But few people seem to know that nearly two-thirds of
that spending is focused on older and disabled adults — primarily through spending on long-term care services such as nursing homes.
The American Health Care Act that passed the House
and is now being debated by the Senate would reduce spending on Medicaid by over $800 billion, the largest single reduction in a social insurance program in our nation’s history.
In some states, overall spending on older and disabled adults amounts to as much as three-quarters of Medicaid spending.
Medicaid is our nation’s largest safety net for low-income people, accounting for one-sixth of all health care spending in the United States.
Roughly one in three people now turning 65 will require nursing home care at some point during his or her life.
Many American voters think Medicaid is only for low-income adults
and their children — for people who aren’t “like them.” But Medicaid is not “somebody else’s” insurance.
You’re Probably Going to Need Medicaid -
By DAVID GRABOWSKI, JONATHAN GRUBER and VINCENT MORJUNE 13, 2017
Imagine your mother needs to move into a nursing home.
Many nursing homes would stop admitting Medicaid recipients
and those who don’t have enough assets to ensure that they won’t eventually end up on Medicaid.