Where will Grandma go?

by Marilyn Wolff, Stevensville

Do you have a family member in a nursing home? If their stay is covered by Medicaid after they spent down their assets below $2,000 to qualify, their care could be terminated with passage of the Big Ugly Bill to give the wealthiest Americans a permanent tax cut. Over 60% of nursing home residents are on Medicaid and dependent on their nursing home care which averages $10,000 a month. Many Americans without a long term care policy, which is very expensive, will be out the door. Do you have backup plans on how to care for your disabled, elderly and frail family members?

Many Americans think Medicare covers nursing home stays but it doesn’t unless the care is of a skilled nature and medically necessary. Medicare and most health insurance, including supplements, don’t pay for non-medical long term care services, like personal care assistance with everyday activities, including dressing, bathing and using the bathroom. This includes transportation, home-delivered meals, and other community based services.  

Sadly, also millions of low income Americans will be getting excessive premium increases under the ACA subsidies program. All of this legislation is the cruelest, most inhumane treatment of Americans, many who have worked their entire lives and now will be left out in the cold without insurance to support the richest people in America who will never need the benefits of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Our Congress is full of millionaires and could have stopped this drastic cut. Did Montana’s Congressional delegation do anything? NO, they sat on their hands when their no vote may have been enough to stop this from happening. Montana’s delegation spouted lies about illegal immigrants getting insurance when immigrants are not eligible for federal health insurance programs. Illegal immigrants do pay federal, state, and local taxes on their earnings.

All I can say is vote in the midterm election for responsible representatives who serve their constituents, not the wealthy minority. Contact the President and leaders in Congress. Let them know your disapproval. Stand up for those who need help.