Over the past 10 years, Medicaid enrollment across the 50 states has grown by approximately 50% according to a study by the Kaiser Commission. (http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/8050.pdf) Of course the economy has contributed to this, as has the rise in health insurance costs, leading many employers to drop health insurance as a benefit. However, disability policy has played a significant role in this as well.
Current disability policy dictates that persons with disabilities declare themselves unable to work and impoverish themselves in order to qualify for Medicaid, which will cover critical services that are not covered under private insurance policies. The problem with this is that people who may be able to work are removed from the employment – and tax –rolls and become dependent on public support.
In an economy that is as stressed as our current one is, this makes no sense. To make matters worse, many states are now cutting the services provided, leaving many persons with disabilities with no recourse – No money and no support.
There are programs that attempt to patch this system, but it’s like playing Whack-A-Mole. A bandaid on one problem creates another problem in the system. It’s time to face the reality that the current system is unsustainable.
Building a new system from the ground up will require courage, but maintaining the status quo has no future.
Annette Bourbonniere
401-846-1960
Fax: 401-846-1944
Twitter: @AccessInclude
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