Thoughts for the day

[Margies3]

What I've seen far too often is that those who truly NEED the help the government has available get turned down for it, while far too many who do not need it somehow qualify to receive it. I think that it is a good thing that we have something to offer when things happen to people beyond their control. But I do think the system needs alot of tweeking to make it more effective.

[aegsm76]

I remember when we were expecting our first child. We had no insurance, I was working two part-time jobs, (30 hrs per week at each), and going to school. All of my wife's pregnancy care was at the "cheap" hospital for the area. We met with a counselor to see if we qualified for government assistance. Well, we would have, except I had made too much money in the last year. I asked the counselor if we would have qualified if I had only worked one job. He said, yes that they would have paid for everything.
When we had child #2, we were still paying off child #1. I paid off #2, before finishing paying off #1.
Also, the hospital for #2, which was regarded as the "high-class, expensive" hospital for the area was over $1000 cheaper than the "low-class, inexpensive" hospital.
And yes this accounted for what the insurance paid.
This was a formative experience for me in government assistance and healthcare.