Means testing for health insurance

[ToomuchStuff]

The ACA dictated subsidies are based on income, right? No means testing.

My friend who owns a $400,000 house free and clear of mortgage in Mexico plus real estate here that is mortgaged--will be qualifying for free health insurance. Really,can it be free? This is what he told me. His income is low because um, he has no job, but he does have 3 rental units plus the Mexico house, all separate from his own living unit.

Mexico, as in the country? You don't state this house, in a foreign land, as a rental house. (where it would be foreign income guidelines of the tax code) It was paid for with after tax dollars I am guessing. (not sure where your hangup with a piece of non income producing foreign property comes into play?)
Please explain.

[Rogar]

By the books, half the subsidies come from coincidental savings in medicare/medicaid, a fourth from medical device taxes that were part of the ACA package, and a fourth come from taxes on the wealthy. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013...ance-subsidies

However, there is probably no such thing as a free lunch even for us commoners.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Next time you pay your income tax remember those who are sitting on the beach in Mexico because we've all made that possible.

yea but if I'm really and truly jealous of those sitting on the beach, I'd be better off just trying to get more vacation time (as policy for everyone yes, although if your situation is favorable otherwise as well), so I could get a little more sitting on the beach as well, than trying to enforce something that maybe does cost more to enforce than it's worth and that doesn't get me any more beach time even if I won (it disappears somewhere else in the fathomless depths of the federal government). There is enough leisure to go around, share the leisure.

[iris lilies]

By the books, half the subsidies come from coincidental savings in medicare/medicaid, a fourth from medical device taxes that were part of the ACA package, and a fourth come from taxes on the wealthy. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013...ance-subsidies

However, there is probably no such thing as a free lunch even for us commoners.

Thank you for the projected source of income for ACA subsidies. While those of us who argued the general point, that subsidies are coming form the taxpayers, are right, I see what you mean in your earlier post and I find this idea of the drafters of the ACA interesting.

[Spartana]

well I'm one of those sitting on the beach (literally) watching the French bulldogs surf who is eligible for Medicaid because of lack of means testing. Low income early retirement but highish assets (although not in the same category as DMC and Bae). My private insurance will more than triple for monthly premiums and have a $3,000 higher deductible (from $4000/year to $7000/year) starting in Jan. and I don't qualify for subsidies. So my choice is pay the big bucks for insurance or use the ACA for free Medicaid. However, I can also use the VA hospital for low cost so that is what I plan to do while I try to find an affordable private plan (been checking on www.ehealthinsurance.com and if you plug in 2013 numbers vs. 2014 numbers they rise quite a bit). Unlike the ACA, the VA does require means testing for both income and asets to get treated for non-service connected stuff (injuries, illness, disabilities, etc... that were not caused due to your military service). Besides income and assets for the veteran, the VA also requires income and asset means testing of their spouse and kids even if spouse and kids can't use the VA). To me it doesn't seem a hard thing to do and it is something I think should be done for subsidies and Medicaid for the ACA.

[iris lilies]

Mexico, as in the country? You don't state this house, in a foreign land, as a rental house. (where it would be foreign income guidelines of the tax code) It was paid for with after tax dollars I am guessing. (not sure where your hangup with a piece of non income producing foreign property comes into play?)
Please explain.

This Mexico house is a sometimes rental, sort of shared/rented, and at the moment is 100% rented and my friend stays in the back Maid's quarters when he takes his months at a time vacations.

Ok, here's what really bugs me: its whining about having no money, whining about the high cost of insurance (and it is bloody high, I agree!) but then deliberately not working and taking the handout. The whining woe-is-me-I-am-a-victim gets to me.

No one who has clean, measurable assets of $400,000 is a victim. I so tire of victim mentality.

[iris lilies]

well I'm one of those sitting on the beach (literally) watching the French bulldogs surf who is eligible for Medicaid because of lack of means testing. Low income early retirement but highish assets (although not in the same category as DMC and Bae). My private insurance will more than triple for monthly premiums and have a $3,000 higher deductible (from $4000/year to $7000/year) starting in Jan. and I don't qualify for subsidies. So my choice is pay the big bucks for insurance or use the ACA for free Medicaid. However, I can also use the VA hospital for low cost so that is what I plan to do while I try to find an affordable private plan (been checking on www.ehealthinsurance.com and if you plug in 2013 numbers vs. 2014 numbers they rise quite a bit). Unlike the ACA, the VA does require means testing for both income and asets to get treated for non-service connected stuff (injuries, illness, disabilities, etc... that were not caused due to your military service). Besides income and assets for the veteran, the VA also requires income and asset means testing of their spouse and kids even if spouse and kids can't use the VA). To me it doesn't seem a hard thing to do and it is something I think should be done for subsidies and Medicaid for the ACA.

oh you just think that you will sweet talk me with that bulldog photo, haha!

I've got no beef with you, love your Can-DO attitude, and you put in your time and sacrifice for that VA benefit.

[gimmethesimplelife]

This Mexico house is a sometimes rental, sort of shared/rented, and at the moment is 100% rented and my friend stays in the back Maid's quarters when he takes his months at a time vacations.

Ok, here's what really bugs me: its whining about having no money, whining about the high cost of insurance (and it is bloody high, I agree!) but then deliberately not working and taking the handout. The whining woe-is-me-I-am-a-victim gets to me.

No one who has clean, measurable assets of $400,000 is a victim. I so tire of victim mentality.

I agree with you, that no one with $400,000 in assets is a victim. In a way. Without insurance once serious illness such as cancer could wipe those assets clean away. But with that kind of money one can afford insurance or could meet financial requirements to obtain permanent residency in another country with much lower health care costs. I vote for the latter, no surprise there, but I also understand that not everyone would want the latter. I do think to some degree that we are ALL victims or a least potential victims to a health care system that works against us and not for us - I see that as being true for someone with $400,000 in assets, too. But I would also agree that someone with those kinds of assets should not be getting Medicaid......That in my book is working the system. Rob

[bae]

But I would also agree that someone with those kinds of assets should not be getting Medicaid......That in my book is working the system. Rob

My mother-in-law has those kinds of assets. She was a teacher her whole life, and lives on Social Security and a small pension. However, she owns her home free and clear. She has lived in that home since 1947 I believe. She and her husband sacrificed, scrimped, and saved to finally pay off the house, and built/remodeled a good chunk of it over time with their own skill and labor. I was present at their mortgage-burning party in 1980.

[iris lilies]

I agree with you, that no one with $400,000 in assets is a victim. In a way. Without insurance once serious illness such as cancer could wipe those assets clean away. But with that kind of money one can afford insurance or could meet financial requirements to obtain permanent residency in another country with much lower health care costs. I vote for the latter, no surprise there, but I also understand that not everyone would want the latter. I do think to some degree that we are ALL victims or a least potential victims to a health care system that works against us and not for us - I see that as being true for someone with $400,000 in assets, too. But I would also agree that someone with those kinds of assets should not be getting Medicaid......That in my book is working the system. Rob

He is working to get residency in Mexico so that when he sells the property, which he will be doing next year, the taxes favor him.