The Forgotten Poor Houses
Stan Grimes
March 06, 2008
In the state of Indiana sixteen or seventeen County Homes remain open for business. There are ninety-two counties in the state. What is a county home? It´s a place for people with Social Security benefits, MEDICAID benefits, or other retirement benefits to live. The people living in these state and county subsidized homes are often homeless, disabled, and/or aged. A county home is an alternative to homelessness or nursing home living. Many years ago they were described as "poor houses."
Unfortunately, we can once again give the moniker "poor house" to these establishments. Why? Because of changes in Medicare and MEDICAID benefits, the folks living in these homes are poor. Not just poor, the residents are impoverished. They of course receive all the creature comforts, i.e., three good meals, a warm bed, a warm/cool building, hot and cold running water, but that´s all. There are no extras for them unless volunteers from communities choose to become involved in their lives. Thankfully there are such people left in the world.
The rent for these people is paid through a program called MEDICAID ARCH. Unless an individual makes over (approximately) nine hundred dollars per month in Social Security benefits, he or she essentially loses all Social Security income. MEDICAID uses all of their S.S. benefits for rent to the County Home. MEDICAID then gives these individuals a paltry fifty-two dollars per month. Not bad you say? Wait. MEDICAID makes these folks pay co-pay for their medications and believe me these people generally take a great deal of medication. Thus, their fifty-two dollar handout is gone before it ever reaches their hands. In other words, they live month to month without a penny.
What about Medicare? Well, I thought you´d never ask. Medicare Part D is great until and individual reaches the "gap." The gap is that dark zone in which Medicare pays nothing for an individual´s medication. How about that? You poor folks out there know exactly what I´m talking about. During the infamous gap a poor person chooses between food and medication. Great program, huh?
Who initiated this Medicare Part D program? A Republican President and his loyal Republican Congress pushed it through, selling it as candy when in fact it is a bitter pill.
How do I know this stuff? I manage a County Home and I have viewed first hand the disastrous effects of an ignorant government. Poverty is unknown to our politicians because none of them are experiencing it. I invite every politician in Washington D.C. to visit a county home, a homeless shelter, or a mental health facility. In fact, I would love to see each one try to live under a bridge for a day. They might just change their ideas about homelessness, unemployment, disability, and poverty.
Unfortunately, we can once again give the moniker "poor house" to these establishments. Why? Because of changes in Medicare and MEDICAID benefits, the folks living in these homes are poor. Not just poor, the residents are impoverished. They of course receive all the creature comforts, i.e., three good meals, a warm bed, a warm/cool building, hot and cold running water, but that´s all. There are no extras for them unless volunteers from communities choose to become involved in their lives. Thankfully there are such people left in the world.
The rent for these people is paid through a program called MEDICAID ARCH. Unless an individual makes over (approximately) nine hundred dollars per month in Social Security benefits, he or she essentially loses all Social Security income. MEDICAID uses all of their S.S. benefits for rent to the County Home. MEDICAID then gives these individuals a paltry fifty-two dollars per month. Not bad you say? Wait. MEDICAID makes these folks pay co-pay for their medications and believe me these people generally take a great deal of medication. Thus, their fifty-two dollar handout is gone before it ever reaches their hands. In other words, they live month to month without a penny.
What about Medicare? Well, I thought you´d never ask. Medicare Part D is great until and individual reaches the "gap." The gap is that dark zone in which Medicare pays nothing for an individual´s medication. How about that? You poor folks out there know exactly what I´m talking about. During the infamous gap a poor person chooses between food and medication. Great program, huh?
Who initiated this Medicare Part D program? A Republican President and his loyal Republican Congress pushed it through, selling it as candy when in fact it is a bitter pill.
How do I know this stuff? I manage a County Home and I have viewed first hand the disastrous effects of an ignorant government. Poverty is unknown to our politicians because none of them are experiencing it. I invite every politician in Washington D.C. to visit a county home, a homeless shelter, or a mental health facility. In fact, I would love to see each one try to live under a bridge for a day. They might just change their ideas about homelessness, unemployment, disability, and poverty.
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