Political Memes

Over in the US, the Federal government is starting to care more about its citizens with disabilities, too. A new act will be increasing eligibility checks for medical coverage from yearly to every six months, using more "thorough" (by which they mean more "complicated") forms and requirements. It also introduces a work requirement, so people with disabilities who lose coverage by administrative error will not have access to alternative coverage while they dispute the miraculous cure of their long-term disability.

Co-pays are increasing, in many cases, by a factor of several and the act is reducing the cap on taxes that states can charge to providers by about half. Also, while states won't face penalties for accidentally denying coverage to eligible people, they will be facing new financial penalties for accidentally covering ineligible people. The Federal health program, Medicare, is backed by the joint Federal and State program, Medicaid, so this means more costs are being pushed down to the states, meaning less funds to cover eligible people.

Moreover, the act establishes a home equity cap of USD $1,000,000. That sounds like a lot, but its only twice the median American home price. $1M rules out most multi-bedroom condominiums in urban areas of large metropolitan cities. There are people who will have to take on a mortgage or lose coverage.

The US government has taken a new and special interest in its citizens with disabilities: squeezing them and their families for every last penny.