Medicaid enrollment spikes to 48M in weak economy

[Cobb]

WASHINGTON – A record number of Americans signed up for Medicaid last year, as the recession wiped out jobs and workplace health coverage.

 

A report released Thursday by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation found that enrollment in the safety-net medical insurance program jumped to more than 48 million — a record 15.7 percent share of the U.S. population. With the economy barely improving, states are forecasting a 6 percent increase in the rolls next year, meaning another strain on their cash-depleted budgets.

 

The Medicaid numbers are the latest piece to emerge in a grim statistical picture of the recession's toll. The ranks of the working-age poor climbed to the highest level since the 1960s last year, according to a recent Census report. Nearly 12 million households received food stamps, a record.

I say we put the house, senate, and all other government jobs on medicaid and see how fast it gets fixed.

[Flash]

Yes we can!

[Lkr]

Yes we can!

yea bro, I would love to just let people die! in fact, when another recession hits, lets just leave all those that lose their jobs to fend for themselves! what's the worst that can happen? crime goes way up? millions of people die? you have some great ideas, I wish you ran the country!

[Flash]

You think the states can afford this?

[Lkr]

You think the states can afford this?

the country can't afford anything. cutting medicaid isn't the answer though. that is why it is called a recession. the idea is to increase deficit spending and the debt will shrink back down when the economy goes back up. no reason to be alarmed, this number will go up when the economy does a double dip.

[JYD]

Yes we can!

You do realize the deficit and the reason the country is broke has nothing to do with Obama? You are truly clueless when it comes to politics. It seems like any chance you get, you slam him. This has nothing to do with him. The country was dead broke for the past eight years before he took office. And that's not just President Bush's fault. Both parties were at fault in his eight years in office.

 

And before you go bashing the liberals and Democrats, I believe there was a surplus when Clinton was in office.

 

Anyway, go on with the discussion...

[Flash]

You do realize the deficit and the reason the country is broke has nothing to do with Obama? You are truly clueless when it comes to politics. It seems like any chance you get, you slam him. This has nothing to do with him. The country was dead broke for the past eight years before he took office. And that's not just President Bush's fault. Both parties were at fault in his eight years in office.

 

And before you go bashing the liberals and Democrats, I believe there was a surplus when Clinton was in office.

 

Anyway, go on with the discussion...

 

Its time to stop blaming Bush..seriously. He's been gone for 2 years. This is Obama's economy now and he's only made it worse.

 

The Dems have had control of both houses for what now? 6 years? 8 years? Time to start holding them accountable instead of blaming Bush & the Republicans.

 

Its gotten so bad that Democrats running for office in November are staying away from the guy and saying they didn't support his policies.

Edited October 1, 2010 by Flash

[EastCoastNiner]

You do realize the deficit and the reason the country is broke has nothing to do with Obama? You are truly clueless when it comes to politics. It seems like any chance you get, you slam him. This has nothing to do with him. The country was dead broke for the past eight years before he took office. And that's not just President Bush's fault. Both parties were at fault in his eight years in office.

 

And before you go bashing the liberals and Democrats, I believe there was a surplus when Clinton was in office.

 

Anyway, go on with the discussion...

 

What are you talking about.

 

Go look at how much Obama has spent compared to Bush. .

[Flash]

What are you talking about.

 

Go look at how much Obama has spent compared to Bush. .

 

Don't you dare bring facts into this! Anyways, I;m done with this debate because nothing good will come of it. We'll see what happens in November because that'll be a good barometer of how this country feels right now.

[Lkr]

What are you talking about.

 

Go look at how much Obama has spent compared to Bush. .

He has to increase deficit spending to get out of the recession. A basic economics course could tell you that.

 

You can't blame us still being in a recession on the Obama administration alone. It takes time to get out of a recession. Especially when consumer confidence is STILL low. If the Obama administration increases spending even more or provides business incentives, you'll scream socialism. The only thing you have to blame for the recession is the fact that the US is a capitalist country.

 

Of course the country will vote conservative this November. Just like they forced out the conservatives two years prior. Nothing will be accomplished by swapping parties every two years though. You need to give a little bit of time.

Edited October 1, 2010 by Lkr

[JYD]

Its time to stop blaming Bush..seriously. He's been gone for 2 years. This is Obama's economy now and he's only made it worse.

 

The Dems have had control of both houses for what now? 6 years? 8 years? Time to start holding them accountable instead of blaming Bush & the Republicans.

 

Its gotten so bad that Democrats running for office in November are staying away from the guy and saying they didn't support his policies.

Did you read my post? All I said was the deficit isn't Obama's fault. Neither would it have been McCain's if he won. It was Bush and all of congress fault the past eight years. Dems and Repubs alike.

 

What are you talking about.

 

Go look at how much Obama has spent compared to Bush. .

It's a little different when you are investing in projects to try to stimulate the economy as oppose to pissing away money (ex. Iraq War)...

 

The deficit isn't an Obama issue. It was a huge issue for the past few years when Bush was in office and Democrats were congress. BOTH parties are at fault.

[Flash]

The deficit isn't an Obama issue? He's only made is worse!

[EastCoastNiner]

The deficit isn't an Obama issue? He's only made is worse!

 

They still want to blame Bush, and they use the terrible excuse that Obama is "stimulating the economy". I didn't know that stimulating and destroying were the same words. .

 

This guy just pisses on the U.S. Constitution, pisses on every law this country has, and does not abide by any laws that our country has.

 

Good thing he'll only be in office for one term.

[Flash]

They still want to blame Bush, and they use the terrible excuse that Obama is "stimulating the economy". I didn't know that stimulating and destroying were the same words. .

 

This guy just pisses on the U.S. Constitution, pisses on every law this country has, and does not abide by any laws that our country has.

 

Good thing he'll only be in office for one term.

 

Because its convenient to blame your problems on someone else. Even though Obama has spent more than every US president before him combined.

 

At this point I think Mitt Romney would wipe the floor with him in an election barring a massive case of voter fraud which wouldn't surprise me with this administration. Only 38% want him re-elected IIRC.

 

Its not just him who pisses on the constitution, its the left in general.