Idiots.





Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[Salviati]

2. Also remind them that if they throw everyone else under the bus...

Who's going to stand up for them when the republicans eventually, inevitably, come to throw THEM under the bus.