Taxes are there no need to debate what is fact but the taxes are how the Affordable Care Act was allowed to stand in the Supreme Court. Medicaid in my state doesn't cover poor single adults unless your a pregnant woman or on SSI or deemed by the state to be disabled. Its not there just for the poor and that is not the case in most states. And may I ask say I made $14,000 a year which is remote the most I ever earned was $10,400 how can I with pre-existing conditions including Cerebral Palsy which I was born with and they count afford insurance? I could afford around with all the related costs maybe $1000 a year premiums, co-pays and deductibles included. That is why the ACA expanded Medicaid based on INCOME. And the last bit is also fact states opting in do have a carrot to offer they offer employers Medicaid and other options to workers of small employers not offered in opt out states. They could move in offering say 50 full-time jobs that are full-time and those people would either be on Medicaid or get into an exchange that will matter. And socialists do support small business even Marx saw the crafter at home as a legitimate part of his economic theory and property rights when present were for the individual its larger businesses I feel need to have worker participation in under law.
It is good that you admit that ObamaCare is just another example of tax-and-spend government... What is your definition of "poor"? And what is your proof that Medicaid does not cover "the poor" unless one is either "a pregnant woman or on SSI or deemed by the state to be disabled"? If the "most" you "ever earned" was a mere $10,400 for one year, that begs the question: Are you not a regular, full-time employee? (Note: The current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour--which is actually higher than that in some states--times 40 hours per week, times 52 weeks per year, would equal $15,080 per year; not exactly a king's ransom--but almost 50 percent more than the $10,400 you just positied.) As for pre-existing conditions, I would support the concept of tax incentives for employers who offer a menu of healthcare plans from which to choose; at least one of which would fully cover pre-existing conditions, at no increase in premiums.
States have good reason to be nervous about expanding Medicaid and then having to wait for the government to pay them. The states that are most vulnerable if they expand Medicaid are states with minimum wage of 7.25 or lower since it those people that will be eligible for Medicaid. New York is planning on raising their minimum wage after they reviewed how many more people they would have to add to the expansion. According the 2013 U.S. Budget report - the government has projected they will pay 35 billion for the refundable premium assistance, high risk pools, and payments to reduce cost sharing in year 2014. The projections for Medicaid that they will pay out in state grants for 2014 is 458 billion. They estimate for 2013 payout in grants at 401 billion. They did set aside grant money for the ACA in 2010 for 1 billion, 2011 for 24 billion, 2012 for 906 billion AND FOR 2013 FOR 1 TRILLION.
As for my income I've always been self-employed since I'm Disabled and well when I came of age to work the damned ADA kicked in and the jobs people were offering me dried up it went from your a nice young man we will take a chance to sorry the government made hiring you a risk they never said that but it was happening to all the disabled in my town at the time unless employed already. So I worked for myself my first job I got paid $10 a week to clean dog poop off peoples yards six days a week, 365 days a year with twenty yards and it was hard for me but was at the time the best I could do. My dad and mom were sent to Europe by the army my dad at embassy work and I learned Busking, picked up jewelry making, fortune telling, astrological charting and well what I could grab to make money with. I vowed to myself I would not go on SSI unless I was seriously disabled and if I go blind I'd rather be dead frankly so have plans to do myself in over going on government dole all out, not near there yet. As for Busking its still a business foot traffic, people having cash on them and other factors determine income its simple I can work X hours and make a decent amount usually if the weather is decent (rain is bad) and outside that my hourly income drops hard. But Busking, making seashell jewelry with silver accents, online fortune telling and the odd astrological chart job brings in enough to get by. I'm not working as much now to qualify easily for charity care in case I must go to the hospital my father providing room & board and other things for now. My current income I pay taxes on for last year was $2652.00 self-employment and income taxes. Which is why Medicaid or some similar program for me is vital I get that I can work to my former income. Medicaid in Florida the limit on income is not even a factor a single man who is not disabled under SSI or determined so by the state which is the same a high bar of paperwork unless your obviously seriously disabled aka Blind. http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/1625 Simply put for people like me the poor self-employed and that is simply how it is the government has to be there that is all we have and I find the ACA a good thing.
By your own admission (in the very first sentence of your latest post, above), you are disaabled. If you have chosen not to accept your home state's eligibility requirements for Medicaid, that is your decision. But you should not expect to foist upon society in general the consequences of that decision...
My state requires medical records and other evidence I don't have since I have no regular access to health care, unless I get so disabled they can't fight it as in near blind or blind or lose limbs I have to jump through tons of hoops and meet the same requirements as someone on SSI. You ever try that? And you want me on welfare and getting SSI, Medicaid, a free phone, subsidized housing and everything else or would I be better off getting health care and none of the rest? Seriously. Florida also has a plan to have an alternative where I would pay some premiums and costs similar to the insurance program for children but expanded which will be fine by me I can work to where I used to and pay the costs if its as projected. I can work bit more to cover the $20 a month and small out-of-pockets costs.
Having healthcare insurance and having "regular access to health care" are two entirely different (and largely unrelated) concepts. Did you ever hear, for instance, of the Hill-Burton Act (as passed in the 1940s, and revised in the 1970s)? Then go for it...
There is another issue that rules out SSI and Medicaid I worked for myself for over two decades and my disabilities never hurt me, to apply I would need such a significant change that it would make such work impossible. I am losing the use of my legs a bit and use a power wheelchair to go out which just INCREASED my income Busking by 20%. Its simple business a clearly disabled Busker gets more sympathy and credit for working at something so I earn more. I get near blind or my sight goes to where I need an Identicane my gratuity income will go up even more. And if I can work full-time even if I choose not to they won't consider me for SSI and if I can't meet those demands in my state currently I can't get Medicaid. Plus applying and all would require five years to get and why bother with the ACA in play even Florida is likely to do something in the end and if not I will consider going to another state my skills to make money are PORTABLE.
First, let me say that I am sorry that your health is currently so poor. But it is not wise to make public policy on the basis of an occasional, anomalous situation... Why five years? Is the appeals process really backed up that far in Florida?
Actually it can be that long if I could get it, like I said I can work normally at what I do with disabilities and in fact earn more so I would have to have a huge medical issue such as near or total blindness OR a crippling stroke to apply and have a shot.
