Health-care reform bill has a $500 million Medicare price tag for Michigan
The health-care reform bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives includes a provision that Michigan can't afford, an editorial in The Detroit News says.
The bill would dramatically increase the number of people eligible for Medicaid by boosting the income requirement to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, the editorial says.
The real problem for Michigan will come five years down the road, the editorial says.
Michigan initially wouldn't feel the brunt of this change because the House-passed measure obligates the federal government to pick up 90 percent of the cost. ... As with a balloon mortgage, however, the whammy would come at the end of the five years, in 2019, when the federal Medicaid match could drop back to the customary 60-40 formula."
Comments
Diagenes
Mon, Nov 30, 2009 : 9:40 p.m.
The tax increases proposed by congress to pay for their health care takeover will also hurt Michigan's economy. The so called benefits will not be implemented for 4 years after the taxes begin. Higher taxes, increase expenses, how is this a good plan?
mdike
Thu, Nov 26, 2009 : 11:22 a.m.
Ypsilanti demonstrates the neodemocratic line wonderfully. Ignore discussion, ignore inconvenient facts, attack the messenger. Must be a graduate of the Saul Alinsky school of political thought.
Mick52
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 2:13 p.m.
Regardless of the source, any national health care plan simply is very expensive. This law is being presented in an extremely complicated manner. Providing HC coverage who do not have it will create a need to find revenue to pay for it, and more funding to help people who have it that find it difficult to afford. If you want it, you are going to have to pay for it. Be suspicious of politicians who are promising high quality affordable health care. Find out exactly what they mean by affordable. You may be surprised what you will be paying.
John Galt
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 11:55 a.m.
We CAN"T AFFORD another entitlement program. We can even pay for the current Medicare and Social Security promises. What are those fools in Washington doing? Deliberately trying to collapse the country? They must be socialists or communists to be ramming this boondoggle through.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 : 9:42 p.m.
Balderdash! The Detroit News?!
ypsilanti
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 : 4:44 p.m.
The DetNews has no credibility. It's the Fox News of SE Michigan.