Bush Healthcare Tax Credits Not Helpful To Low Income Families

[kerrygoddess]

The Bush administration will propose a tax credit of up to $3000 to help increase the number of people with health insurance. It appears these tax credits will be aimed at families whose incomes are between $30,000 and $60,000 per year.

Those eligible for the credit would be younger than 65 and not enrolled in public or employer health plans. Individuals who make more than $30,000 and families that make more than $60,000 would see smaller credits, the officials said.

The Treasury Department suggested the tax credit, which could help ease the Medicaid burden on states, said Bill Pierce, an HHS spokesman. Insurance bought with the tax credit could become attractive for some people if states tighten rules on Medicaid eligibility or cap benefits.

Although this plan might help some families, the question arises as to what about those who are below the $30,000 guideline but still don’t qualify for Medicaid? Smaller families, like a single parent family with one child, or even some families of 3 or 4 may be left out in the lurch by this program. Much like they were left out of the glorious Bush tax cut that was supposed to help families with kids.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=321

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. Family of four, making less than $30K here

I was told no medicaid for the kids, then they got on Chip (TX program), then they were bumped to medicaid. I think it changes every time * farts.

[kerrygoddess]

7. With the new budget cuts

expect more farts!

[Erika]

2. Bush is an elitist who thinks that those not making good $

to profit from his plans, are the rarity or the lazy. Reagan syndrome.

W doesn't realize that under his administration we've lost the good paying jobs and the replacement jobs are at the lower pay end.

[Warpy]

3. So $3000 gets exempted from income tax to buy health insurance

The last time I checked on what it would cost to insure myself through Blue Cross (which pays only 80% after a deductible) it was $720/month.

My tax rate on a low income at that time was hovering around 8%.

So $240 would have been applied to a yearly insurance bill of $8540. That means $8300 plus 20% of my medical expenses plus the amount of the deductible would have come out of my pocket.

Anybody who sees that $3000 figure and thinks this is a great deal needs to learn a little math and run those numbers.

Bush really is a fucking idiot, and so is anybody who buys any of his crap.

[Sgent]

4. Bigger problem

is that for many of those in poverty, heatlh insurance isn't available at any price.

[Erika]

5. But Bush will tell you

we're all fine. Don't worry, be happy. And his supporters believe him.

[Negatron]

6. Well, duh. Tax credits are useless...

...to those who don't make enough to pay income tax.

It's just like "health savings accounts." If I had the money for a savings account, maybe I could afford healthcare. DUH. Do we really have to explain things like this? How intellectually challenged would you have to be in order to miss these points?

Of course, I know they don't miss them, they just ignore them. They just don't care. If you don't make enough to pay income tax, you simply don't count.

[Erika]

8. Bush supporters choose to close their

eyes when it comes to Bush's denial of the low-income and their needs and his lack of helping them. That's why I cringe at those who are shallow enough to believe he is Christian when he's denying so many needy in this country.

Just remember, each day is one day closer to getting rid of this elitist who favors the rich and scorns the poor.

[kerrygoddess]

9. That's why Kerry's Kids First Act

is such a good thing... it will help to reveal their true colors.

[Negatron]

10. Yes, but who's to say we don't get Jeb after him?

I hate to be negative, but after all, my name is "Negatron."

The fact is, if we don't run someone viable in 08, we are going to have Jeb, and after him, there are a legion of young/middle age Bushes to carry on the legacy. If we don't grow a pair AND FAST, it's Bushes from here on out. I am a few weeks from being 30 years old. I was 14 when the first Bush came to power, and I can easily see it being Bushco for the rest of my natural life. It's up to us AND ONLY US to get serious and prevent that from becoming reality.

[kerrygoddess]

11. Hmmm

Well I was a bit older than you during Nixon and I sort of felt that we were doomed then. Things will change. Have some faith. People are pretty damn fed up and pissed off and a lot of the deluded ones are waking up!

[Negatron]

15. I only hope you're right and I'm wrong (n/t)

[kerrygoddess]

16. Well I've seen a lot of changes good and bad since Nixon...

[Tigress DEM]

14. If you set it up so no one can afford to take it, then you save money and.

still get to look like you're doing something good. It's the compassionate conservative, "Let them eat cake" type of approach.

[kerrygoddess]

12. NY Times article on budget cuts

Bush Budget Calls for Cuts in Health Services
By ROBERT PEAR

Published: February 5, 2005

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 - President Bush's budget for 2006 cuts spending for a wide range of public health programs, including several to protect the nation against bioterrorist attacks and to respond to medical emergencies, budget documents show.

Faced with constraints on spending caused by record budget deficits and the demands of the war in Iraq, administration officials said on Friday that they had increased the budget for some health programs but cut many others, including some that address urgent health care needs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/05/politics/05cuts.html

[Tigress DEM]

13. Then they will talk it up like everyone gets it. Sigh