1 | Please tell us how you, your family or your community has benefited from Medicaid coverage: | Please tell us how some or all of these changes would affect you, your family, or your community: | Does your income or employment status change regularly? If so, how would a requirement to report changes within 10 days affect you? | How would the 'community engagement' requirement to volunteer, work, or participate in job training for at least 20 hours/week impact you? |
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2 | I have an adopted son (private not foster/adopt) who has special needs and without Medicaid he would not be getting the services he I now. With our regular health insurance he would not qualify for certain services that he needs. Also with all the medications and even with insurance the cost racks up very quickly. We also have his half bio-brother who has not qualified for Medicaid yet and is having to be delayed in services because of cost and/or coverage. We have been blessed to have this benefit. Thank you | A healthy citizenry is more productive. | (Note that I am not a Medicaid beneficiary, but if I were, the new requirement would be burdensome) I have recently switched from part-time work to full-time student status, and based on whether or not I have a graduate assistantship, my income fluctuates broadly every 3-4 months. Keeping up with the required reporting is simply one more hurdle to jump when I'm already juggling bills and an unsteady cash flow. | Who is going to assure these people can get a job? Do the homeless have resources to get a job and can they even get to the job if able-bodied. There are gaps in this requirement that need attention before enacting. |
3 | I have been able to be treated for important things like STD's, my asthma, chronic headaches. | A lot more people will die earlier than they should. | 10 days is less than 4 weeks. Sounds like a catch 22. | "medically frail" and "able bodied" are not sufficiently defined in your qualifier to answer this question. |
4 | I have been able to get much needed surgery and medications. | adding cumbersome, unnecessary, complex rules will force people to lose their coverage and place the blame on the covered, instead of the system. Also, there is no provision in the "employment mandate" for small businesses or farmers and other folks working for themselves. | 10 days is not enough time. It is nearly impossible to get anything reported within the state within that time frame. | 10-15hours/would be more reasonable. I do agree some volunteer hours need to be completed. If people are able to work, then they need to be working/volunteering. If a person is working more than 20 hours/week, an additional 20 isnot feesable. |
5 | I have been able to go to the dentist for the first time in years, got my bad teeth pulled and got meds for my headaches and asthma | Anything that raises barriers to essential health care will contribute to already poor health statistics for Kentucky, reduce affected persons' ability to work and take care of their families, and cost more taxpayer money in the long run. | 10 days? Getting through on the phone just to find out what the reporting process is (on line?, in person?, over the phone?, which dept to call? what forms to fill out, what verification is needed, etc) and then getting it done it could take longer than 10 days. | 20 hours of work on top of most recipients working a full time job is not beneficial to society in any means. Please explain to me how primary caregivers would be able to meet this requirements. Saying that they would "automatically" meet this requirement is superficial and most likely not accurate. Too many times regulations are made without full consideration of the majority of the population it is meant to benefit. |
6 | I have been able to go to the doctor regularly for all my needs. I had not had insurance in 12 years and getting insurance would have been impossible because of pre-existing conditions. I have been able to get help with an auto-immune disease as well as miss less work because of having this coverage. I am also able to see the same doctor now instead of which ever Doctor I could afford at the walk in clinics. Having this coverage has made my life better and I have been less sick and more productive as far as work goes. | As a behavioral health provider, I have seen the negative impact on the lives of children when parents are not able to obtain treatment for physical or mental health problems. Children experience anxiety over their parents' well being. Parents who go without mental health treatment may engage in harsh or inappropriate parenting practices. I've also worked with indigent client populations whose longterm biopsychosocial problems prevent them from managing their care effectively. These new Medicaid guidelines would function as barriers to treatment and would reduce their access to case management interventions that assist people to function independently. | 30 days would be better. It has been very frustrating getting thru to state to get info or just to get someone to answer or respond. | Ability to find work or volunteer should not determine someone's worthiness of being insured. Many people contribute to our communities without having formal jobs or getting their "volunteering" signed off as legitimate. This requirement does not account for the flexibility of real life. |
7 | I have been able to have medical coverage while working and going to graduate school, even though I am on a very limited budget. | As a healthcare worker I have listened to patients as they told me why they had to cancel surgery for skin cancer removal because they couldn't afford it. No one should be made to suffer because they are poor. | A means of reporting is the issue | Able-bodied is a difficult thing to define. Presumably this means anyone who is not on disability. My spouse has both chronic pain and mental illness that have affected his ability to work at times. He probably wouldn't qualify for disability and probably would not desire to try to qualify. Placing a work requirement like this also fails to recognise differing abilities. Also both my partner and I care for our children. There is no full time caregiver to be exempt from this requirement. The reporting for this would also likely be cumbersome as jobs and school fluctuate frequently. |
8 | I have clients who are accessing mental health services for the first time due to Kentucky's Medicaid expansion. With the proposed changes, they will lose these benefits and once again have their health care needs unmet. | As above, my family will probably not benefit at this time. However many folks on Medicaid did not anticipate the accident or diagnosis that put them in such dire circumstances. | A persons health and well being should not be in jeopardy because of employment. | Again when you are self employed you may have two weeks of everyday work & would be unable to meet the requirement. If you had no work for two weeks 20 hours could interfere with job hunting. |
9 | I have Crohn's Disease and it pays for my treatments and necessary procedures which would cause me to go into extreme medical debt if I did not have coverage. | At 24 years old, I would be in medical debt that would ruin my credit or else I would not be able to see my doctors or get the treatment I need to stay healthy enough to work. | able to afford medications | Again, I believe this to be a loophole requirement meant to throw people off of their insurance. Who decides who is ok and required to perform this? More time and resources could be better spent helping the backlog of requests for health insurance, food assistance, housing assistance, education assistance. Prioritize. Instead of thinking this crap up, maybe Bevin could try a REAL solution approach. Fund more programs to help enrich lives of people, not mandate community service. It's not probation guys. |
10 | I have family members who are disabled and could not afford the premiums, work the hours, or go without transportation. Medicaid should expand mental health coverage especially that of substance abuse. The current plan pays practically nothing. | Based on observations as a therapist for the urban poor, most of my clients would lapse coverage if these changes were to be put in place. Kentucky will return to a 16% non-insured rate. | Almost everyone I know on Medicaid who works has variable income, with employers slashing hours at a moment's notice because they don't have enough work, or factory work that requires "mandatory overtime," forcing them to work beyond originally contracted limits or lose their jobs. | Again, I think our family will be fine, but I definitely wonder about folks in more rural counties and quite different circumstances. |
11 | I have had clients with health issues keeping them from work, with coverage they have returned to work, have been able to go on disability, they are healthier than they have been in years | before the Medicaid expansion, I'd been without insurance for 20 years. I can't go back to that again, which is what would happen if this governor gers his way. | An adult with an intellectual disability may rely on a guardian, caseworker, or caretaker to manage these issues. A person with backload of work or other delay would possibly not respond in time, and the person with a disability would face negative consequences. | Again, it doesn't impact me personally, and I would like to see some form of volunteer service, but this is not something that should be tied into health care. |
12 | I have had three major much needed surgery. I had double vision almost 10 years and had a simple surgery to correct it and now I can see to drive and my life is so much easier! It's also better for everybody else on the road | Being disabled I cannot do certain things and there is no volunteer places here | annual certification would work best. the less complicated things can be made the better off people will be. this reduces administration costs as well. | Again, most people I know that get Medicaid ALREADY WORK. Why make them work more? |
13 | I have had to use this assistance because of an unwanted divorce at age 55 which left me without coverage as I was always covered by my ex work ins. I had been married 33 years & was stay at home mom. | Bevin's"plan" regresses the Commonwealth further backwards than we were previously. It can help nobody, many will fall off the rolls, all in the name of ideology. Kentucky is nothing without its health. | As a contract labouror, this would be a time and energy drain. I have neither to spare. | Again, nonprofits will bear the brunt of this proposal. Not enough opportunities to match need |
14 | I have insurance at the moment and I want to keep it | By not offering healthcare, individual health and the overall health status of the Commonwealth will be compromised. Not only will this affect current adults, but it will trickle down to younger generations, who will not have the opportunity to learn the importance of good health from licensed practitioners. | as a individual yes, just knowing it will affect your coverage in a result to have to pay would not be good because you have other expenses that are more of a priority. | Again, the population I work with is already sick and not well-enough to volunteer. I also point out that volunteers require as much or more supervision than employees, and it is no easy thing to create that many volunteer positions. It's a ridiculous requirement, perhaps one we should impose on government officials and servants: clearly the benefits of office are both financial and social. Surely, 20 hours a week in community service somewhere is a fair way to have such benefits? |
15 | I have insurance that I can use. I wouldn't have any if I didn't have Medicaid. | Change will be harmful to our economy and to jobs in the medical, transportation and pharmaceuticals fields. Locally the money spend helps keep our people protected by police and to have road improvements. | As a part-time employee, my income fluxuates and my employment status changes at the whims of a large organization. I have no income or job security. Having to report changes in income would likely lead to less access to care. | Again, this doesn't affect me. I am concerned about the students and people that are underemployed. |
16 | I have insurance with my employer. My husband was in a provider hospital and his Doctor was a provider. At some point in his stay a non-provider Doctor was called in for something that his provider doctor wasn't able to take care of. Maybe a heart specialist or a lung specialist or a infectious diseases specialist. I'm not really sure. Anyway the non-provider Doctor sends us a large bill that was not covered by my employers provided insurance. Why would that be allowed to happen? What if that happened to a person living in poverty? They need to keep the Medicare Expansion insurance the way it is in Kentucky. | Changing the guidelines for our family member would place many barriers to medical treatment. | As a self employed person, my income fluctuates greatly from week to week and month to month. As a result, I would be on and off Medicaid on an almost monthly basis. | Again, this idea is created by people who do not understand the reality of living on a low income. There are many priorities people are trying to balance. It's not like they are sitting around doing nothing and collecting benefits. They are trying to take care of themselves and their families. |
17 | I have loved ones in the community that are completely unable to work outside of the home in any capacity. Mandatory volunteer "work" programs would not work for those with autism, behavioral issues, Fragile X, Angelmans Syndrome, and some people with CP or with people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. | Copays and deductibles would make it impossible to get the appropriate treatment we need. | As a student, I occasionally receive extra income. My husband is self-employed , so his income also fluctuates. I could definitely see a situation where we would accidentally be outside the boundaries without even realizing it. | Again, this is ridiculous. I can't imagine working a full time job that barely medets my basic needs and then having to meet this requirement. Of course, I think able bodied community members should do as much as they should, but this requirement is just absurd. Circumstances with a person can change from week to week and a rigid requirement such as this is just another way to discriminate against the poor and disabled. |
18 | I have Medicaid coverage under ACA expansion. I work 2 part-time jobs and I do not qualify for insurance at either job. Prior to enrolling in Medicaid, I was paying $350/month for private insurance through my partner's employer. Since we are unmarried, she had to pay roughly $100/month in taxes. I paid $350/month for as along as I could afford it, but given that I make $14,000 a year, it was extremely difficult. Since enrolling in Medicaid, I am able to pay my nonmedical bills on time. I take 3 medications for pre-existing conditions that would cost $600/month without insurance. Going off those medications would be life-threatening. I should not have to choose between risking my life or paying my rent and bills. | Could cause me to go without a lot of assess to doctors. Most of them in this area do not accept Medicaid anyway. | As a substitute teacher, my income varies greatly. We do live below the poverty level, but taking a day off work to report income changes at the office would be horribly difficult. | Again, this would not impact me, but most people on Medicaid are struggling enough without having to perform "community engagement". This seems very harsh and unfair. |
19 | I have never used Medicaid coverage, but I have seen both children and the elderly in my community utilize the services. The residents of Kentucky deserve healthy neighbors and I'm willing to use my taxes to do so. | Creating barriers to health for already vulnerable citizens is deplorable and immoral. We would be gravely impacted and harmed. | As adjunct faculty at WKU, I am not eligible for employer based insurance. But for 4 months (May-Sept), I do not get a paycheck. Having to apply and reapply means I never meet a deductible, as my insurance changes 3 time a year. That's ridiculous. | Again, this wouldn't impact my family as we meet the work requirements. What angers me about this requirement is the idea that people on Medicaid or any other "entitlement" program don't work. Most of us do. The treatment alone because we are not fortunate enough to be the governor living in his half off mansion shows how out of touch Bevin is with the actual people he represents. We work hard and have nothing to show for it because a living wage isn't an option in a market driven by greed. |
20 | I have numerous health diagnosis. It helps me get the life saving medical help I need and medications. If I had to pay for my medications each month it is over 3,000 dollars. This is medication to keep me alive. I would be dead without the help of medicaid. | Dental and vision benefits are very important. Kentucky is know as a toothless state. Being toothless or having a mouth full of rotten teeth interferes with a persons ability to get a job. | As an adjunct college instructor, I teach fall and spring semesters. I get paid September through May, and then receive no income for three months. In addition, adjunct instructors receive semester-long contracts, which means that our incomes fluctuate from fall to spring semester depending upon our teaching schedules. It would be impractical to ask contingent laborers, such as hourly workers, to report changes in income within 10 days. | Although I believe people should volunteer however they can, I dot believe that it should be a requirement of receiving healthcare. Also many wouldn't be able to accomplish this due to their medical needs. |
21 | I have personally known countless individuals whose lives were drastically improved by securing much needed Mediciad coverage. Without this coverage many would have untreated illnesses that could potentially prove fatal. | Dental care is very expensive. Currently we pay for one dental visit each year and the state pays for the other. Her complexity means that 2 visits to the dentist is equal to one visit of cleaning & services. We could not afford 2 visits per year. Medicaid needs to pay for two visits. They are not fun visits; they are simply necessary. Reducing dental services to Medicaid recipients is counter intuitive. We know a 23 yr old Medicaid recipient who has never been to the dentist due to the lack of coverage. He works 40 yrs a week but is listed as part time. He is the working poor. At some point there will be a huge bill. | As an adjunct, my income changes every four to five months. | An enforcement nightmare. I think our economy and the lack of education and skills is the reason people don't work. Fix those reasons. |
22 | I have seen a gentleman that would not go to the doctor because he did not have the money. Once he became Medicaid eligible he went to the doctor, his toe was black. He was sent to the ER who sent him to surgery. If he had not gotten Medicaid the gangrene would have spread and he would have lost his life. Another case -- A RN who lost her job because of problem with her knee, was told she needed a knee replacement, qualified for Medicaid, obtain the knee replacement, then went back to work and did not need Medicaid anymore. | Each of Bevin's proposed changes would directly effect my patients' health - in the negative. He should be charged a fee for inappropriate use of public office. | As an independent contractor my households income can vary considerably from month to month. Requiring me to report changes within 10 days would impact my time significantly, and create one more stumbling block to receiving health care. Calling the medicaid line is an all-day process. I have waited on hold for over 2 hours before. I have been disconnected after waiting on hold for 2 hours before and had to call back to wait again. There are many times that the website for accessing my account has been down or unavailable. It often takes multiple days to actually connect with a representative, complete the call without being disconnected, and have the computer systems working adequately for the medicaid representative to enter changes into your account. | An engagement requirement is discriminatory to low/no wage earners to the highest of degree. If required for these demograpfics then why not require for all people? |
23 | I have seen a healthier city. People who have never had access to care are finally taking preventative action, thereby reducing the need for unnecessary hospitalizations to treat illnesses that had become out of control. You have to feel good to be productive. | eliminate health care for me and with a family history of diabetes and heart disease along with high cholesterol, it would/could be catastrophic. | As I said above, yes. My income is often changing. This depends on what grants we receive, and how much money we have to pay ourselves for our work. I also sometimes work side short term side jobs and teaching jobs to supplement my income. Having to report within 10 days is just unrealistic and unfair. | Another hurdle for people barely making it and a bureaucratic nightmare. |
24 | I have seen the community get healthier having access to healthcare. This has created a healthier community for all, including my family. | Everyone should work or at least volunteer in the community to get any subsidy or handout. The whole community would benefit by this | As of now, it won't. However, should I leave this job for theatre employ, I will be moving frequently, and taking jobs that widely vary in pay. Filling out a new form every 6-10 weeks would be unnecessary and cause headache for everyone involved. | As a primary caregiver I would meet this requirement (right?). If not, I would have to hire a babysitter, which is $15/hr, for the time spent meeting this community engagement requirement. This would make it impossible to meet the expense needs of my household. |
25 | I have several patients on Medicaid who have benefited tremendously from the policies that Gov. Matt Bevin is proposing to discontinue. | Families should not have to choose between food and medical services. I would much rather see tax monies go to health and education than war and more investigations/lawsuits against political opponents. Be responsible with taxpayer monies. | As of right now it would affect me nonstop as I am constantly in between jobs. | As a primary caregiver to my son, I am not sure if I would have to volunteer, get job training, or find a job. Even to look for a job, I would have to put my son in childcare and he is too young to be safe while I focus on another task while volunteering. |
26 | I have severe asthma, and am employed as an Americorps volunteer. Without medical care and prescription medications, I would be unable to function- no working, no exercise, and it would become very difficult to leave my home or participate in any daily activities. With proper medical care, I am able to work hard to serve my community, even if the position doesn't pay as much as another job might or offer medical coverage. | Family members would loose pay and time off work to help care for their loved ones. | At my old job, my income was very inconsistent because I worked varying hours a week (based on caseload-as a therapist). My paycheck could vary as much as 600-700 dollars (net earnings) for 2 week period. This would be a huge burden for individuals below the 133% of the poverty line with an occupation with variable work hours. Also, reporting to Medicaid upon employment change is probably the last thing you're thinking about when you get fired or change jobs, if you still believe you'll meet the eligibility requirements. It's just another way to burden the working poor and try to cheat them off Medicaid. | As an educator, I can see how this would be terribly problematic for full-time students and people working. |
27 | I just graduated from high school & cannot afford to buy my own health insurance. I have asthma, wear glasses, & have dental problems. If I did not have Medicaid I could not afford to go to a doctor, buy my asthma medicine, buy glasses, or pay for my dental care. | Fewer individuals in the state of Kentucky with appropriate health care benefits. | At the moment this would not affect our family. | As Exec Director of a non profit, I would benefit |
28 | I know many working people, both friends AND family who couldn't even see a doctor when they were horribly ill until the new Medicaid program was enacted. | Fewer jobs and less than healthy community | At the time I had Medicaid, my income fluctuated from week to week and month to month. I could not have kept up with reporting all this changes. | As I said before, having to commit 20 hours a week on top of working 55+ hours at my actual jobs is asking way too much. No one should have to jump through so many hoops to stay alive, and that's what it boils down to. Requiring so much effort and work to allow people the privilege of medical coverage is empty of moral value. |
29 | I know people who have health insurance now who haven't had it for years, thanks to Medicaid expansion. They are so happy to have it and are going to their doctor instead of leaving things untreated and feeling bad. | Financially it would affect us paying premiums or co- pays. The work / volunteer requirement is not possible for me due to me being my husbands care taker | badly | As I work 35-40 hours a week, I would hope this did not apply to me |
30 | I know several people on Medicaid who are finally able to get the medicines they need and access to doctors and dental assistance since the expansion of Medicaid became available. | For my family we won't be able to afford to go to the doctors that we have to go to our primary doctor or our heart doctor | Be very difficult to keep ongoing coverage | As long as the job training was easily accessible and volunteer opportunities abundant, I don't see that as much as a problem. It is difficult to find time to do anything with working a physically demanding job, and then be expect to do something other than take care of family |
31 | I lost my ability to work 4 yrs ago, because of chronic illness...I don't know what I would do if I didn't have Medicaid...I would not be able to afford to go to my doctors for care. | For those who can't afford medical care, it would endanger their health, assuring that they will be less fit to hold a job if they can find one. Someone needs to be thinking of the outcome of these decisions and looking for ways to weed out those taking advantage of the system rather than getting rid of the system that is a life line for many. | Because his eligibility is not based on my income, this would be another hindrance. If I received a yearly cost of living raise and didn't report the change he could lose coverage that isn't even dependent on my income | As my son is medically unable to work, it would probably affect us very little. |
32 | I lost my job due to bipolar illness but can't get disability benefits. Medicaid is the only way I can afford the Dr that prescribes me lithium which keeps me out of the hospital. | Getting rid of Medicaid services would be detrimental to our family, we would have to get additional jobs just to afford coverage! | Because my husband is self-employed, his income varies greatly from week to week and month to month. Our annual gross earnings average out for our family to qualify for medicaid, but there could potentially be months in which our family exceeds the income limits due to the nature of my husband's work. | As stated above a significant number of these clients are unable to complete the community service hours due to their pasts or mental health issues or familial obligations. They should not be locked out of needed coverage due to this. |
33 | I lost my job earlier this year with no warning. I had bills I had to pay, and obligations to meet and no health coverage. If Bevin's changes were in place at that time, I would have been ruined. There would be no way I could afford any of those things he is suggesting. I found another job within a month. But had I been forced to jump through the hoops he is wanting for this, I wouldn't have been able to focus on job hunting the way I did. I don't want another person to have to suffer through that. it was painful enough when I had to do it, the changes would be deplorable. | Having to set aside money for basic healthcare when one is already in dire financial straits decreases quality of life for the poor in Kentucky. Those in poor health, or who simply want to keep themselves healthy, who can barely afford to provide themselves and their family with food, clothing, heat, gas, and water will face another setback: charges for routine doctor's appointments, prescription medicines that may save one's life (or at the very least improve it greatly), visits to the ER that turn out to be nothing but were spurred by genuine worries that somebody's life was in danger--all of this will place an extra burden on Kentucky's poor and struggling individuals and families, a burden they do not deserve in the least. | Because my husband is self-employed, his income varies greatly from week to week and month to month. Our annual gross earnings average out for our family to qualify for medicaid, but there could potentially be months in which our family exceeds the income limits due to the nature of my husband's work. | As stated above, I have MANY physical limitations at this time as well as PT and doctors' appointments that are hard enough to schedule in a timely fashion much less trying to schedule within the parameters of these conditions. |
34 | I make just over the guildlines and just had a baby. Now, I'm drowning in medical debt and do not know how I will be able to pay all of my families bills, child care, and $8000 of back debt. If I am struggling this much and am "middle class" I can't imagine the suffering a family who is on Medicaid and something changes. | He would be eliminated from the program yet required to be insured. The eligible community adults would no longer receive dental and vision care. Would end up in the ER if needing treatment. The few and far between dentists and optometrists that do provide services to Medicaid population in our most rural and impoverished areas of the state will not be able to sustain their practice without the insurance for adults. Leaving this population totally unserved and vulnerable to the health related issues. Back to the ER again. | Because my husband is self-employed, his income varies greatly from week to week and month to month. Our annual gross earnings average out for our family to qualify for medicaid, but there could potentially be months in which our family exceeds the income limits due to the nature of my husband's work. | Because finding stable employment while trying to get your GED is so easy! I would be out of medical coverage! |
35 | I need it I lost my healthcare when my full time job went to part time and I have not had hours in 3 months at least. My other job does not offer healthcare at all. | Health care in not just the state of KY, but our entire nation, is an issue. The United States is a first world country, and like all other first world countries, should provide basic rights. Health care is not a privilege, it is a right. | Because of budget cuts to higher education, I have had 3 different jobs in the last year. With my son's waiver, we refile our paperwork every year. I don't mind letting Medivaid know the new information, but if you work (which I do) and your hours are always when the DCBS office is opened (meaning I would have to take time off work) then how is one supposed to notify the DCBS office within 10 days? Also, calling in is a joke. If you are lucky, you might get a real person, but most of the time, the automated system gives the rub around or simply tells people that they have high call volumes and hangs up. | Because I currently have transportation, it could be helpful for me to make network connections and refer to the Kentucky Career Center for assistance in finding a job. However, if I didn't have the fortune of transportation I would be in BIG trouble to meet this requirement. Our local busses are very difficult to catch/coordinate and are a significant drain on time resources. . I was already motivated to find work and went to KCC when I was underemployed. People are already motivated to find work and help others. However, I do not consider my health status and education level/ability to network for jobs to be a standard representation of the population that Medicaid serves. I believe that a maximum requirement of 5 hours per week WITHOUT immediate termination or any form of lockout. I believe that health literacy, financial literacy classes should count toward the hours, that attending a mental health clinic paid for by Medicaid will also help address whole health to prepare an individual for work, and that Kentucky Career Center or other workforce development services such as the work ready scholar hours should count. 30 hours is TOO MUCH! |
36 | I needed Medicaid for a year, and was grateful it was there and had the benefits it does. | Homeless | Being required to report income changes within the proposed time frame creates additional stressors. It creates barriers, to access internet services, phone access, transportation and mobility as well as childcare. | Because my husband and I each work more that 20 hours per week (except during the summer when my instructional assistant job is not active), this requirement could have minimal impact. However, during the summer, when my children are out of school, finding childcare for 20 hours per week while my husband works so I can volunteer would be an undue burden to my family. |
37 | I qualified for Medicaid coverage which has allowed me to maintain better preventative care, thus ensuring a healthier lifestyle and prevention of certain diseases. I have recently graduated from college and while seeking a job, I feel much more at ease knowing my Medicaid plan is an affordable means of healthcare. | Hopefully it will stop enabling people to "live" off the system by making them become responsible for themselves. | besides my first job that pays for my bills and food for my children I sometimes am a contract worker doing design and advertising work when I can. I do not get jobs very often living in the area of the state that I do. I call and report that I am working on a job or bring my contract into the office when I am able to get a ride to that part of town. If I can't have someone drive me within those few days then me and my children would loose coverage and be penalized for it. I am never over the income limit even when I take up a second job. | Because my husband and I each work more that 20 hours per week (except during the summer when my instructional assistant job is not active), this requirement could have minimal impact. However, during the summer, when my children are out of school, finding childcare for 20 hours per week while my husband works so I can volunteer would be an undue burden to my family. |
38 | I run a free clinic in Bath County. When the ACA went into effect, about 990 of my patients received Medicaid. This has improved their care immensely and provided dental and other care. | How can our state continue to pay these costs | Calculating annual income based on a 10 day period for individuals whose wages fluctuate daily is mathematical nonsense. | Because my husband and I each work more that 20 hours per week (except during the summer when my instructional assistant job is not active), this requirement could have minimal impact. However, during the summer, when my children are out of school, finding childcare for 20 hours per week while my husband works so I can volunteer would be an undue burden to my family. |
39 | I run a small but much needed business in a very small rural community in Eastern KY. My husband is a contractor for an online company. Both of us have Master's degrees but there aren't a lot of opportunities for work in Eastern Ky so we started our own businesses. Right now our income is low so we qualify for medicaid for our entire family of five. Prior to Kynect and the expansion we were unable to afford health insurance on our own. Now we are able to go to a doctor or dentist as needed. | I already work 2 jobs and I get healthcare from either of them. I work 7 days a week so there is not any room for volenteer work I can barely afford my monthly bills as it is | Could be very difficult and costly for son-in-law who is self-employed barber and his dependents. Already has to pay for profit and loss statements for annual eligibility determination. | Been a volunteer for over 30 years, does not apply |
40 | I still have no coverage. | I am a single mom trying to raise two children with aggression and mental illness and substance abuse problems. I am also a therapist and a former law enforcement officer, but I could not stop them from stealing, being chronically truant, sneaking other kids into my house at night, drinking or drugging. Not until I asked the Cabinet for Children's services to help with placement which allowed them to get Medicaid. For some kids, it really does take a village. I am middle class, well educated, have a good support system, and employed full time, but I could not provide them with the services they needed. So their poor behavior was impacting my mental health, the quality of my neighborhood, and of course the quality of my kids lives. They need to be some where with far greater structure than I could provide. | Currently, no. My concern with these proposed changes is that the answer would be yes. For example, my son gets a job at McDonalds (fat chance!) They promise him 20 hours per week, but a new manager comes in and doesn't like working with a disabled individual and cuts his hours. Or, someone is on vacation and he gets 30 hours. I am the one that would have to report the changes. I am a teacher and I am totally swamped with my job - it would literally mean that I would have to take a day off work to take care of reporting changes to Medicaid. I know from experience that you can't simply make a phone call - I've had to wait on hold for up to 5 and a half HOURS and I've never gotten through without being on hold for a long time. That's impossible to do with a room full of preschool children. How many times could that happen before it affected my performance evaluation as an employee?? And the web site is impossible to navigate. | Before making such a requirement, I would be interested in seeing the data for how many people currently on Medicaid do not already meet this requirement. Does it actually change and help anything, or is it just another thing that will complicate an already messed up system and result in people who need coverage most not receiving the help they need. |
41 | I think everyone should have insurance!! | I am a teacher and KEA member. Kentucky medicaire keeps my students healthy. | Depends on how accessible it would be to contact someone that the hours have changed. | Being a single parent raising twins both disabled . One is 24 hour care . I can't work because he needs me to take care of him around the clock . |
42 | I think if everyone has accessible health care it leads to a healthier workforce and children who ready and able to learn. | I am not currently on Medicaid, but may need it in the future. I do not have access to reliable transportation and cannot afford to pay a taxi for transport to medical appointment of non-emergency nature. I know several people who are on Medicaid and several of these proposed changes are the equivalent of a DEATH SENTENCE to them. They will be required to choose between making their premium for Medicaid or buying food to eat. If they choose food, they loose their health insurance for six months. Result - they need medical attention during those six months, they can't pay, they die. They choose to pay the premium instead of food. Result - they starve to death. Make these changes to the Medicaid system and you might as well go to the homes of over half the people on Medicaid and kill them yourselves. | Does not affect me | Being able bodied is not enough. You also need no dependents and a balanced mind |
43 | I two people who lost the majority of their family income and employer health coverage while pregnant. Medicaid removed a significant source of stress by providing medical care. | I am not on Medicaid and none of my family is, but I care about the health and well-being of my neighbors in my community and throughout the state of Kentucky. Many of these neighbors are extremely hard working people whose efforts make Kentucky the great state it is, but do not have the privilege of being able to afford health insurance. It is shameful to deprive the ones who need it most of critical, life-saving and sustaining medical care. By my reading, that's exactly what this proposal does. As a person who can afford health coverage but has been temporarily without it due to administrative delay, I can't imagine how terrifying and straining a proposal such as this one with numerous barriers to coverage would be to families in difficult circumstances. | Does not affect me personally, but as I said in the previous questions, ten days to report a change in income doesn't give much time for a person in poverty, or a person with disabilities, to report changes. This is a particular problem for folks whose hours fluctuate (as with most retail and restaurant jobs), or people that work on tips or on a commission basis. | Between school studies, my child and work (15+ hours a week), i I do not have time to work more hours or volunteer my time. Doing so would leave my child at home alone or add the addional cost of child care. Neither is an option. |
44 | I was able to complete wound care after cancer and radiation. | I am not sure they would. | Does not affect me. | Both my wife and I are totally disabled,my son is still in High School and then college,so it wouldn't or shouldn't affect us |
45 | I was able to get medication that would otherwise I wouldn't know how to get. I was also able to go to physical therapy and receive X-rays without worrying about cost that I wouldn't haven't ever been able to afford. This was great since I was a recent college graduate that couldn't find a job. | I am so worried about these changes and what it would mean for my mom. I feel like I'm finally getting her back and she's able to start getting her life back. She struggles so much with managing her finances and just getting the basics taken care of that additional charges will tip her over the edge. We are just now getting her out of payday loan lending debt, a nightmare. She's been taking out loans to buy food because she doesn't have enough money for basic expenses. PLEASE help keep the Medicaid expansion as it is! | Does not apply to me | Both of my children work full time so this change would not affect them. |
46 | I was able to have an eye examination after nearly four years, as well as, utilize the services of a gynecologist, endocrinologist, and mental health professional. all of who treated illnesses and diseases which required medication to properly manage them. | I believe all the changes are too confusing and will eventually cause people to give up even trying to get coverage. These people will be a huge strain on our state's system overall. This seems like vindictive action on the part of the governor. He needs to focus on other issues and stop trying to prematurely run for higher office under the guise of fixing problems that Republicans hate. People's lives are at stake. | Does not apply to me. | Caregivers who technically do not have "dependents", but who have adult children or siblings with disabilities would be negatively impacted by this. What qualifies as medically frail? Someone may have a mental illness or addiction problem for which they need medical services through Medicaid before they are fit to work. |
47 | I was able to pursue self-employment because of Medicaid coverage. | I believe people need more responsibility to receive benefits. Managing accounts and benefits and having expectations is good for people. My biggest complaint about the current situation is the amount of money given to doctor offices who accept Medicaid. Our office loses money each Medicaid patient we see. We are not paid sufficient funds for the services given. That makes it hard to accept Medicaid patients. That should not be a concern. Health providers should not be punished for accepting patients. | Does not apply to me. | Community engagement/job training would ideally be a benefit for all citizens. Mandating these activities as a requirement for Medicaid participation just doesn't make sense as a 'blanket proposition'. Those receiving unemployment compensation should have job training options. A unique example of engaging low income individuals is occurring now in Berea with a community garden experience in conjunction with Martina LeForce and Glade Christian Church. THIS is the type of project that appears to be motivating low income individuals to become engaged in something bigger than themselves, while providing educational opportunities and elevating overall well being, just the beginning of bigger things. This grass roots effort will undoubtedly make a major impact far greater than anything government can mandate. |
48 | I was able to seek treatment for a bacterial infection in my lungs that had been going untreated for a month. I also began having access to a therapy and medical regiment that allowed me to better manage severe depression. My friends on Medicaid have had similar experiences where they were able to be treated for ongoing conditions they had not previously been able to afford help for. | I believe people should pay premiums if they make a certain amount of money. When my kids started on KCHIP we had a $20 a month premium and were able to easily pay it. There should also be co-pays. These types of changes would not hurt us. I do appreciate that coverage is retroactive because we have accidentally lost coverage twice and it was not our fault. Medicaid/KCHIP messed up and if we had not had retroactive coverage it could have been a problem. | Does not apply to me. However, if this requirement did apply to me, I would be more worried about performance at my new job than remembering to tell the state of KY that I had a different job. They should be able to pick this up from my W-2's or new W-4 Form required for each job change. | Concerns me how you will define "able bodied adults" |
49 | I was on Medicaid briefly after a job loss. I did not use it but it was a comfort to know it was there. | I believe that everyone in our community deserves healthcare and needed medications without having to decide if they get the healthcare and medication or go to the grocery store! | Does not change regularly | Could be very burdensome requirement for many. How is medically fragile defined? |
50 | I was on Medicaid for a little over two years. It was what kept me and my child safe during my pregnancy and through her infancy. I no longer receive Medicaid but it was vital for me and my family. | I believe these changes will allow the people who work hard and cannot make it without some help to continue to receive that help but at the same time eliminate wasteful spending. | Does not impact me but some have seasonal employment or hours one can work changes due to taking care of kids, aging parents, etc. | Creating an arbitrary volunteer requirement has no benefit. It is simply poor-shaming. People who are already struggling to survive, find work, deal with health issues are not the people who need to be trying to figure out child care, rides and managing essentially an unpaid part-time job in order to make a legislator feel good about themselves. |
51 | I was out of work for 18 months, weeks after Kynect started. I was eligible and thrilled! I have chronic thyroid disease and would have died without the coverage. I am now insured through my employer. | I cannot afford to pay! Plain and simple! I have no income and have been unable to find a job! | Doesn't affect me, but I can't see any good reason to add more burdens to people who are already burdened. It makes me angry that this whole effort seems to be attempting to do that. People need support so they can contribute. We all need support sometimes and it doesn't make sense to pick on those who are in poverty situations. | Does not apply to me, but it is onerous and does not allow an able bodied person to pursue work opportunities. This requirement increases a person's reliance on Medicaid - not giving time to work and make more money with time and experience to get off Medicaid. |
52 | I was widowed, suddenly without income except our farm. As an older woman, grieving still too young for Medicare, I was in danger of losing the family farm without the help from expanded Medicaid. It's all I have for income and to get back on my feet. Also have family buried here. Since I have Multiple Sclerosis, it's important that I keep health insurance. I also cannot afford the penalty. There are few jobs that would be open to me now that will come with health insurance. I'm 60, so have five years of "healthcare desert" to cross if Gov. Bevin yanks this! He claims to be a Christian. I suggest he consult scripture on care of the poor, of widows and orphans. Expanded Medicaid is a responsible social contract. Very few poor people are scammers. Gov. Bevin should meet with more poor people instead of hiding in his office, spewing forth decrees about our moral fiber and capabilities. Many people on Medicaid are there due to illness. Is he really going to put them out to collect roadside trash in the heat and cold? Is that the kind of society we want? I don't think most Kentuckians want that at all! | I cannot survive w out the app meds I need from MS AS THIS IS STARTING TO GET EXTREMELY WORSE DAILY MORE MEDS ARE GOING TO B ADDED. I AM AWAITING ON HOUSING TO HELP ME BASED ON MY SSI. IF HAVING. TO PAY ANY OF THESE REFORMS I WOULD HVE TO STOP ALL OF MY MEDS AND JUST LET THE MS | Doesn't effect me | Does not impact me, but this would be another regulation that would become burdensome on current caseworkers. |
53 | I went without glasses for over a decade because my poor vision was all that I knew, and assumed that my vision was equivalent to everyone elses. I never spoke up about having to squint to see the board in class or struggling to read signs because I knew that my mother did not have vision insurance and the out-of-pocket cost would have an impact on our family's bank account. This is just one occasion where medicaid has helped make an impact on my life, and I do not support Governor Bevin taking that away from those who need it. Having access to vision and dental insurance should not be a "reward" - it should be a right. | I could not afford co-pays, and would not be able to afford going to the doctor if I had to pay them. | Employment coverage generally would be delayed 30 to 90 days matching probationary period. Silly, restrictive. | Don't always have transportation available so it would be difficult sometimes to get to the assigned engagement. |
54 | I went years without seeing a doctor! Being covered now, I have started preventive dr, visits. Preventive medicine is the answer to catching it before it becomes life threatening! | I could not continue to provide services directly to the community; I would have to work for someone to receive critically important health care coverage. I am also a service provider to a great many Medicaid recipients who would lose their mental health benefits - MANY of these clients are only functioning as well as they are BECAUSE of their benefits. | Employment status not currently changing | Due to his disability, he may not be able to satisfy the "community engagement" requirement, yet he would not be considered "medically frail." Mental illness and developmental disabilities need to be given special consideration. |
55 | I work and the insurance offered if way out of my budget. If not for medicaid, I would not be able to get my asthma meds and would likely not be able to work. | I couldn't get my medicine or go to doctor guess I would just have to die | Even though my income does not qualify for Medicaid, my employment status does change regularly due to contract work and I can not imagine how adversely and time consuming having to report all changes would effect me within 10 days of every change. | Finding and being able to afford childcare so you can volunteer does not make sense unless you count a mom with kids a primary caregiver which she is. I think it will be difficult to find volunteer opportunities. |
56 | I work as a social worker in an urban area where there is much poverty. I often see clients that are in need of medical care and the benefit of Medicaid is essential in their health. I still see significant gapes in services. I still see individuals that have to wait for doctor appointments or dental services. I have worked with a woman who has had significant dental needs and was becoming very ill because she could not get into a dentist. How can dental and vision not be a component of health care? I seen this woman suffer for several weeks and I can certainly validate the impact it had on her physical and emotional health. | I do not agree that I should work for the government for Medicaid's crappy benefits. | For seasonal businesses this makes no sense, I'm self-employed and sell lots at Christmas time. | First of all is the opportunity going to be provided by the government. Just because you have a desire to work or volunteer does not mean there is an opportunity to do so. Also, will the government provide the transportation to and from while the caregiver is at work? If not, there could be a potential issue with the caregivers employment and even the possibility of loss of employment. I see it as causing much more problems than it could possibly solve. It would be better for it to be an option with incentives. |
57 | I work at uk | I don't know all the changes but I am currently unable to work and do not draw any income . It could possibly lose my life and drastically effect the lives of my parents who depend solely on me for all their health needs | For some, it does due to temporary or seasonal work availability, or inability to work due to health. | First of all, I am already working 40 hours at one job, 20 at another, volunteer for my local chapter of Autism Society, and my husband also has a full time job. This requirement isn't feasible simply because if a person needs this service, they are already working full time, or are pregnant, or medically fragile, or a student, or a primary care giver. It's been proven many times that the majority of people who are using such services aren't committing fraud by doing so and really do need that extra help. This state has one of the lowest income rates and all of the jobs are pretty much in the bigger cities. I know of hundreds of families that have had to relocate because they couldn't find work. |
58 | I work for a health care provider where many of our patients are working poor. Many have are getting care for things they have avoided for years because they didn't know how they could pay for it. Medicaid coverage has saved peoples lives. | I don't know how else to put this. People will die without the coverage Medicaid currently provides. People will get sick and people will spread diseases because they have to work while contagious in order to pay bills. Medicaid is necessary. | For someone who is a non-exempt worker working a variable schedule, it is difficult to know what yearly income will be. Overtime could put you over the limit even though your hourly wage X 40 X 52 is under the limit. I don't think someone should be penalized because they worked longer hours than usual. This only incentivizes earning/working less and relying on the govt. more. | First of all, it is difficult for individuals on Medicaid to find placements for these hours and often aren't really a help to the agencies where they work. When people rely on public transportation, all their time is spent on community engagement, again leaving no time to actually look for a job. |
59 | I work in a daily basis with people who cannot afford basic health coverage or dental coverage. It is hard to become employable if their health is failing. Even those who work minimum wage has the right to be healthy. Medicaid has been very beneficial to thousands of diabetics and other sick Kentuckians. Let's provide more job training and get our communities work ready by having residents that are in better health, have good dental and vision and educated in taking care of their illnesses because they now have medical assistance. | I don't need more paperwork, more bills, more accounts. No! | Freelance housekeeper, I only have one employer who only needs me a couple times a month and has yet to call me in. I wouldn't have any medical coverage. | Flexibility would be essential due to lack of transportation and childcare needs. |
60 | I work in a high poverty area (knox county) I have parents/friends who work and would not be able to get to work w/out assistance.. our area has extremely low wages and our median income is substantially lower than the nation's average.. I'm opposed to cutting benefits for the working poor.. and would like to see community involvement opportunities and job training for the non engaged members of our community. (PLEASE NOTE I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF SERVICES FOR THE UN ENGAGED BUT WE NEED ASSISTANCE GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES ) | I don't want it to change at all | Have mercy | Folks already have it tough... If they can work 30 hours weekly already then they don't need Medicaid . |
61 | I work in a primary care clinic that sees a large Medicaid patient population. One example I can provide is of a man with a severe chronic mental illness (Schizoaffective disorder). This man lives in a delusional world and has difficulty managing his care. The clinic was able via Medicaid to provide an integrated approach to his physical and mental health needs by switching him to an MCO that covered his psychiatric medication. He now receives medical treatment, including antipsychotic shots, and social services support and counseling, as well as pharmacy services through our clinic. All of this is billed to Medicaid. A patient such as this would fall through the cracks if confronted with many barriers to enrolling and maintaining his Medicaid insurance. | I feel like changing the program places an even larger burden on people already struggling to get by. Charging extra money for premiums and co-pays hurts families and individuals that are already struggling just to get by day to day. Kentucky is already one of the unhealthiest states and by putting even more hurdles in front people would only hurt our communities, not help them. | Having to report income every 10 days would be a disaster for my family because my husband is self employed he doesn't get a check every week to be able to know how much money he makes every 10 days this would be very complicated! | For 20 hours the State should provide not only healthcare, but a paycheck and retirement benefits too. |
62 | I work in addictions and mental health. I worry that the people who truly need coverage will lose it. | I find it preposterous to mandate aforementioned changes to the current Medicaid plan for Kentucky. The drastic increase within the state's constituency of those covered by Medicaid and ease of doing so through Kynect is testament to the dire need of affordable healthcare. The proposed changes mention by Gov. Bevin display a lack of ethics and disregard for the people he was sadly elected to govern. I would be | He has difficulty getting jobs d/t his felony record. He has difficulty keeping jobs d/t his depression problems keeping him from going to the job on time. Therefore he does landscaping, grass cutting, etc to make money - no regular job. | For an able-bodied person that is not a care giver, student, worker, have medical issues, and so on - I don't see a problem with the 20 hours/week program. The only thing I could think may be a problem is that it would take time away from someone seeking employment from doing just that in order to make sure they keep health coverage. |
63 | I work with individuals on Medicaid and this program has provided the a bility for those people to access their communities while maintaining their health and dignity. It has provided preventive services to moderate future costs by addressing problems early before healthcare expenses would be much greater. | I have a lot of questions. The people I know live in rural areas with no transportation. Do we abandon them and hope they just die? That's what it sounds like. And children would pay. Adults not able to care for them. Dental health in KY is a joke now. So make it more difficult ? | Healthcare shouldn't be tied to employment. | For my patients, this requirement would be impossible to meet. Often people are on Medicaid because they can't work for very good reasons. Those same reasons would make a requirement like this very difficult for patients to meet. |
64 | I work with the Medicaid population and chances in the Medicaid system is a great and much needed change | I have been able to receive life changing care that I would have never received otherwise. I may have not survived without medical assistance. I am so thankful to be able to go to the dr if needed. | her income doesn't change | Forcing people to work for the state without is a violation of federal wage and hour laws. |
65 | I worked as a nursing and medical assistant for 27 years and am now unable to work because both my parents have Alzheimer's . I also have health issues. Before kenect, I was very sick and did not know I had diabetes or high blood pressure. This program saved my life and has also helped me to continue to keep my parents out of a nursing home. | I have family who would unfairly lose their coverage. I find these changes discriminatory. | His coverage should not be based on our income, we do not have custody of him. | full time employment but earn under minimum |
66 | I would have died without Medicaid Expansion. It saved my life and a lot of lives in Kentucky. | I have seen many members of my community make their health a priority and seek treatment for untreated long term issues and illnesses because they no longer feared the insurmountable health care bills. | His waiver is NEED based not income based. I do think able bodied citizens should meet this requirement; however, the DCBS offices are extremely unorganized and it may be difficult to be seen within 10 days, even with the best intentions. | Full time students might not have the time to fit 20 hours of community service for a human right. People with children might not have childcare or the money to afford childcare to work the required hours. |
67 | i would not be able to afford needed medicine or health care. | I know elderly people who have no way to get to the Dr' other than the transportation their insurance provides. It borders on inhumane to deny them transportation. Instead of "work activities" for coverage (Saying people who have medicare are lazy !) How about do YOUR JOB and CREATE the JOBS you politicians PROMISED .Every time they want to cut some aid a poor person or elderly person receives They say "Our people don't want hand outs ...They want more jobs and higher paying jobs " Then they cut the so called "hand out" and don't create a single employment opportunity of any relative magnitude. The $1-$15 payment based on income I don't have much problem with But the raises in it are ridiculous .And no doubt that will only lead to the state going into the insurance "business" ..At "competitive" rates of course ! You could write a novel on how pitiful this proposal is and the underlying themes that are hidden in it .And of course play off the tax payers emotions.. Make them think the "LAZY" are taking their tax dollars...No the Government is taking your our tax dollars and giving it to Multi-Billion dollar companies like Exxon .. BILLIONS of dollars in tax subsidies And in 2012 I think it was 85% of their federal donations of almost 4 Million dollars went to Republicans. | Honestly my income doesn't change much because they pay crap wages for slave labor. But there are many families in this area that work 7 days a week, at night and such and don't have the time to report changes, especially when they're trying to balance work and children. I think it's creul to punish those working so hard just to survive. | Generally people on Medicaid are unable to work due to disability or age. |
68 | I would not have health insurance if it weren't for the Medicaid expansion. | I know many community members will decide not to enroll in Medicaid, and will probably get in a situation where they require medical care and can't pay. | Hopefully. my employment status and that of my husband won't change before we retire. However, I work in higher education, which keeps getting cut more and more very year. My husband works for an engineering company that mostly worked for the mines. Both of those fields face uncertainty in the future. I doubt we'd have problems reporting changes within 10 days, but sometimes life happens. Death or serious illness could coincide with changes and make it difficult to report them. | Giving these folks something they are required to do to get their free money from the government would help cut down on the time they can steal from their neighbors to supplement their income. |
69 | I wouldn't be able to go to doctor or get my medicine if I didn't have it cause I'm not able to work and don't have any income right now | I know people who rely on Medicaid transportation to get to health care appointments. Without it, they will never make it to their specialists. | How is someone supposed to make a living from $16K? | granddaughters caregiver |
70 | I wouldn't have any type of medical coverage without the affordable healthcare act. | I know that we may not be able to afford premiums. Sometimes copays are hard to come up with sometimes. Chronic conditions may be untreated and that only ends up burdening hospitals. | I am a substitute teacher, so no summer income. Work is sporadic based on the school's need and my health. | Great idea. |
71 | I'm a college student who enrolled in kynect for Medicaid coverage. I'm a non-traditional older student who is not financially supported by anyone. I worked part-time during school but earned well below the federal poverty level. Without the current standards I would not be able to afford health insurance. | I live in a community that is designated as a medical and dental provider shortage area, the nearest town is 45 minutes away to reach a limited amount of providers, with changes to the Medicaid Expansion plan as currently proposed community members would not have access/transportation to get to appointments and would end up in ERs again. Oral health is a huge issue, so few providers accepting it that not everyone that needs it has been seen yet under the expansion, persons for the first time EVER have seen a dentist-most getting needed extractions. It is difficult to assist at food banks and see persons everyday covering their mouths when the speak to you because they need the dental care-please do not stop these dental services, families in our community have not had access to municipal water sources with fluoride, they have such limited incomes, they need the care! Please do not take away the retroactive coverage, the bureaucracy of getting enrolled and staying enrolled is unbelievable and in the meantime people will suffer. Please do not force employed persons to take employer based health insurance! The deductible and premiums are too high, I have it now and can't use it, I pay out of pocket for my care because it is less expensive and yet I still have to pay the high premiums. | I am concerned about the fate of others. | Have no transportation so I would lose my insurance |
72 | I'm a physician. It's greatly reduced the stress of my patients to have comprehensive coverage which has thus improved their health - lower blood pressures, better medication adherence, better follow up | I may be unable to afford insurance if these changes went through. At the very least, it would make my life more difficult. I can barely afford to pay my rent and have no extra money. | I am currently working for a school system during the school calendar. My job changes during the summer where I am a farmer. The fluctuation of income changes from month to month depending on work availability and the weather. | He works too many hours during the business week. |
73 | I'm self employed and could not afford any health insurance at all. I can now! | I take 3 medications for pre-existing conditions that would cost $600/month without insurance. Going off those medications would be life-threatening. I should not have to choose between risking my life or paying my rent and bills. If Kentucky discontinues Medicaid expansion, I would be forced to move out of state in order to get the health coverage my taxes pay for. | I am lucky enough to be well educated and have stable employment. | Health would keep me from vollenteering 20 hours a week |
74 | I'm self-employed with 2 kids. We self-insured forever as it generally ended up costing much, much less than purchasing commercial insurance; however, I hadn't been able to financially justify checkups or dental care for myself in 10 years -- until I enrolled myself and the kids via Kynect | I think a copay is a great idea if kept in perspective. I also like the idea of community service, parenting classes and participation to keep it. However locking someone out for 6 months because they don't meet a deadline is not good. I recently took proof of insurance to the local office and they did not scan and verify the document until well after my re enrollment date. That was not my fault so why should I be punished? | I am lucky enough to have had stable employment over the past two years (thanks to having been able to get medication when I was unemployed via Medicaid) but when I was unemployed I would have a number of temp jobs - so my employment status changed multiple times a week. This would be an undue burden. | healthcare is a human right. Not conditional. |
75 | I've applied for disability | I think all citizens should have some skin in the game to help defray costs and encourage people to make a the same choices of whether they need a doctor's care as people who pay for their insurance do. | I am not a medicaid recipient, but this change has the potential to punish sick children or family members for another family member's actions and that is never okay. The thought process that there is a magic number under or over which people can just suddenly pay for care is a myth. The requirement to report changes isn't a problem, but throwing a FAMILY or a CHILD off medicaid because of the action of a breadwinner is draconian to say the least. I'll frankly be shocked if anyone is even reading this, so if a human actually looks at this, please shoot me an email at malachi.host@gmail.com just so I know my plea here isn't falling on deaf ears. | Healthcare is a Human Right....these restictions are designed to make it harder for people to access medical care. Single Payor now! |
76 | I've been able to acquire birth control and skin rash cream, and to get a delayed routine dental checkup, at no cost to me while unemployed and low on funds. My health has become one less thing to worry about. | I think it's all very confusing and worrisome. If I had to pay for insurance I would have to earn another $2,000 a year, which then would put me below the poverty level and I don't think I can earn that much more beyond what I do now. It stresses me out badly because I don't know how all this stuff works and I would just rather earn less and stay on Medicaid. | I am not in this category. 10 days sounds reasonable. | Heartbreak |
77 | I've been able to get medical treatment that has GREATLY impacted my physical well-being thanks to Medicaid. I would never been able to afford these services otherwise and would be in crippling debt or poor health without them. | I think persuading people to make doctor appointments and stop clogging the ER with non-emergencies, is a good thing. I think a small amount of money, depending on income, would help people appreciate their coverage, force them to pay more attention to the issue and they would feel like they have contributed to their health care. | I am not on Medicaid myself. | His parents work |
78 | I've benefitted by living in a state with an uninsured rate that has gone from around 20% to around 7%. Over the long term, my state will save money if people have regular access to routine healthcare, which will decrease instances of people waiting until things are catastrophic to seek medical services. | I think premiums are fine for those who can afford them. As far as penalties for non-emergency use of ER, hospitals should let patients know what is a true emergency. | I am not on Medicaid, but do work seasonally. 3 months of the year, I make 80% of what I make for the year. There are a lot of seasonal workers, this would penalize them and be a hinderance to work. | Hours my friends and community members spend "volunteering" are hours they cannot spend searching for employment, networking, etc. And although job training CAN count toward these requirements, my friends who lack transportation in underserved communities, as well as my friends in rural areas, often do not have access to any kind of job training. Indeed, they often don't even have access to places where they could "volunteer"! And if they do, there's no guarantee that the job training or volunteer work that's *available* to them will have ANY positive impact whatsoever on their employability, economic stability, or overarching well-being. In addition, the fact that some of my talented friends currently have financial and/or health care needs (that require Medicaid) does not render their labor value-less. And it *certainly* does not render their local businesses and nonprofits worthy of their free labor! (Indeed, these requirements risk disincentivizing hiring by small businesses and organizations; why pay employees when you can just get free labor from citizens who receive Medicaid?) |
79 | I've recently had to leave my full time position to take care of my 5 month year old. Without Medicaid, we would be lost as far as medical coverage. I barely make enough to support us and if I had to pay more for insurance, I'd have to go without food. | I think these changes are not well defined, and they do not take into the account the many systemic challenges facing people in poverty. I think that they may sound good on the surface but in effect would just cut people off unjustly. | I am not personally affected, but I care about people who would be. | How am I expected to find a job if I'm required to do this? |
80 | If it weren't for Medicaid, I would not have health insurance because I cannot afford it. | I think these changes would be punishing the poor for being poor. They are designed to exclude those who need the benefits the most. And removing the dental/vision benefit is UNACCEPTABLE. Those are as much a part of necessary care as medical. | I am retired and benefit greatly from Medicare. We should move toward Medicare for all. | How can someone who is ill volunteer?! This is insane! Take some time to understand the realities of your neighbors. |
81 | If we didn't have it, we couldn't go to the doctor, dentist, or eye doctor to keep our selves healthy. | I will be dead along with a lot of others. Most people on medicaid are poor and disabled and unable to work. What we get money wise each month is not enough to barely survive on. There is not enough to pay for premiums.. not even a dollar. By the middle of the month after bills and a little food I have 000000 money for anything!!!! There are many people in the same position. Please leave the program alone. We desperately need it. I worked many years till I became disabled. I paid taxes. This isn't a handout. | I am retired and receive Medicare through the state retirement system | How can you work 30 hrs a week and do 20 hrs community work? |
82 | If we didn't have Medicaid we couldn't afford our medicines. | I work as a social worker and without Medicaid many people would be unable to access needed treatment and will likely end up needing inpatient admissions. | I am retired but my a daughter and 3 grandchildren live with me. Today, only my one granddaughter and grandson are coverage by it. My granddaughter is 15 and my grandson is 25 with a disability. My 19 year old grandson has no insurance and he is in college and working part-time. | how do you look for a job if you're occupied by community engagement? |
83 | In October of 2015 I was able to receive carpal tunnel and tendon release surgery for the problem which had cause me incredible pain for 21 (twenty-one)years and severely limited my ability to work at jobs for which I have been trained. I also have received medication for ongoing depression and attention deficit issues for which I have previously had to pay large sums out of pocket, which has really helped me. | I work at a Fairview Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center. The proposed waiver could cause approximately 45% of our patents to become uninsured. | I am retired. | How does the state plan to verify this work requirement? It seems that it would violate a person's right to privacy. For example, say a person has medicaid but spends a lot of his/her time volunteering because they want to give back and it makes them feel good. But if they have to have one or more people where they volunteer sign some sort of verification form, that tells other people their private business, and that's humiliating. Why should anyone have to be humiliated just to get medical care? |
84 | In the past, we have had family members covered by the Medicaid expansion. | I work in a medical field, and my clients would not be able to access affordable care if transportation is eliminated. | I am retired. | How does this affect low income self employed persons? Or does it require wage employment by another company? |
85 | Increase in access to healthcare has sparked a noticeable improvement in overall health in the community. | I work in public health and many people lack the resources to follow up with a lot of the requirement. Schools require vision and dental exams and Medicaid should cover this. Children cannot learn if they cannot see or if they in pain from dental issues. | I am retired. | How would "able-bodied" be defined? Would severe mental illness fall under the category of "medically frail?" My son has depression that is not responsive to medicine at this time. I'm concerned that he would not be eligible. |
86 | Individuals have been able to access medical care earlier and to treat before conditions become critical. | I work with the mentally ill. The current Medicaid system has been a literal life saver. It also has helped get people employed again and off the path to disability. If the system changes we will be back to encouraging disability as the main option for receiving services. Telling the unemployed that they have to pay first is a set up for the person and our community. The proposed changes will also require expensive government over site. It will cost Kentucky more money than the current system. Let's get and keep our residence healthy and that will decrease expenses and make Kentucky a desirable place to live. | I am self employed and my hours and pay vary wildly from month to month. This would be an absolute nightmare. I have kids to raise and thing to do. This would take hours of my time every week. Hours I could be spending in the betterment of my family and my career. | How would it impact single parent families? |
87 | It benefits everyone when people are kept healthy and are able to receive preventive care. Healthy people are more productive members of society, and better parents, partners, colleagues, and neighbors. | I worked and paid for insurance for over 40 years. I honestly think the system needs changed and also think people need to attend classes which would teach them not to use the system example...er instead of Dr Visit. I definitely think that eye visit once a year and dentist visit once a year are very important for your health | I am self employed independent contractor; my income fluctuates vastly from week to week; if I have a "good" week or month I often have to set aside in case the next month is not good (or is downright "bad"); it would be almost impossible for me to follow this law | How would single parents be able to pay for childcare to go volunteer? |
88 | It has allowed a multitude of shareholders to access services to stay out of mental health institutions that are very costly Many of these individuals would not be a part of a mental health milieu providing hope and recovery to lead the best life they can in spite of severe mental illness. Some of this population now can have friends, volunteer or work part-time in the community because of their Medicaid benefits. | I worked with those experiencing poverty and know that without Medicaid health would not be a priority for people who have to spend their lives struggling with issues like affordable housing. Medicaid allows families and communities to be healthy without excessive worry about insurance. | I am self employed. I do not use medicaid but cannot imagine being able to accurately report in that time frame. | How would the person on Medicare get to work? My cousin who has Parkinson's cannot drive but could work. |
89 | It has been a life saver after my husband became disabled and unable to work. We lost our insurance, had to pay for his medical care, mine, and a newborn baby. Thankfully we were able to backdate 3 months to help us during that transition period. It has helped us so much with limited income now. | I would be unable to afford insurance with these changes. | I am self-employed employed and my income changes frequently, by spouse's income fluctuates (including job changes) to try to anticipate losses in my income. It would be super challenging to report changes and provide the precise documentation that would be required within 10 days. It'sounds also unclear from what point the 10 days begin. | Huge benefit and need in Fayette county. Look forward to seeing implemented. Appreciate support for those not physically or mentally able to participate. |
90 | It has been nice to be able to visit a doctor and receive basic medical coverage without having to worry about going bankrupt due to bills or skipping meals and other necessities due to being ill. | I would be without any type of healthcare coverage. I cannot afford any health insurance. Which means I'd be without blood pressure medicine that I desperately need. Without it, I'll die. | I am steadily employed. | I agree with this effort - it is appropriate. But additional Medicaid employees should be hired to support administration of the new policy since the workload will increase. With no additional funding, I don't see how already time-burdened case workers can effectively monitor these activities without frequent and highly damaging errors. |
91 | It has enabled me to take a part time at home job so I can work from home and care for my 89 year old mother. Keeping her at home saves the government a lot of money. If I worked outside the home she would end up in a nursing home. Without the Medicaid I could not stay healthy enough to care for her. | I would delay going to the doctor or urgent care until I am sure that it's going to be a big problem. | I cannot work so this doesn't affect me. | I already attend community events and imposing mandatory times would hurt my health too as I am limited in what I can do and have to be a. Active parent to my children. |
92 | It has helped my sister have the help and assistance she needed during hard seasons of life. She is recovering and on her way to being independent and hopefully one day not need Medicaid, but she is one I don't mind at all giving benefits to. Giving help to those truly in need. | I would feel less able to access care without Medicaid coverage, or if forced to be part of a freeze out. This has had detrimental outcomes for me in the past and I'm sure it would again. | I cared for my Mom and had to get her regularly approved for Medicaid for her Nursing home care before she passed away. It was overwhelming, stressful and frightening. Please do not make it more difficult for anyone already in the most difficult times of their lives. | I already do this. I have a girl scout troop in a low income neighborhood and half of the work I do for my arts organization is unpaid. But, I do not feel like I owe anyone to spend more of my time reporting this. I have a lot on my plate, because I spend so much of my time volunteering. Why spend the time reporting when I could we working on planning field trips for my girl scout troop? |
93 | It has helped my widowed 29 year old daughter with her preemie daughter financially. She cannot afford insurance. | I would have extra expenses and it would reduce my ability to take classes. The negative impact on me would be substantial. | I currently have Medicare part A and United Healthcare Insurance through the University of Louisville where I am a full-time graduate student. this would not affect me at this time. But may affect family members who utilize Medicaid. Since they are young adults who do frequently change employers and may be without health insurance coverage. | I already do volunteer that much. I also stay home with my children, which is a full time job. Putting constraints on people when you do not understand their individual circumstances is wrong and unconstitutional. |
94 | It has literally saved my life. | I would have to go back to not having insurance which would affect my health. I would no longer be able to afford to take my monthly medications. | I do contract work so I can be available to take my son to therapy and manage his needs. As a contract employee my income fluctuates heavily throughout the year. The reporting and account managment would make that kind of reporting turnaround quite difficult. | I already spend enough time away from my son...I work part time and that's hard enough without adding more time away to it. Not to mention finding someone that I can trust to take care of him while I do this. |
95 | It has not. | I would no longer be able to afford important medicines and not able to work. | I don't received Medicaid but our income does vary and reporting changes frequently is a ridiculous salt of time | I already volunteer |
96 | It has provided me with a feeling of not being as financially vulnerable to illness or accident while I study to transition careers on a limited income. | I would no longer have dental coverage. | I FEEL 30 DAYS IS MORE APPROPRIATE, DUE TO HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS. THIS WOULD EQUAL ABOUT 20 BUSINESS DAYS. | I already volunteer in several programs. But not sure if they will count. |
97 | it has save their lives. literally. mentally ill mother would have died without it. | I would only be affected if I can't count my job as work hours. Myself and my husband both work and I take care of my autistic son. We just don't make enough money to get health insurance. | I feel a 30 day probation period on a new job should be allowed to make sure things will not change should the new employment not be what is expected. Someone can get a job telling them they will make X amount then when they start the job things are different and they may make less. 10 days isnt enough time to work all that out. | I already volunteer.I have for over 20 years. I paid into this system for over 35 years before I had my stroke. I am still working when I can and still volunteering as well. I can't possibly know when I will feel well enough to volunteer or not. Don't you dare try to tell me I have to do something I already do. |
98 | It has saved my father for one and many more on a daily basis. I live in eastern Kentucky, southeast, Clay County. | I wouldn't be able to afford the doctor and the meds without Medicaid. Even if I had to pay copayments the proposed changes would hurt because I have no income. | I get less than $9,000 a year. | I already work 40 hours a week and go to school full time to become a social worker, I don't have any spare time to do this. |
99 | It hasn't it's a taxpayer nightmare | I'm an RN with 35 years experience in the hospital, medical and psychiatric, home health, hospice. This change would be devastating for so many disabled, proverty stricken people working minimum wage, low wage jobs is restaurants, farm, construction, domestic labor, house cleaning, child care, landscaping jobs. I, in no way can support harm to the innocent, the poor, mentally challenged, mentally ill, physically challenged people of Kentucky. People on Medicaid need MORE HELP! NOT LESS! | I have a set income. Small. | I already work 60 hours a week, so it wouldn't. |
100 | It helps so many people who work hard but at minimum or below wages. These people cannot afford to pay | I'm not sure that we would have the time or money necessary to receive the care we need with the proposed changes. It also seems more complicated which adds another barrier. | I have a stable job, so it wouldn't. I'm just not selfish. | I already work and volunteer in my community. It's not 20 hours worth. If I did that, I would never see my kid. |
101 | It is a temporary fix between jobs. | If any of my client's lose their Medicaid benefits, they will lose their spot in the SCL waiver, this putting them in jeopardy of abuse, neglect or exploitation. | I have a steady job teaching. | I already work and volunteer only community. |
102 | It is an abused system | If copays were brought in some of us wouldn't be able to go to the doctor or dentist or even eye doctor. | I have been laid off 3 times due to restructuring. Having a disability and being in and out of poverty have impacted by employability, yet I try to work. I need flexibility in my plan so that I can work without being penalized. | I already work exactly 20 hours, so I am not sure it would affect me. |
103 | It is great for low income families with children. However it is an abused system. | If my son can't afford insurance, how could he afford to pay premiums or co-pays. And when he does get back on his feet, taking these benefits away from him will only encourage him to NOT work. We need to support those trying to better their lives instead of penalizing them. | I have been unemployed for 4 years now. If not for this I would not have health care. | I already work full time and home school my daughter with autism. This would not be any sort of possibility, with no hours left in a single day or weekend. We barely manage with things the way they are. Volunteering 20 hours would cut my income even further, where we would not be able to pay our other bills, food, etc. |
104 | It kept me from having to abort my second son. I am now full time employed at a prestigious institution making above average salary for KY | If my son does not have his supplemental Medicaid coverage his life would be threatened. | I have enough to keep up with without adding this to it. | I already work. I don't need training. |
105 | It paid for my brain surgery which ultimately saved my life. Pays for my daughters hearing aids and testing. She is profoundly deaf. | If premiums or copays were added then I would not be able to go to the doctor when I'm in the most serious financial trouble. Requiring volunteer work would place an increased transportation cost burden on me when I'm already having trouble. At this moment I have 0.27 in my checking account, no cash, and around three dollars in loose change. I need my gas to get to the job I just got. | I have had stable employment but my husband has been part of three companies who have closed down or moved so we had to change health care, luckily I can carry him on my insurance | I already work. I would not have time to volunteer. |
106 | It paid for my emergency brain surgery, transportation to a hospital that could do the surgery as well as my stay. Also when my high risk pregnancy happened | If these changes are made, I would not be able to get to some of my appts which are over 2 hours away. My vehicle will barely drive around my small town. | I have set hours but occasionally, I can get anywhere from 1/4 of an hour up to 8 extra hours per week without any consistencies. It would be cruel to punish me for 6 months for not reporting every paycheck or for forgetting to notify of any permanent changes within 10 days. It's hard to even get to their office during work hours. | I am a full time student and my husband works 35+ hours a week, so I don't think it would. |
107 | It's helpful for those that make zero or little income, including elders who are retired, or those disabled that physically or mentally cannot work. | If we had to pay what we don't have don't make sense | I have severe ADD. Sometimes it takes more than 10 days to get around to things. I have extended deadline accommodations for school and do well with these . I always pay my bills , but there's always a late fee. | I am a single parent of two with no help and I am unable to work at the moment |
108 | It's improved the health of some of my grandchildren and other family members. | If we lose medicaid we will be uninsured. We simply can not afford to pay $800+ a month for health insurance for our family of 4. My husband and I are self employed. | I have to report changes now, but that amount is horrible.It's going to cost more to hire people to do this. So how is that saving money? | I am a stay at home mom and my husband works. I don't think this would affect us. |
109 | It's my child's insurance so I do not have to quit school and work full time for medical coverage for him. One day I. The near future this will not be an issue but children especially need medical coverage no matter what. | If your community has access to adequate healthcare for all of its people and it ends up costing us less in the long run. | I just know that this requirement would be difficult to implement. I also do not know how CMS can effectively monitor compliance with such a time sensitive mandate. | I am all for this! |
110 | Keep the children from having grandparents pay their doctor bills from their retirement and disability money! Kids don't want to work! Would have to pass a drug test! | In my family several of my nieces and their children would not have medical care | I make $23k annually as a self employed person. During Derby and Christmas, my income spikes due to demand, but in Feb and July I have a lot of cancellations due to weather and customer vacations. It fluctuates and trying to keep it reported on a month to month basis is too difficult. As a small business owner, I report annually to the IRS via my taxes and I should only have to share my taxes w the State on an annual basis. | I am already working much more than 20 hours/week, but since I am self-employed, I do not have employer-provided health insurance. I do not believe I would be able to meet this requirement. |
111 | Keeping our community healthy through preventive care SAVES money in the long term. | In my work I see individuals try to make ends meet on limited budgets. If there is a copay I see that many of my clients would forego treatment and then eventually end up in the ER. Creating barriers for our most vulnerable citizens seems cruel and inhuman. Are we not better than that? | I own a small business-- so, yes. It changes constantly. | I am capable of working - so if I was using Medicare I would need to work or volunteer 20hrs per week. |
112 | Keeps me healthy so I can provide for my children. Empowers me to learn to eat healthy/stay healthy. Then I teach my children to be healthier. Allows us to live a more active happy longer life. Preventative care keeps bad big expensive health conditions from happening | Individuals would just not go to the doctor | I provide babysitting services out of my home so that I can work and stay home with my children. As such, my monthly income varies depending on how many hours I babysit each month. I have done my best to estimate my income for reporting to the Medicaid office, but it is simply impossible for me to know for certain what it will be each year until I report it on my taxes. | I am concerned that many individuals would lack transportation or are undergoing needed health care that would affect their ability to work. What about individuals that are opioid addicted or other drug & alcohol addictions. Also what about individuals with criminal records. Many would be barred from volunteering. |
113 | Kentucky has finally begun addressing challenges faced by having a large percentage of our population unable to access healthcare. | Interruptions to coverage for medications is just not acceptable. In the case of HIV medications and other chronic diseases this would be malpractice | I recently graduated and have been on a job search. I am not personally in this situation, but I could definitely see someone in my situation changing jobs a lot if they accept a job to have some sort of income while they continue to search for a position in their field. When I was on Medicaid through Kynect, the coverage was great, but it seemed that any time I had to report or make a change, it was very difficult. In fact, my coverage was actually removed/canceled because I had to "renew" the coverage - something that others who had the same plan as I did did not have to do. I tried to go through the renewal process, and asked a Kynect representative over chat if I had properly renewed. This person said that I had, but apparently I had not because my coverage was canceled. I was lucky that I was technically covered by my school insurance (and lucky that I did not need to use it from the point Medicaid ended to when it ended) and that I got married in that time frame as well. I had a lot of specific circumstances that ended up working in my favor, but I feel that many others would not have the same experience. | I am concerned this would overwhelm the non profits. Someone has to oversee the volunteers and do the paperwork. Are government entities ready to supervise volunteers? |
114 | KY Medicaid has provided our family with Healthcare, Dental, Vision Care coverage when we didn't have it and saved our lives! Thanks! | It could be detrimental for all those who use Medicaid. The whole point of it is to be affordable and reliable health care for people. So, if people can't afford it or rely on it, what's the point? | I run my own business and do not know what I "earn" until we file taxes. Reporting the income annually at that time would be understandable. | I am currently in the process of applying for full-time employment, which is a full-time job in and of itself. I am also working on my course materials and syllabi for fall semester. There are many Medicaid recipients in similar situations. Working parents who work less than 30 hours per week would be hardest hit by this impractical requirement, which would cause unnecessary burdens related to childcare. |
115 | Many clients have been able to obtain Medicaid and utilize having a PCP instead of the ER. | It has helped people in eastern Kentucky that do not have transportation to and from the doctors and medical appointments out of town, my father has used this Medicaid and the public transit a few times it is really a good thing | I think 10 days is amble time to report a change. | I am disabled but working part time from home sometimes under 20 hours a week. |
116 | Many family members, as well as myself, are now able to better manage chronic and pre-existing health conditions that prevent us from having private insurance. We can also obtain medication that would otherwise be impossible to afford without coverage. | It is downright degrading to offer "assistance" but then make poor people earn merits for things others can afford simply because they were lucky to be born into a wealthier family. This "rewards" system assumes that poor people don't already help others and that they have all the time in the world. It is disgusting elitism at it's finest. | I think it would be difficult for any hourly employee. Perhaps a 90 day period would be more appropriate. | I am disabled so I cannot work. |
117 | Many of my coworkers and friends rely on current medicaid coverage. | It is important for Kentucky citizens to be able to have healthcare support. Without it, the state will forever be the butt of jokes as the people suffer. | I think this is asking too much of people already under employed and barely making ends meet. It us just one more hurdle they would have to jump in order to get health care. | I am disabled, but if an able body is receiving assistance from state programs and have no dependents or disabilities and not doing anything to further education or gain employment then they should have to do something. |
118 | Many people are physically or mentally unable to work. My daughter, for example, has rheumatoid arthritis, is unable to stand or use her hands for any length of time. Without Medicaid she would be completely unable to function-the doctors and treatments she has provide a slower progression of the disease, and the ability to live with her family. RA never goes away, leads to other health issues, and is very painful. Without Medicaid, she would be unable to keep her children safe. | It needs an overhaul. What is available now is not working. | I turn my income in yearly from 1099's. | I am employed, however, it would cause my mother to lose her help because she is not physically capable of working any job that could be given to her. |
119 | Many people could not afford medical/dental/vision services if it weren't for Medicaid. They cannot afford high premiums for health coverage, which are required even if you have insurance through your job. Not covering people who have low income just puts more of a strain on the system as everyone ends up paying more in the end, as people still need to be treated once the medical concern is life threatening. | It was such a relief to qualify for Medicare, without it, we would not be able to afford health care. It took months to get it straightened out due to the new software and the thought of losing it again is devastating for me and my young granddaughter. | I use my tax return once a year. That tells my financial story just fine. | I am employed. |
120 | Many people in my neighborhood--downtown Louisville--receive decent medical care for the first time. They love staying healthy and productive! | it will add barriers to healthcare who have significantly less resources, are less able to understand medical jargon, and less able to maneuver an already excessively complex healthcare system. People well educated and with commercial insurance have problems and now add all this to that? No,no,no. It should be all about removing barriers and improving access, not adding barriers and making it harder. | I usually get a raise July of every year, so I can report pretty quickly. Though 30 days seems like a more fair requirement. | I am in pain just from working the small amount of hours a week that I do work, I would never be able to work 20 hours a week. |
121 | Many people in my would not be alive today or receive the care he needs without it. Without all these assistance's they would have no way to afford or receive transport to Medical appointments. | It won't affect the community if nothing else we'll employ more people which is a good thing responsibility is the key | I work a different number of hours every week, thus along my income. | I am just not completely clear on this topic for example what about someone who has lost their employment or is in the process of applying for disability etc. |
122 | Many people that I know in my community rely on Medicaid for their health care. They have a serious mental illness, cannot work and require daily medication and ongoing community assisted treatment. They get sick frequently and require hospitalization to stabilize their condition. Many have co-ocurring disorders like alcohol and drug addiction. I think most people would agree if your mentally not well, your physical health will decline as well. Unfortunately, persons with serious mental health issues have a shorter life span due to comorbid health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. That's why it is absolutely crucial that they continue to have health coverage with no penalties or gaps in coverage. Transportation is essential. Assistance is needed in getting to Doctor's appointments because most not do not a vehicle Due to the severity of their illness and lack of transportation, it would be impossible and ridiculous to expect them to attend a class or volunteer. Mental health treatment for the seriously mentally ill needs more funding for treatment not less. I read that KY ranked second in the nation for the number of drug overdoses falling only behind West Virginia. We desperately need more funding for mental health in Medicaid dollars not less. This plan is seriously flawed because it penalizes someone going to the ER for non-emergent care , but if they have no way to get to the Dr. because transportation is no longer assistance is no longer offered, where do you think they are going to end up when they get sick?? The ER, of course. The most costly place of all. How is that saving the taxpayers any money?? It makes much more sense, is better the person on Medicaid, and a much better use of our resources to keep expanded Medicaid and do preventive care. | It would be devastating as we could not afford the level of care required | I work a full time job in addition to caring for my elderly mother. If there is one change, and she forgets to fill out the paperwork, we would be out of luck for care for 6 months | I am not certain. |
123 | Many truly sick people have been able to get basic health care thru expanded Medicaid. | It would be devastating for my daughter's Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes care. | I would not experience change myself. | I am on disability and could do this some weeks but not others depending on how I'm feeling/level of symptoms. I think it should be less hours a week but then would be ok, especially if volunteering and stay home moms/dads are considered an option |
124 | Medicaid allowed to seek treatment for my Anxiety and Depression | It would be devastating. It goes beyond the suffering of those who are sick, since if they can't get help they may get so bad they will never be able to work. | I'd be concerned with the proper way to report changes. No one wants to sit on a phone on hold for an hour or more to report a change. Perhaps easy ways of making changes via the internet would be effective. | I am paralyzed and require 24hr caregivers. this would be just more paper work for them to have to fill out for you. It is non sense . Folks like myself have to put up with enough BS paperwork from the state etc . Do not add more to it. |
125 | Medicaid allows access to very expensive medication and medical food for two of my family members. The monthly cost for those things is approximately $12 ,000 per month for each one. They (twins) are permanently disabled due to a genetic disorder and would not have access to what they need to treat their condition without Medicaid. | It would be financially devastating...we can barely make it as it is on one income. | I'd be concerned with the proper way to report changes. No one wants to sit on a phone on hold for an hour or more to report a change. Perhaps easy ways of making changes via the internet would be effective. | I am self employed , micro business, with irregular hours - there does not seem any way of my proving how many hours I work in a week, when one week there might be 10, and the next 60 hrs work. I am not looking for work, I'm trying to build my business so it provides an income. I also garden and put food up and make things instead of buying them, to help provide for my family. Most businesses don't make much until they get going. I shouldn't be forced to abandon my business and work for someone else. I sure don't have an extra 20 hrs to fill a volunteer requirement also. |
126 | Medicaid allows me to get the therapy that I need. Without it I would have nowhere to turn when things get too difficult to handle. | It would be like pulling the rug out from under many people. Because they could no longer afford medical care or medicines, many will die. No doubt about that. | I'll answer this from the perspective of my relatives. While neither are able to work - they are both unable to complete basic forms and documents without assistance from others. My niece recently received a small inheritance that temporarily increased her income | I am self employed so I have no way of verifiying that I work 50+ hours a week to the gov. I would be forced to add another 20+ hours to my already packed schedule. I do not make enough to pay of my medical, or to fund a retirement, and I work 6 days a week. Now the State wants me to work an additional 20 hours volunteer. If I got a second job, I could make an addtional $15,000 a year at minimum wage for 20 hours a week. But there isnt a second job available to me (I am looking) and I could purchase insurance benifits for less than that on an annual basis, except that I choose to not kill myself by trying to work 70 hours every week. |
127 | Medicaid coverage allows the poor and working poor to access healthcare. If administered correctly it will keep the individual working or ready them for employment. The issue in Eastern and Western Kentucky are the elimination of jobs due to the Obama administration and the Beshear Administration. Beshear Supported Obama and therefore hurt coal, both eastern and western Kentucky are a one resource economy and the state has not been good stewards of the coal severance monies. This is another story but important to the survival of the Eastern and Western Counties. | It would definitely be a setback for our community. People would lose any ground they've gained while having Medicaid coverage and new problems that develop won't get treated. | I'm a stay at home mom, my husband works 40+ hours a week and has worked the same job for 3 years. | I am steadily employed. If I were not, I would want to better my situation. |
128 | Medicaid coverage has been a life saver for my family! Without it, we would have no food or housing because all our money would be wrapped up in mandatory health insurance bills. | It would devastate the community. It would harm families. It is a horrible, heartless, awful idea. | I'm a waitress, it varies a bit. | I am the primary caregiver to my elderly, disabled, mother. I couldnt leave her at home alone for that period of time. We currently to not have a vechicle, and there is no way I could pay for someone to come sit with her while I "volunteered". I would be ok if I could volunteer from home. An example of that might be, stuffing envelopes, or making phone calls, or data entry. Something like this that wouldn't make a terribly impact on my family, I would be fine with. |
129 | Medicaid coverage has helped my mother-in-law cover the cost of medications, along with that of her residence in a care facility. When she had to go to the emergency room because of chest pain, she was willing to do so because she knew it would be covered. Medicaid has removed some of the anxiety about paying health costs. | It would devestate our life. | I'm an independent contractor/freelance writer and editor. Sometimes I have no work at all for months and other times I have a lot. The money I make has to balance out the dry periods I experience. | I am the sole care taker for 3 small children, 1 of which is severely disabled. It is difficult enough to find childcare to try and attend community college. It would be impossible to do that for 20 hours a week. |
130 | Medicaid coverage has helped protect the sick, the weak, and has led to a more vibrant and productive community. | It would have effect a lot of people tremendously in a negative way. Pretty sure I don't have to explain those effects, obvious to see what they would be. | I'm at 100% commission. Some weeks I make 500$ some weeks I bring home nothing. It's hard to start out and even harder if I were to have to run to an office to report an income every week | I am unable to meet this requirement due to a health problem. |
131 | Medicaid enabled a family member to get coverage when she could not afford health insurance, and provided much-needed dental and vision services. Without Medicaid, she would not have been able to receive these services. As a social worker, I have seen first-hand how the Medicaid expansion has positively impacted many in our communities and state. People without insurance have died because they feel they can't afford to go to the doctor. Before Medicaid expansion, many people would wait until health issues were major, instead of having them treated when they were more minor. | It would keep vulnerable people from accessing essential healthcare. It imposes undue burdens on individuals to access care. It treats the poor and vulnerable as if they are second-class citizens who must "work" for proper health care. I can't see how the federal government would approve these changes. | I'm disabled and only pull in around 890 each month. Therefore I only qualify for 16 dollars for food assistance so the bulk of my disability check goes to food and medicine and whatever is left I pay bills. Maybe someone somewhere is living easy off the system but it's not me, I'm barely making it, and still trying to fight to get well, and eat well, etc... | I am unable to work. Bevin wants to force sick people to " volunteer". |
132 | Medicaid enabled me to get behavioral health care for severe C-PTSD. I had not previously been able to seek treatment, and the disorder made it impossible for me to work full time. Since receiving care, I am now employeed full time and am able to afford health coverage without government assistance! | It would make it impossibly difficult for our son and daughter's young WORKING families who do not have insurance provided by their employers. | I'm not on Medicaid but I think a two week to report changes in income like taking on seasonal yard mowing, etc. it's too much of a hardship to try to get the records done. I think once a month of reporting extra income should be sufficient. How many state people are you going to have to have to keep all these record straight? | I and my son have to many dr appointments, sickness and im in pain more often than not..i can't work 30hours a week |
133 | Medicaid expansion has allowed more people access to a broader array of behavioral health services. Friends who work multiple part time jobs and do not qualify for employer coverage have been covered by Medicaid and have access to necessary health care. Family members who have lost their jobs have been able to enroll in Medicaid temporarily until able to find a new job with employer health benefits. | It would make keeping coverage more difficult for me and cause expenses that I can't afford. | I'm not personally on medicaid. But I'm a middle class lawyer who works for himself, and my income changes from quarter to quarter. I could comply if I had to, but poor with limited access to technology or understanding of how the system works would struggle. This is mean spirited and will hurt the most vulnerable most. | I assume she would not be considered "able-bodied", but I'm afraid to assume anything, really. |
134 | Medicaid has allowed me to have a family doctor for the first time in over a decade. I no longer have to go to charity clinics, scrape together money for costs, and go to the ER for non-emergency care. I've been diagnosed with several different issues, and can now be treated for them. I'm on my way to hopefully becoming healthy. | It would make people unable to afford the medical expenses that they might need. | I'm self employed, so I never know how much income I will bring in at any given time. The annual incomes above do not sustain life. | I attended the waiver hearings a year ago, and I realized how the work requirement would negatively impact folks. So many people on Medicaid and Medicaid expansion are already working! This would place undue burden on them and negatively affect our workforce economics in Kentucky. |
135 | Medicaid has allowed me to seek necessary care for severe conditions without having to worry about losing my home. Please keep Medicaid fair and accessible. | It would place a great strain on our already tight budget. The end result could well be Mom in a nursing home or me without any health care. | I've been at the same job for almost 18 years, but I'm lucky. People willing and able to work, but who switch jobs often because if job instability or climbing up the ladder shouldn't be punished. | I believe communiry involvment should be encouraged and becoming shut in is detramental to your health, thus causing more issues. |
136 | Medicaid has been vital in keeping our rural hospital and our community mental health center open. It serves the most vulnerable citizens in our community. It also helps to reduce non-emergency hospital visits for those who cannot afford care otherwise. | It would Really damage me and Many folks in my county. | If doesn't affect the amount allowed, shouldn't terminate if not reported | I believe it is a great idea for those persons who are able bodied and can either work or volunteer in a community agency. I am all for paying your way when possible. |
137 | Medicaid has helped my cousin with cerebral palsy by continuing to be. | Kentucky already has one of the most vulnerable populations in the country. By weakening the Medicaid system we will negatively affect our Commonwealth. | If issues weren't a problem on the case workers end it wouldn't be an issue unless, you aren't able to obtain the needed info that quickly from your employer, or the person providing income source for your household, such as child support payments that might change month to month, if not enforced by court. Then still not guaranteed as dependable income due to non-payment. | I believe people should work if they are able. I think their situations need to be assessed on an individual basis and it should not be one requirement fits all |
138 | Medicaid has made it possible for my child to have quality health care. My husband and I (before I was laid off) are only able to afford individual health insurance. Even adjusting just one of our coverage to include our daughter would make our net paychecks not worth the work. We would literally be working 40 hours a week, just to pay for insurance with no money remaining to pay co-pays or prescriptions. I've worked hard to find meaningful work so that I can pay for my and my daughter's health insurance, but even with a Master's degree, it's difficult. Employers are either needing weeks or months to fill positions, or I'm over-qualified. My child has made all her well care appointments and we've been able to take her to urgent treatment centers when appropriate all because of Medicaid. Without it, we wouldn't be able to afford these visits and dental checkups would be a luxury (not a necessity) that we wouldn't ever partake in. | Kentucky will lose again to this game of not helping our poor. | If it required my spouses income, as I have none, it changes weekly as they own their own small business. They would be filing constantly and the state system for filing is always busy and complicated. I'm sure we would loose coverage quickly. Not having prescriptions because of costs would put our lives in danger and keep my spouse from working too. | I believe that majority of Medicaid recipients will not volunteer due to if they have a job or no childcare for their children and even if their is some older people who do not fall under the guidelines of frail or mentally they will not do it because they may feel they are not able to do volunteer work. |
139 | medicaid has provided insurance for my child when i could not afford it. as a working poor person this allowed me to provide other needed items for my son. he has been healthy, so this hasnt been a huge burden on the government. | Lack of basic dental and vision check ups would be a strike against first line discovery of health issues. | If somebody is working they might not have time to report the changes in 10 days due to working. They should not be penalized for such. | I believe this can be positive but only if the volunteer work can help prepare individuals to the world of work |
140 | Medicaid has saved my life. Literally, when I needed emergency surgery. I also have been able to have dental work done which I could not afford otherwise. I am still working to pay off debts I accrued almost ten years ago from medical treatments. I don't know where I'd be now, if I was having to pay off the total cost of my surgery. I certainly wouldn't be able to be a full time student. I would have to work multiple jobs. I don't have the time to do the extra 'work' required by Bevin's plan, while working towards a degree which will hopefully allow me to get a job, and get off Medicaid. | Looking for a job is a 24/7 job in itself. As one who has looked for a job, I have sent out a thousand tailored resumes in my lifetime and gotten many interviews. However, my efforts have garnered employment with only a fraction of those resumes. A friend of mine is looking for work AND doing volunteer work required by Medicaid in order to get support she needs. That means she is working much longer than a person who is looking for a job is required to do. She has had to miss auditions and interviews because of the volunteer work. In the case of a person with mental disability, it can put undue stress on a mental health consumer who already is stressed by their illness. And their needs to provide for a family are no less than a normal person's needs. Providing more Medicaid benefits would ensure healthy children in school, and less absenteeism would be due to illness, contagion, and disability. Children would be where they need to be: learning at school. Providing insurance for low-income people would give them the basis for keeping healthy with wellness screenings, regular checkups, and free and affordable medicines. Medicaid efforts should be directed toward empowering low-income people to getting back on their feet, not penalizing them for being sick or disabled. By all means require job search, but each person is different with differing abilities and talents. All of these should be taken into account. In fact, Medicaid should expand to cover and provide assistance for finding jobs that meet a person's needs, too, especially in the case of disability when accommodation is necessary and is seldom attended to and tolerated. | In Kentucky’s economy this could be difficult for many. A job loss or loss of hours means other things become priority and reporting a change might be the last thing on the mind if the person. | I can see this being a hardship to a family with no transportation or no aid for childcare. I believe that working to help cover your own costs is a noble idea, but there are so many deterrents for the impoverished to get ahead. They need other supports to get them where the government wants them to be. It sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul. |
141 | Medicaid helps people that are struggling to take care of themselves BUT it is highly abused by some that live off the system and don't strive to become independent. | Lose money | Income status does not change. But for those whose does change, illiteracy, lack of transportation, even lack of postage money would unfairly affect them. | I can't afford gas to volunteer, plus I have medical problems & can'y work. |
142 | Medicaid in the state of Kentucky, one of the most impoverished states, is not a "benefit", but a necessity. Health care should not be a "privilege" that is "earned" through a "rewards program." Our governor claims he is a Christian man, and the definition of christianity is helping others who can not help themselves. | Maintain existing health services. Enabled addicted persons to recover. | Income varies but usually below minimums...it would make things more complex | I can't cause I raise my kids have no one to keep them |
143 | Medicaid insured me after I was laid off and has given me a great sense of safety. Being insured by the state without hassle or demeaning requirements like job training (I am highly trained, and found myself unemployed due to no fault of my own) has increased my appreciation for Kentucky and makes me feel more invested. | Many in our our community will choose not to even enroll in Medicaid despite being eligible due to having to earn points or jump through all the hoops! | It changes a lot due to job loss because I have a disabled child and a terminally ill mother. | I can't do volunteer work because of my back injury. |
144 | Medicaid is a safety net for vulnerable populations. The community also benefits when low-income individuals are able to access primary and preventive care. | Many Kentuckians will lose coverage or find coverage out of their financial reach with the proposed new changes. We must have a non-punitive system for providing needed health care coverage. | It changes a lot due to job loss because I have a disabled child and a terminally ill mother. | I cannot work retail because of my back, but I can't qualify for disability. Some jobs I physically can't do. What counts as community engagement? Who decides! I work 27 hours a week; am I supposed to "volunteer" an additional 20 on top of that? Volunteering won't put bread on my table or gas in my car. |
145 | Medicaid makes it possible for me to manage my unseen disability and continue to work, even if work doesn't include health benefits. | Many of the proposed changes would increase the poverty many Medicaid recipients suffer. Requiring people to work who are able is good, but won't work for physically or mentally disabled people the same way it would work for healthier adults. Developing jobs they can do will be difficult, requiring both training and flexibility. If a recipient/worker has a bad pain day or his/her mental illness is overwhelming, there needs to be a way to deal with it. My daughter might have 2 or 3 hours a day to do phone or computer work, but some days are much worse, and she would be unable to work at all some days. | It could in the future | I cared for my Mom and had to get her regularly approved for Medicaid for her Nursing home care before she passed away. It was overwhelming, stressful and frightening. Please do not make it more difficult for anyone already in the most difficult times of their lives. |
146 | Medicaid provided essential coverage for a dear friend who went through an unanticipated divorce that included a criminal trial. | Many of us would become disabled or die. If this plan goes through, it'll be terrible for KY! | It does change a lot but not more than the requirement | I could not do it. |
147 | Medicaid provides essential health coverage to those in my community who are struggling. | Many people in my neighborhood could not afford fees or co-pays. They would not be as healthy or productive | It does not | I could not have done any more than I was doing; raising family, working full time and going to school full time. |
148 | Medicaid saves lives. | Many people will not get their basic health needs met. | It does not affect me directly, but it does put a burden on those least able to live with it, diminishes their access to proper care and negatively impacts our community as a whole by forcing people off Medicaid and into indigent free care situations which well all pay for through cost shifting. These changes are unnecessary and an onerous burden. | I currently work 3 jobs how would I do that? |
149 | Medicaid waiver | Many work more than one job and still have trouble making ends meet. Requiring people to spend money they don't have or give time they don't have to manage needlessly complicated system will result in people falling out of coverage, delaying care and becoming sick. These proposed changes will add to the viscous cycle of poverty and will not help people. | It does not but I worry about my job being eliminated and that would put me squarely in the sights of these changes. | I currently work 32 hours a week |
150 | Medical coverage, affordable prescriptions, wisdom teeth removal, preventative care. | Medicaid is part of the crucial safety net which members of our community both need and require to ensure their continued participation in society. Insurance coverage (and Medicaid is INSURANCE) should be a guaranteed right in our state and nation. The proposed changes seek to take away this right and place our most vulnerable citizens at risk (not to mention our tax dollars being used for more expensive emergency and public safety services instead of insuring maintenance/treatment). | It does not, but someone who works on tips.. They can have a bad week, then a good week, followed by two bad weeks. It needs to remain a bottom line situation. | I currently work 40 hours per week so this would not affect me |
151 | Medical needs that where needing attention where addressed | Medicaid is the most vital program in our Commonwealth. Wellness matters and poor or medically fragile residents deserve affordable health care. This is one of the few programs that I find worthwhile | It does not, in my case. Why do we want to penalize people for working hard? Over a longer time frame, 6 mos, maybe. Where's the research? | I currently work part time so it would not effect me. |
152 | Methadone needs to be coveredas treatment option for who have herion addiction. Ky does have a epidemic ppl fighting it need every tool availiable to combat this. | Members of my community who are already vulnerable economically and medically would struggle more to maintain their basic health, and would ultimately wind up getting sicker than they would otherwise. | It does not. But all the things are so confusing it would be really easy to miss a ten day window. | i disagree with this |
153 | More access to healthcare services improves overall health | Mine and their current health would suffer | It does. It affect me personally, but as someone who has worked in social work in the past in poverty stricken areas, I know that many of those folks are not in a position to meet this requirement. It puts an unnecessary burden on them. | I do not have 20 extra hours per week to commit to extra work. I also think this is a ridiculous ask for people on Medicaid, considering these are people below the poverty level. |
154 | More community members able to benefit from preventive health care, meaning fewer long term, catastrophic costs down the road. | More people in our community would lose health care and go back to using the ER for all medical needs. | It doesn't change enough to affect us | I do not know if I would fall under the medically frail category. I currently am very ill. I faint and have seizures regularly. |
155 | More jobs in the medical profession and in transportation field. More money into our local economy. | Most of my response to this is tied in above - the financial hardships on those who can't work/volunteer - or who have extenuating medical conditions such as on dialysis waiting for a kidney - that now takes 3-5 years instead of the original 18 months - for someone who does not even have diabetes, but has a congenital disease that has cause kidney function below 5% - they could never afford paying into a program let alone cover their medical treatment. Also, young adults in jobs - if they were required to take the medical insurance provided by employers - would not have enough take home pay to cover housing, food, etc., let alone the deductibles/co-pays in those plans should they suffer a serious medical emergency. | It doesn't change regularly but the 19 day threshold is hard to meet when you are the only adult doing this forbyour kids on top of working and doing everything else life requires us to do. | I do work, but as a substitute teacher. So me being able to work depends on the jobs available and when school is out for holidays and breaks, I don't work and don't get paid. So this would be difficult at times. |
156 | More people are covered, hence, more people get health care...which is a right. | Most of the expansion is the working poor. Basic Dental and vision are important to keeping these people employed. How do you work when you cannot see, how do you work with 3 to 10 abscessed teeth. How does an individual smile at a job interview with blackened teeth. This population does not need routine dental cleanings but for years were strapped between raising a family and 4 dollar a gallon milk for the kids or trying to muster up the money for an extraction. When the expansion hit, they could eliminate a lot of their unhealthiness and they have done so, to dangle the carrot and take it away is not only wrong but cruel treatment. You don't do that to inmates! | It doesn't change regularly. But starting a new job is stressful and it's very easy to forget about changing insurance in the midst of all that. Especially if you have to move. Reporting changes in that small amount of time is ridiculous. | I don't believe that the state has the best interests of Kentuckyans at heart. |
157 | More people have had access to medical coverage, mostly being ones who normally would not have coverage. | Most people would state they could not do it but they have money for everything else. | It doesn't change regularly. However, when it does change there is typically a lot going on in life and getting something reported in 10 days could be easily overlooked. | I don't fall under any of the reasons to not have to do community involvement, but I had a shoulder replacement that went wrong and it has taken me 2 years to get Drs to listen too me. After I swelled up severely now the Drs want to listen and figure out my problem . Even when I couldn't do physical therapy and the therapists said I have a severe probable with my replacement the Drs wouldn't listen. |
158 | My 27 year old son requires IVIG infusions once a month which cost more than $25000 a month. If he is not covered by Medicaid then he will not be able to get the infusions. If he is unable to get his infusions for his CVID (common variable immune deficiency) he is subject to infections like the sinusitis he had in 2012-13 that led to two abscesses on his brain that led to two emergency surgeries and the replacement of part of his diseased skull. | My 2 children could not afford copays or premiums. | It has before and could change again. | I don't have anyone to watch my children. I volunteer with my church group and local food pantry enough as is with no benefits from it. I'm not going to go do meaningless work and pay for child care when I could just go out and get a second job that would actually pay me to do work and spend time away from my children and the job i already have that doesn't pay a living wage. |
159 | My 28-year old son has a 22-year documented history of severe mental illness -- a brain disease that manifest with psychosis, delusions (false beliefs), anxiety, mania, paranoia, etc. He does not have insight to his symptoms which makes treatment and access to any type of health care very challenging. He is too high functioning for us or anyone to obtain guardianship to help him make better medical decisions, but lacks the ability to follow through, read his mail, return important paper work to Social Security, or even pay co-pays it that was required. If KY must change requirements, then it should be based on that person's abilities ... NOT a "once-size-fits-all" rewards/punishment method. I understand why Governor Bevin is attempting to make changes and don't disagree with all the proposed changes for some who are receiving Medicaid. However, I strongly believe that those with severe mental/development diagnoses need to be carved-out. It is challenging enough already for my son to access health care. The only times he receives any services, (treatment or health care) is when his symptoms become so extreme ... that he becomes a danger to himself or others ... and he finally agrees to a brief 60-day community based outpatient agreed order. He has rights to agree to this instead of inpatient ... in order to be released from a state psychiatric hospital. So basically, we must push him off the cliff, force him to "act out" from either hunger or desperation, when his illness is at it's worse! If families were forced to do this with other brain diseases, we would be arrested, but in the case of severe mental illnesses, it has become the norm to force families to do the unthinkable. This lack of treatment is destroying my son's brain with irreversible brain damage, yet another issue that most don't understand. The entire process is expensive, inhumane and if KY was pass "Tim's Law"; people like my son could reclaim their lives and become productive citizens, not trapped in the costly revolving door. In addition, my son has only seen a dentist 2 times in the past 10 years. (We paid for those visits out of pocket.) | My children have CareSource as well, as their father was asked to take early retirement earlier this year. My 23-year old has a heart condition and simply cannot go without coverage. My father passed away last year, and my mother is three years out from a terminal cancer diagnosis that gave her three months. They were paying my copays and covering my prescription costs (and I still need my mother to drive me to my appointments) and financially she could not do that now. | It is extremely difficult to navigate the Medicaid system. I support the need to make people responsible for providing updated information in a timely manner, however I think a forced lockout of coverage would be catastrophic to some people who have difficulty navigating the system for whatever reason. I think a better approach would be to make it easier to navigate online to report changes, as well as by phone or in person. I absolutely agree providing false information should be punished after investigation, but I would provide more time to people to provide updated info (30-60 days) before locking out coverage. | I don't know. I work temp jobs, but those don't last full year. Would I end up juggling an income-paying position with some sort of volunteer work? Would volunteer organizers want to not use me because of my constant "on-off" income work? Would there be so many people fighting for volunteer jobs that some of us get left out and fall prey to this requirement? Maybe volunteer organizers will get burned by some "bad" volunteers, making it difficult for the rest of us. |
160 | My adopted son has medicaid and needs it. Otherwise, we couldn't afford health insurance for him. | My community would be greatly affected because of the numbers that now have coverage. | It is hard to prove an income change in a ten day period since most people get their wages every two weeks and in most cases if you start a job you do not get wages until three weeks. | I don't see how we have enough jobs in Kentucky or volunteer placements to give all of these folks 20 hours/week! It seems to me that if we had that many jobs lying around, we wouldn't need the Medicaid waiver! |
161 | My adult daughter has always fallen into the category of the working poor. She is a hard worker but even working fulltime has meant a struggle for her. The jobs she has had do not offer insurance. She often neglected and avoided dealing with her own health issues even at clinics because it meant more bills. Thank God for the National Healthcare Act and the Medicaid expansion in KY. She is now eligible for healthcare as every American should be in such a blessed nation. | My community would be worse. | It is hard to prove an income change in a ten day period since most people get their wages every two weeks and in most cases if you start a job you do not get wages until three weeks. | I don't think it would as my husband and I both work 40 hours/week. |
162 | My adult son suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and a host of other injuries from an automobile accident in which he was the passenger. The driver had no car insurance and without medicaid, my son could have died or not have healed as well as he has. | My daughter would be hurt financial with her child being on Mediaid. | It should be reported within ten days, but if it is not, they should not penalized for 6 months! | I don't think it would impact me personally; I do think it would be foolish to try to implement this without good, concrete opportunities in place for these people to participate in; issues such as transportation and limiting one's ability to pursue other career or job opportunities would need to be considered; I honestly don't think that health care should EVER be tied to employment and is a basic human right |
163 | My adult son who works at a minimum wage job has been able to get preventive health care services including teeth cleanings because of Medicaid expansion. | My daughter, who has high functioning autism wouldn't be able to see a dentist, or any other medical staff, period. And I know many others in the same boat. | It takes more than 10 days to get pay stubs or time off to get the paperwork to the office. | I don't think that it is realistic to expect instant 20 hr. positions to even be obtainable. Another catch 22. |
164 | My boyfriend was able to access treatment to get a stomach problem addressed enabling him to go back to work full time My SIL had gastric bypass leading to 100lbs lost and counting and overall better help and the ability to get a better paying job and get off of medicaid My Father had knee replacement eliminating pain and enabling him to work longer hours I was able to have wellness checks that discovered abnormalities in my papsmear and i was able to get those biopsied and removed to prevent cervical cancer. | My family and I would not be able to receive the help that we do if these changes were to go into affect. | It will give someone the power to determine coverage. | I don't think this is a bad idea if you are ablebodied. |
165 | My boyfriend's private insurance was discontinued after a cycling accident. Since he does contract work, he does not have an employer-sponsored option. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with cancer and could not pick up contract work while he was hospitalized (resulting in zero income). Luckily, he was able to enroll in Medicaid expansion and receive the care he needs. His prognosis is great, and he will return to productively contributing to the community as soon as he is able. In the meantime, Medicaid expansion has saved his life. | My family members health would deteriorate rapidly and they would not be able to function as well as they do now without Medicaid. For the community in general many would not even be able to go to a doctor, eye doctor or dentist without Medicaid, or be able to afford medications. As a result they would have such poor health that they would have difficulty caring for their children, and holding a job would be impossible. | It won't if that's the law either obey or suffer the consequences | I don't think you understand what it's like to be poor. Many people are working 40+ hours at minimum wage jobs and still remain below the poverty level. These people DO NOT have an extra 20 hours per week to volunteer! This requirement would mean they would forfeit the healthcare needed for themselves and their children so they don't lose their jobs and their homes. |
166 | My children are enrolled in KCHIP | My father in law wouldn't have enough money to live month to month if Medicaid started forcing him to co-pay in any way. He also would no be able to get to his appointments due to a lack of transportation since he can't physically dirve. | It would add paperwork. | I doubt my 96 year old, wheelchair bound mother, who only weighs 80 pounds, would be able to do ANY work. |
167 | My children have been able to see the appropriate mental health doctors needed, as well as myself I have been able to get get my health in control | My father is stubborn and like a lot of men he is scared of change. Im afraid if the laws change again he will just give up. kyknect is a lifesaver. I don't think folks should have to jump through hoops to receive healthcare. Folks with mental disabilities or little experience online shouldn't suffer. The changes Bevin has requested would be a death sentence for many folks. | It would affect my family and friends. 10 days is not enough time. Other life changes are going on and this could easily be missed. This is just another way to punish people for life events they cannot control. | I FEEL EVERYONE SHOULD EARN THEIR WAY, UNLESS YOU ARE MEDICALLY DISABLE. SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE STAYING AT HOME LIVING OFF THE GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS THAT ARE WORKING.WHEN THE WORKING CLASS GETS TO THE POINT OF RETIREMENT, THERE WILL BE NO FUNDS TO SUPPORT THEM. WHY IS THE MEDICAID SYSTEM PAYING FOR WOMEN THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE CHILDREN THEY CAN;T AFFORD THEM. THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT ON THE FUNDS FOR MATURNITY WOMEN. IT SADDENS ME TO SEE SOMEONE IN THE GROCERY LANE PAYING WITH FOOD STAMPS, WITH A CELL PHONE IN ONE HAND AND ACRYLIC NAILS FROM THE BEAUTY SALON ON BOTH HANDS. OH DON'T FORGET THEY ARE BUYING Cigarettes AS WELL. ***MOST IMPORTANTLY LETS DRUG TEST ALL ON MEDICAID SERVICES**** |
168 | My children were able to get coverage through medicaid for two years previously, when we would not have been able to afford it otherwise. | My grandchildre won't get to go to doctor if a co-pay is initiated or coverage duscontinued. | It would be a mess | I have a chrinic condition plus 2 children. Inalready work 50-60 hours and have no idea how i can add 20 more hours in and still care for myself and family without deiving myself into complete exhaustion. Wages are not fair and the assumption that I am lazy because I work in social services,which does not pay a living wage or have good benefits, is an insult. Double ounishment for the working poor who are not cutthroat capitalists. |
169 | My church has a community assistance program operating on our premises. The director there says that desperately trying to find medical care for low-income folks has virtually disappeared since passage and implementation of KYNECT. | My grandson also has a learning disability/ADHD. He was able to apply for Passport himself and keep it updated. He does not do well in being an advocate for himself in person, but can do the simple process to receive benefits the way it is now. However, making changes in something that already works with him will confuse him and anything more complicated in following all the different branches of the new way will possibly discourage him from receiving any more medication. I am disheartened and sick to think that he finally received help and it may be yanked away from him. | It would be difficult for some with lack of transportation, telephone or internet services to comply causing extreme hardship. | I have a huge issue with this component. This is another hoop for people to jump through that accomplishes nothing. How is this verified? What are approved organizations? When I would be in between work and was on medicaid, I would shovel my street during snow storms. Would this count? People are already working to survive. Why should we complicate this my humiliating people that are trying to make a life for themselves by forcing them to work for an organization. This is how I use it Presently this would not effect me personally, but it would affect me professionally. I work for a non profit and having to verify that someone volunteer for me would be a huge hassle and drive up our administrative costs. Please don't do this. |
170 | My community and extended family are healthier, returning to work, improved mental health, have access to medical appointments-staying out of the ER, have access to dental care to address abscessed teeth, have gotten glasses and much more! | My husband and I probably would no longer receive medicaid if these changes took effect. Also, already working full time and having to do community service would have a negative impact on our family. | It would be difficult to go to the office to report the change because of the 4-6 hour wait to see a case worker. I cannot miss this much work. | I have a job where I work 35hrs a week. As a single mother of two small children I could not find child care to do the hours. |
171 | My community benefits when more citizens have health care. | My husband and son's health would be adversely effected and our financial situation would be tenuous. My son's medication without insurance costs several hundred dollars a month. His medication allows him to be successful academically, professionally and socially. Without medication, his seizures are severe and could prevent him from achieving his goals. | It would be hard. It is also practically impossible to enforce. It's stupid to make rules that are ultimately unenforceable. | I have ad advanced degree, and I work full-time. Many Medicaid recipients are working poor, and they do work very hard but not in industries that provide them with insurance. I would be very hard-pressed to meet the "community engagement" requirement. The "My Rewards" program is ridiculous, not to mention fiscally irresponsible. For a tea-party conservative, it is hard to understand how Bevin can justify monitoring the private details of Kentucky's poorest citizens. This would be INTRUSIVE government at its very worst. |
172 | My community benefits when vulnerable members of my society have access to quality medical care when they need it. | My husband would have to pay for 6 people's insurance his whole check would be gone. | It would hurt me | I have been a non profit provider for 30 years in eastern Kentucky and with standards that most not for profits must meet with criminal background checks, transportation issues, child care and there are enough of these types of community providers which will allow folks to have this 20 hour week engagements. |
173 | My company closed in 2008, but I had been unwell and working primarily from home for over a year at that time. I did continue my COBRA plan until it was,exhausted, but eventually I became too ill to work and after exhausting all my savings, losing my house and selling whatever I had of value, I had no access to medical care until I found a health ministry clinic. My condition was very complex, requiring referral to the indigent care program at UK to see specialists in rheumatology, neurology, endocrinology, and orthopedics. This did not cover all costs, including a significant copay for surgeries, copays for what were monthly visits, or any prescriptions. I was forced to depend on my parents for that. Despite all of this, after three years, while the other specialists had treated symptoms, my rheumatologist had failed to diagnose my core condition or refer me to the orthopedist who might have been able to intervene early enough to prevent what has now progressed into a permanent disability that prevents me from walking. Still, until I was able to access CareSource, I had no options. Due to the lack of diagnosis, my SSDI claim was denied. Within a month of having another option I found a rheumatologist who quickly diagnosed my condition as Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder and hypermobility syndrome. I was able to access physical therapy to strengthen and learn to use assistive devices and TENS for pain management. I had developed full osteoporosis (at 45) and was able to begin rebuilding my bone density. I was properly medicated so the lesions on my extremities have been significantly reduced. I have lost a lot of mobility, but it scares me death to consider how much worse things might have gotten had I not been able to seek another opinion. And, as this diagnosis came while the appeals court was reviewing the judge's denial of my SSDI, and they were reviewing the records as they came in, they offered me the unheard of opportunity to file a new claim and date it before my eligibility expired in 2013. I am currently still awaiting my hearing, but I have hope that I might soon become more financially independent if not physically so. My teeth are essentially dissolving due to calcium leaching from my bones, and without access to a dentist to apply a protective coating, I would quickly lose them completely. I have already lost two because crowns are not included in the dental options. My medications require regular eye exams and that is on top of my current need to be fitted for bifocals. It is my hope that I can complete the proposed surgical and bracing plans and then begin pursuing whatever I need to do to begin working again, whether it is teaching online courses, writing, or starting a new business. I could not have gotten to this point (in addition to raising three honor students - one third year law, one first year medical, and one academic-scholarship freshman) had it not been for the ability to get to the right providers and treaments through Medicaid expansion. The thought of losing it terrifies me and threatens to make my plans to pursue a new career path impossible to achieve. | My husbands insurance through is employer is too costly! We considered it until it was going to cost us over 200 a week from his check. We can not pay those premiums & cover everyday household expenses! | It would make it very difficult | I have concerns about who determines what is "able-bodied" and if it is required, then it is not volunteer work. I do not feel that there should be strings attached to medical care. It does not fit with my values. We're supposed to help others because it is the right thing to do. |
174 | My dad had multiple health problems that he had been neglecting to take care of for years because he didn't have health insurance. Since he signed up for Medicaid, he has received treatment for his health problems, which has allowed him to be more physically active, get in better shape physically and lose weight. His blood pressure, which was considered high, has dropped within a healthy range. His mental health has also improved, partly due to increased confidence after receiving dentures through Medicaid. Increased access to health care through Medicaid has completely changed his life for the better. | My income level changed this year when I received a raise at my full time job, so I was bumped out of the Medicaid program and now receive health insurance through the marketplace, subsidized by the government. I pay approx. $40 monthly. Unfortunately this slight change has caused my deductible and monthly payment to be a strain on our budget and it has caused a deficit for me. If Kentucky's expanded medicaid is changed according to the will of Governor Bevin, I know many people who will not only be pushed to the threshold of financial ruin, but will be pushed straight off the cliff with no hope for recovery. I'm not talking about people who receive benefits and don't work; I am speaking of friends and family who work full time jobs, raise children, pay college, car, and home loans. These individuals don't take vacations or shop for new clothes; they don't go out to eat; they don't go to movies and concerts; they follow tight monthly budgets and provide food, shelter, and water the best way they know how. They (we) are the working poor. | It would not affect me--but all this issues are not about me. Put yourself in others' shoes. | I have found that it is hard to even find volunteer work in our community, especially at the 20-hour a week level. Many organizations don't have volunteer coordinators to train and supervise volunteers. I think this might harm Medicaid recipients who are unable to find volunteer work, even if they're very willing to do it. In small towns and rural areas, this may not be a realistic expectation, especially if people do not have their own transportation. |
175 | My daughter & I would not have any health insurance if we did not have Medicaid. I work full time & don't even make enough money to have a place to live. | My mother and father, both in their 60s, would be severely impacted, and their quality of life would sharply decline. | It wouldn't affect me personally but would affect the friends and family above. This seems very hard to manage and expensive to admistrate | I have heard that nonprofits- where the government suggests these people volunteer- do not have staff to keep records of volunteer hours. |
176 | My daughter can't afford to pay hundreds of dollars for insulin prescription. | my mother can't maintain a car, if she doesn't have the medicab she can't get to appointments. if she can't get to appointments she doesn't get medicine. if she doesn't get medicine she goes psychotic, once she goes psychotic she becomes a nuisance in her neighborhood and ends up in jail. once that happens it takes a very long time to get her to accept that she has an illness and has to take medicine. it would really affect the stability of a lot of people, her non-medicaid family members included | It, God willing, affect me or my family since we do not use Medicaid. | I have supervised volunteers in past. It's not easy in some non profit to accommodate volunteers who need orientation, and supervision during their volunteer hours. Ideally, this sounds great. In practice, it would be hard to accommodate all who would need to volunteer. |
177 | My daughter has health care insurance again after many years of going without. She has finally been able to get blood work done and have a mammogram. Her health issues are finally under control with the care she has received under the Medicaid plan. | My mother would have no coverage, and would probably lose her life due to her health issues. Her diabetes is unable to be controlled by simple diet and exercise, and requires medication. This would leave my 14 year old sister in my care, and I would be unable to provide for us, as I do not make enough money at my job. I would lose my insurance, and while I've done without before, and can do so again, I'd really rather not, as I have high blood pressure with numbers so high, it's almost guaranteed I'm at risk for heart issues later. Many people in my community rely on this program for our basic routine care. The system is working as it stands. If a premium is to be required, offer it on a per package basis. For example, offer someone let's say 6 routine office visits per year, $200 prescription drug coverage, 2 dental visits, 1 eye exam, and 1 ER visit @ 10% copay, for let's say a premium of $25 a month or similar. This would cover the basics, and put some money back in the system. Offer different packages with more services for a higher premium, and tailor the packages to fit those who work or have income of some sort. Those that are unable to work, or have fatal issues should qualify to keep the current benefits as they are. | It's already a problem now, this would increase those issue 10 fold. | I just had surgery on my knee and there is no way I can barely get up of a morning. |
178 | My daughter is unable to work and is gravely I'll. Medicaid is saving her life with the hospital treatment she needs. | My mother, with her brain injury, would not have the organizational skills to manage the complex new rules required to keep her Medicaid coverage. | It's difficult to report. I have to find time in my schedule (or day off) to call and the call typically has lasted over an hour to verify information. I just obtained a second job, and picked up freelance to make ends meet. I fear this will negatively impact my health care. | I left my job to be a caregiver for my grandfather. He passed away in May and I am now job hunting. I am considered able bodied but having to take 20 hours out of my week to volunteer would be a huge burden on my ability to seek work during the weekdays. I would have to give up healthcare in order to use my full time job hunting, and that's not right. |
179 | My daughter makes $13.50 per hour and struggles enough to pay day care ( no assistance available for her) and monthly expenses. Adding health care costs to her monthly budget would be a major blow for her family. She works hard to take care of her 2 small children, she shouldn't be penalized for that! | My partner has greatly benefited thus helping to maintain a positively flowing family so that I could continue in school and he could return to work and being a daddy. | Its ridiculous to keep adding requirements and to keep changing whats already in place! Being a single parent is tough enough. Finding work is tough. I already answer to my bills! | I like this |
180 | My daughter receives speech, OT, and behavioral supports through medicaid. My daughter would be unable to speak, hold a pencil, or have learned coping skills on how to deal with triggers that lead to her meltdowns. Medicaid has provided my daughter with resources for autism treatment, without which, I could never afford. These resources enable my child the opportunity to participate in "mainstream" classroom settings and obtain important social skills she will no doubt use as she ventures out into society. | My partner would lose dental and vision coverage, be forced into premiums or co-pays, and would have to do sanctioned volunteer work despite all of the other ways he contributes to our community. | Just because you are "over the poverty level" doesn't mean that every penny you have goes towards something else. Bills, your children, food, childcare, etc. | I listed that above |
181 | My daughter was briefly covered by Medicaid twice. She did use the coverage during those times. Without Medicaid she would have gone without care. She's covered under private insurance now but we can't eliminate that safety net. | My sister would lose coverage and would not be able to stay healthy and would not get preventive care | Let's be fair and do the right thing. The above scenario is perfect example of ridiculous math. | I might no longer be able so I might be penalized, even though I started working when I was 17 year old |
182 | My daughter was unexpectedly born with disabilities. If we hadn't had medicaid she might have died. | My son is a quadriplegic in an electric wheelchair. Since the new Gov. Came in, they discontinue his medical card every 6 weeks! They are hassled to death! He goes to Frazier for rehab everyday and the billing gets all screwed up! Nothing in his situation changes and the local office says they don't know what to do or why it happens. Now they've done away with the caretaker program which they were planning on. Now, someone would have to be hired to cathe, feed, wash him. Wife goes to work and forced to put him on her insurance at work that pays 80/20. He has UTI's due to being cathed. The last UTI put him in the Hospital. For 8 days, it turned into staff. The bill was over 200 thousand dollars. Their part of that bill would have made them lose their house. In planning for his disability (happened in Sept.) they refigured the bathroom to be able to get him in a chair in the shower. With the changes made to the house to accommodate him it wouldn't be feasible to move! They can't lose it. There are 3 kids also, 6,8 & 13. These decisions were made on the programs in place at the time. Now the new Gov. Has thrown everyone to the wolves! You can't plan for anything because no one can tell you what is going on!!! Talk about sleepless nights! His wife use to be a Social Worker and I was also. No one has any answers!!! | Live under too much stress with to much to do already My life cannot be dependent on me living a perfect existence Mistakes cannot be life threatening | I often work over 60 hours a week during the art festival season, but may not be paid for the items I am producing until many months, possibly years, down the road. As someone self-employed, how could my hourly work commitment possibly be verified? |
183 | My daughter would not have any insurance for her or her children because her ex-husband refuses to work, pay child support, or pay for insurance on the children. | My son is currently unemployed, but looking for work. He can't afford the premiums and co-pays and I fear will just forego the care he needs. | Low income workers like him lack private transportation. His record-keeping skills aren't the best. Job changes are disruptive. I think he would be at high risk of lacking a deal-breaker form or whatever, or insufficient time during business hours to take his documents where they were required. His lacks a scanner for online submission. | I personally believe the 20 hour requirement for benifits in general contributes to child abuse numbers in the state. Specifically when you a parent going to school full time which requires 36-48 hours a week of class time and studying to be successful, then volunteering or working 20 hours a week can overwhelm people and honestly limits success. That's just my theory coming from a different state with low child abuse rates and no free labor policy to receive benifits like child care vouchers. |
184 | My daughter, who was working and doing well, was laid off from her job. Meanwhile, she became disabled. It has been five years since she has been able to work, yet because the doctor would not or could not make a diagnosis, she has not received any disability benefits. She has had not one penny income in five years. This made it possible for her to see doctors and now she has a diagnosis. She is hoping to receive disability by next year. I am in my seventies and retired. How could she see a doctor without this coverage? | My son is waiting for his disability hearing. He suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and a host of other injuries. If he loses his medicaid he won't be able to complete his much needed therapy and other required medical treatment. | Majority of workers are now contract or part time with no benefits for healthcare. Homelessness is rising. Minimum wage does not cover basic expenses. | I receive QMB medicaid. |
185 | My ex husband left me and our older children after 27 years of marriage for an employee at his office 15 years younger. We were in the process of adopting a year old child. He specified in the divorce he owed me nothing for the child and wanted nothing to do with him. I am a teacher and because he didn't pay his attorney's fees I have that withheld from my paycheck. If I didn't have Medicaid for my now 6 year old child I could not survive. God is good, all the time. | My state you mean, 400,000+ are on Medicaid here. Proof that it is a necessity that must be sustained and improved on. We need to be working on punishing doctors and dentist's that refuse to network into this program. It's total ridiculous lunacy that if you're from my area, you have to drive an hour and a half to be accepted by an oral surgeon! | Many people's income fluctuates. Requiring this would create hardship for them. | I see people who are seeking work not able to find jobs. I also see very few job training opportunities for Medicaid clients. I have a mentally challenged brother who is on Medicaid and cannot work |
186 | My family and friends have become more stable overall. | Neither one of us would be able to afford to go to thé Dr. | Many things can cause a change in income, 10 days is a very short span of time when/if a person is going through rough life changes or issues that can cause income change. This short amount of time makes it too easy to lapse. | I see this as a prejudice against the poor. It's a way to further pull down the poor in order to give more to the wealthy. The only requirement for medical care is being human. Medical care should be a right for all people regardless of their financial status. |
187 | My family consists of myself and my son. He has always been covered through KCHIP, but when Medicaid coverage was expanded and through other results from the Affordable Care Act, I was able to get preventative help for the first time in a decade. I am now healthier than I have ever been and sleep well at night knowing my son is still covered in case of an emergency. | No insurance coverage. Lack of access to medical and dental services. | Mine does change, I am not on Medicaid. However, I work with individuals who rely on this coverage. Existing paperwork requirements, navigating the system in place is complex and confusing for some people. Requiring additional paperwork/verification on top of already extensive proof will likely cause increased confusion, loss of coverage, increased stress, and hardships on members. | I simply couldn't do it. I have to wear a respirator mask and be prepared for passing out or having a heart attack or stroke at anytime. I have extreme chemical sensitivity and cannot stand up for more than a few minutes. I would be headed to the ER after less than 5 hrs of work a week. It would be extremely dangerous for me. |
188 | My family has been through a great deal in the last few years - due to my son's diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, I have become permanent custodian of my granddaughter. I work for a small non-profit and we are currently laid off, and the expenses related to my son and becoming a parent again have created an incredible financial burden and have taken what savings I had. Without Medicare, we would be without insurance. | Not sure. They already are limited in who takes Medicaid. Don't know what would happen if they had to pay for services they couldn't afford. | Mine does not | I sometimes get under 30 hours a week when business slows down at my place of employment. I would not have the time still to volunteer due to not having available time to do so. My hours at work varies daily. |
189 | My family has not personally benefitted from Medicaid. However, I am very aware that early medical intervention saves lives and money. And lack of insurance blocks access to medical care. | Obviously anytime you decrease access to healthcare you increase health disparities and ultimately it costs more for everyone. | Mine does not but for those whose situations do change regularly just getting an appointment to provide such information is impossible via time requirements. Online access and/or knowledge of how to scan and email documentation is an obstacle. | I support community engagement, with the exception of those who are medically handicapped. |
190 | My family member has autism and would not have health insurance without Medicaid. | Obviously, limiting access to benefits, including vision and dental health, would be detrimental to people's overall health. | Mine does not but my 22 year old son's does constantly. I help folks who live paycheck to paycheck and are one broken down car away from financial disaster. | I support this portion of the legislation. |
191 | My family member has increased piece of mind knowing that an illness will not stand in the way of them being a productive member of society. Bevin's proposed plan makes it even more of an uphill battle for those struggling in our society to just get by. | Only one of my children would now qualify for medicaid coverage (I have a child on the autism spectrum that receives the Michelle P Waiver and continues to qualify through that). Without medicaid as secondary insurance for my other children the co-pays from my primary insurance are difficult to meet especially when multiple children (I have 7) become ill at the same time. | Mine does not change regularly. But for those working minimum wage and throwaway jobs, their statuses do change on a regular basis. This proposed reporting change would create a huge amount of additional headache and paperwork, clogging up the current system and making it even harder for people to get the coverage they need. Please don't do this to them. | I suspect enforcing this rule would cost many more dollars than it would save. |
192 | My family member is disabled and has complex medical needs. Medicaid has assisted with medical appointments, procedures, therapies, and equipment & supplies that keep my family member as healthy as possible and in my home. For ex, Medicaid buys compression hose for legs with blood clots and a stander for my family member to bear weight. This is all stuff I implement at home that helps to keep her out of a hospital or nursing home. The therapies that my family member keeps her able to participate in her care. Without this weekly team work I don't think it would be possible for me to provide home care for her. Medicaid enables my husband and I to be caregivers. Minimizing services reduces our ability to make the states load easier. | Our family will be directly and adversely affected by KY Medicaid changes and barriers proposed by our Governor and we submitted story in this survey, to Commissioner Miller as well as in our the Petition to our Governor asking that he give Kentuckians a Voice and Choice in their Healthcare by holding more Public Hearings in highly affected areas in Kentucky. Our children requalified for the Michelle P. Waiver, but were denied services after we requested to be assigned a new Case Mgr. Losing the Michelle P. Waiver was devastating to our 10yr old daughter who has multiple disabilities, because it left her without Health Insurance and Medical Services, without Intensive Mental Health Services, without Community Supports, increased her Anxiety and Depression resulting in more Emergency Room visits and Hospitalizations, we as parents were left without Respite Care, left with increased medical bills, and more stress on our family. Although I am a certified Teacher who serves our community and state as a church Deaconess, as an Advocate in Community and State Advocacy organizations, and as a Citizen Representative on a state Board, I have had to use Kynect as my source of Health Insurance, because I need to be home and care for my daughter who has been Homebound from school due to her disabilities and to care for my husband who is a US Veteran who had to take an early retirement from Teaching due to his disabilities. I will be the "abled bodied adult" who works hard in a low paying job and who spends most of day caring for my family and serving my community and the state of Kentucky, but will loose dental and vision care and be required to enroll in a training program with students I taught Employment Training to and I'd have to provide additional community service hours when that's what I do already in order to "have more skin in the game" and earn those health services I need. If our Governor Bevins takes away much needed Medical, Dental, Vision, Transportation services, and adds barriers to healthcare, will that be promoting healthy communities, healthy living, save lives, or put Kentuckians at risk for losing our lives? | Mine does not, and it wouldn't affect me negatively. | I suspect enforcing this rule would cost many more dollars than it would save. |
193 | My family members, and most of my hometown in EKY use Medicaid. With KY Connect some people were getting healthcare for the first time. To roll back the program now will definitely have negative health implications for KY's poor. In EKY we need MORE access to health care, dental and vision care- not LESS! | Our local hospital s have done extremely well since they do not have to give so much free/charity care. More people have regular physicians.... | Mine does not, but for some it does and trying to get to the office to submit a change every time it does change Can be very hard especially with children and changing work schedules. | I tend to work 2nd and 3rd shifts (ie 3pm to 11pm or 11pm to 7 am). If I volunteer 20 hours a week on a week I work less than 20hrs, I would need to change my entire sleep schedule for those days, which would affect my performance at work. |
194 | My father was finally diagnosed with high blood pressure, thyroid disorder and diabetes 2. He is getting the treatment he needs and it's helping our family. | Parents like us who are considered "Able Bodied" and who care for children w/disabilities, who work for low wages, and who already faithfully serve in our communities will suffer without all of the Health benefits we need to care for our family and our children w/disabilities (many of whom are on waiting lists for extensive and intensive community based Michelle P. Waiver services) will get even less health coverage and care with the proposed changes in KY Medicaid, leaving us ALL for dead! | Mine does not, but I work with many in the non-profit sector who experience this. Ten days is great if you have nothing else to do, but I remind the panel that to be poor is to be overworked trying to meet everyone's requirements. This is an onerous and unnecessary burden. | I think everyone should have to do some sort of work to qualify for benefits. |
195 | My friend has a disabled son who has the opportunity to work, at his level, through a program. These statutes would cancel his transportation which has already received cuts because of Bad News Bevins. | Paying premiums could be costly. A one dollar premium may have to be paid with a one dollar money order, a stamp and may require a bus ticket to go get it. It seems that processing and collecting those premiums could be expensive as well. Lots of waste and unnecessary expense. | Mine does not, but my clients does. It is extremely difficult to communicate with DCBS, especially for those with limited English proficiency. Especially when someone first starts a job, it is difficult to quickly report these changes. When jobs may be temporary to start, one may be nervous to report a job and lose coverage (thus having to start a difficult and time consuming application process again) for a job that might not even last. | I think helping people gain skills is a great idea as long as the area has programs to support these goals so they are able to fulfill the requirements. |
196 | My friend has gotten hand surgery she needed to correct carpal tunnel syndrome which has previously kept her from using that hand in work and daily life. My community has benefited by receiving necessary and critical health needs in order to raise their current children and keep them in school, get important healthcare to address and control mental health issues, and to become able to do work and community service that they were not able to do without their Medicaid. If you take away Medicaid, then you pull the foundation out from under people who would otherwise be healthy and productive adults and children. | People should be invested in their health. The responsibility shouldn't rest on the shoulders of my working family to take care of someone else's health. | Mine does not. | I think I fall into the " one caregiver " space so I am not sure how it would affect me. The rule is vague enough to not state what it " considers " a caregiver. Under it if I did not qualify as a " caregiver " it would be hard to find twenty hours that works within my schedule which is dictated by my kids needs |
197 | My front teeth had been ruined due to a lack of coverage/dental care. With the expansion I was able to have my teeth repaired. From there I was able to get a job that lifted my family to above the poverty line for the first time in over a decade. | People should have to pay a small premium, work or volunteer, and not use ERs wrongly. | Mine does not. But as a fully employed person with private insurance, i am dealing now with a change due to spouses change of employment. It has taken me hours if paperwork, phone calls, and emails to straighten out a minor paperwork error on my employers part. I can't imagine being uneducated, overworked, underpaid and trying to do this. | I think it it great. They should be a E to mail envelopes |
198 | My grand kids are on medicare | People who are in the most need will walk around sick and in pain and be less able to better their circumstances. | Mine does not. But I can see that it will have an undue burden on others. | I think it may help some people gain skills, but not everyone is employable. |
199 | My grandchildren have been able to get excellent care that they could not previously afford. | People who are now able for the first time to have a primary care doctor rather than wait until the are so sick they have to use the emergency room will once again wait for care until they must use the ER. Removing transportation makes it impossible in some communities for people to access care. Benefits should not have to be earned. Just because someone is poor or disabled does not mean they should receive lower quality and less comprehensive health care | Mine doesn't, but my Dad was doing everything he could to make ends meet during our hard times. This meant that his income was constantly fluctuating. The income requirement would have put a difficult to meet requirement on coverage that we desperately needed at the time. I can envision this hurt the less well educated Kentuckian who are struggling to keep their heads above water. Putting even more bureaucracy between them and the healthcare they need is wrong. | I think it would be good for her to help in an area where she could sit. |
200 | My grandchildren would not have access to medical care or medicine | People who don't make enough or who are disabled need this coverage without co pays. If they can't afford insurance how the world will the majority afford premiums and co pays. I think a price regulation and bringing the cost of healthcare into line would be a great start. I mean get real a Tylenol in the hospital being charged at $50 is crazy. | Mine is stable. But you should have 30 days to report. You also should be penalized for trying to make for money to support yourself | I think it would benefit the patient and the community. HOWEVER there needs to be more jobs and volunteer opportunities in place for this to happen. |
201 | My grandparents would not have been able to afford medical coverage otherwise. | People will die because they won't be able to get the coverage they so desperately need | Mine personally, no; but the income of many of the people I meet in my business, YES! | I think it would just create additional expenses - childcare while they're volunteering/working/getting trained. I think they're wasting our tax dollars to try to punish the poor. |
202 | My grandson is now receiving regular medical care which includes medication for his anxiety disorder, Seven Counties therapy and a psychiatrist. It's not complicated in keeping Medicaid coverage, he is now able to function as a human in society vs a poor relation. I support the government with my taxes. Shouldn't he receive benefit of that like many strangers already do? | People will die when he cuts it bottom line. | More time. 25 days would be better some business will not be able to send varacation by 10 days . Not reasonable. | I think it's a good idea in principal, but what about the people that physically can't do it? |
203 | My husband and I both work full time and still do not make enough money to buy private insurance. We earn so little that we qualify for Medicaid. Without the Medicaid program, we would have no health insurance. | People with severe disabilities will have significant difficulty paying premiums as many live on a minimal income and do not have checking accounts. With no other process to pay the premium they will be required to pay copays that they cannot afford and will stop receiving needed behavioral, medical and dental health care. ER visits will increase creating greater costs for those currently commercially insured. People who cannot access needed health care won't be able to work and support themselves and their families creating more expense in unemployment payments. Nothing positive can come of this. | Most poor people work jobs where hours constantly increase or decrease. That could mean changes that would entail nearly-constant reporting. This is ridiculous! How about reporting changes every three months instead, for everyone on Medicaid? Stop punishing working people! | I think it's an unfair slave labor requirement and although it doesn't directly impact me it's not fair to those it does impact |
204 | My husband and I have three small children. He got cancer a few weeks after we had our last baby. He's 23 years old. He still works and has to go to appointments for blood work and chest scans every few months. We are required to keep the insurance be gets through his job. It's quite costly ($100 per week), has a high deductible, and doesn't cover much at all. Without Medicaid expansion, we wouldn't be able to afford his appointments. We barely bring in enough income to survive and we definitely wouldn't be able to survive without the medical cards for our children as well. | People won't have access to the help they need. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. | Moving, for example, is exhausting already. Why make it harder and more stressful by requiring a change that you could say needed to be reported in 30 days instead of 10. | I think it's okay as long as it doesn't effect the people that are truly unable to meet the requirement |
205 | My husband died in 2009 and was the worker in the family. I was taking care of children and going to college for nursing. When he died I was left without insurance. I have a medical condition that requires daily medication since I was 3 years old. I could not purchase insurance with my pre existing condition until obamacare passed. I was finally eligible for insurance. | People would just go without insurance. Children would not receive the needed medical care. People would die. Do we want people to die because they cannot get medical coverage??? | My disability income only changes when we get an increase! | I think parents have disabled children who have autism or other disabilities should be excluded. We already have numerous therapy weekly as well as doctor appointments |
206 | My husband is à farmer and this as been à God send | Please tell us how some or all of these changes would affect you, your family, or your community. | My employment or income does not change regularly. | I think that it promote more sense of community & accountability. There are a variety of "jobs" & "activities" that can be done. In my experience working with the public, many who can not do much still want and need to be used for the benefit of the good of the community. |
207 | My husband is on disability and we greatly need these benefits to survive | Poor healthcare affects the economy and creates disability where proactive healthcare could have left those individuals I the workforce. Kentucky has consistently ranked at the bottom.when it comes to our citizen's health. We must have Medicaid expansion to help us address this crisis! Don't erase the progress we've made since the ACA was enacted. | My employment status does not change regularly. | I think the ones that are fully capable of working should have to be employed, drug addicts & alcoholics should be offered rehab, but once it is completed they should not qualify for financial assistance, they should get job training instead.. |
208 | My husband is on it after being hurt in an accident and paralyzed | Poor people are already being punished for being poor. This only increases that burden on people who cannot fight back. | My employment status is stable. The point is that if it were not stable, it would be likely that many facets of my life would be unstable, and 10 days is not a long time for someone who has many burdens already. There are plenty of lazy bums and drug addicts (don't we know it) but my neighbors are hard-working citizens who have little wealth, yet they are the primary support for grandchildren. Yhey are not young and not healthy, and to impose more rigid requirements just isn't necessary. | I think this is a good idea |
209 | My medication for my MS is approx $2500 per no. Plus I have 14 other scripts for pain depression focus acid reflux n such all of which would total and additional $1400 I am on disability and I could not come close to paying any of it plus I do have dental work and eye work I've postponed | Poor people die because they cannot afford to care for themselves. | My family's employment status and income does not change often. This would not affect us. That doesn't mean we aren't concerned with those it would affect. | I think this is a good idea in theory but I distrust the motives of the current government to work for the best interest of the poor. |
210 | My mom has Alzheimers. She is in a,Long-term Memory Facility. I couldn't afford to pay for the facility. Without Medicaid. My Mom worked all her life. But can't afford $7000.00 a month without assistance. | Reducing Medicaid coverage would directly affect the health of thousands of Kentuckians. | My hours change a lot. I would literally have to send in my stubs every single week...and what if I fax those stubs over and you do not receive them? How should I know that you received them? It seems like it would put a lot more on your own employees as well. | I think this would be a good motivator for people to give back while receiving coverage |
211 | My mother had Medicaid and was able to be seen by physicians for her illness. I am thankful for the care that she received. | Regressing back to the dark ages is good for no one. | My hours do change some, depending on how busy we are at work, I can be cancelled at any time. | I think you should focus on job training and support programs. Build up people don't try to tear them down. |
212 | My mother has struggled with mental illness for decades and because of the Medicaid expansion, this is the first time she's EVER gotten real mental illness care and therapy. She's finally getting primary care and dental care. She even finally got glasses! (She hasn't been able to drive bc couldn't afford them). After getting her feet under her, she is looking for work so she won't have to rely only on social security check. | Requiring a premium would result in a devastating loss of coverage to many who are struggling to get by each month. That would then lead to more unnecessary ER visits and increased costs for everyone as well as strains on local hospitals. In addition the work requirement would be almost impossible to meet in many areas -especially in rural parts of the state. Local organizations do not have the manpower to supervise volunteers who are there because they are required to be. | My husband is employed only during Spring and Summer and nothing in Fall/Winter | i totally agree wit this. |
213 | My mother is 86 years old, wheelchair-bound, and has mild dementia. I needed to remove her from her home and place her in a skilled-nursing facility because she could no longer live independently, take care of chores, pay bills, or even dial out for help. Medicaid coverage saved her life. I am able to handle all her medical expenses and needs, visit her multiple times a week, and ensure that she is safe and receives good, appropriate medical attention. I am deeply thankful for Medicaid coverage. | Save the state money | My husband is self employed and his income never goes up it has gone down in recent years as his in his early 60s and can only do 40 hours a week now. It's too soon for him to draw social security because it will be more if he can make it to age 66. It's been a struggle because I can no longer work outside of the home and limited housework but have time to keep up with household and self employment records. It would be difficult to call every 10 day as my husbands income decreases throughout the colder months as he has a little lawn service. He is his only employee other than paper work I keep up with at home. We never set up a LLC and we have not added me as an employee. Our situation is not much different than what farmers go through. It's terrifying to have to worry about healthcare and jumping through hoops to maintain it. Not everyone can fit into this 10 day time frame such as small business people farmers and other self contractors who have to go by the yearly income not even every month much less than every 10 days! Sometimes it's zero dollars in a 10 day period. Everyone is a unique case and assuming that everyone punchs a time clock is futile. Unfortunately our income will never go higher than it is today. It decreases. My husbands work is very physical and he's 62. He physically can't work more than he is currently doing. | I understand the thought process, but I'm tired of this weird give and take process, by which people can only get what they need if they jump through a million hoops. 20 hours is, frankly, a large commitment, especially if it includes people already working 30 hours, full-time students, and primary caregivers. I think the "welfare queen" idea is a myth; while there are always going to be people who abuse the system, I think they are few and far between. People shouldn't have to sacrifice so much time just to be able to see a doctor. Plus, if they are working 30 hours a week and then have to volunteer for 20 hours a week, when are they going to see a doctor in the first place? |
214 | My Mother is a widow and a Alzheimer victim. She could not have her care and housing in a nursing home without her Mediaid. Please DO NOT change the program. | See above. More sick people, untreated mental illness and children missing school. These people are out neighbors and they deserve t be treated with dignity. | My husband owns a small business and I am a part time employee at a non-profit. My husband's business is seasonal so he works in the spring/summer/early fall but not in winter. | I understand where this is coming from. But holding what is supposed to be a right if citizens hostage for medicaid is manipulative. There is potential for the volunteer work to cut into times when this "able-bodied" adult could be scheduling interviews or doing things to attempt to better themselves. |
215 | My mother is disabled and unable to work... when she had a horrible fall two years ago that crushed her ankle and damaged her spine, Medicaid made sure she got the care she needed. Putting all of these conditions on the program would create a chilling effect and would, I believe, more costly in the long-run. | Several members of my family work in the medical community and see the daily abuse of medicaid because enrollees have no skin in the game. My immediate family has private insurance and the copays/deductables highly discourage abuse of the system. | My husband owns his own business. This would destroy us. | I use to volunteer but my oldest has graduated from school and is 24/7 care |
216 | My mother owes her life to the retroactive Medicaid coverage she began receiving after she had a catastrophic brain aneurysm at the age of 44. | So many people I can think of wouldn't be able to do all of that or get to the doctor at all. | My husband works hourly and his income can change from week to week. | I usually start working on my farm sales by the time the required "community engagement" would be required and would confuse the system with the shift of work. |
217 | My Mother would die without her Medicaid coverage. She developed shingles while caring for her mother and her ejection fraction fell to 10%. She worked, paid taxes, rarely received child support and raised three children without any assistance. After her heart failed, she needed the Medicaid program. | So much of this is not a cost savings and will ultimately cost more as Kentuckians become less healthy and have less access to care. | My husband works on salary. It's always changing. | I was under the impression most Medicaid recipients who can work already do when they can find employment. How is the State going to address not being able to find work? |
218 | My niece takes advantage of every govt subsidy available. Does not work | Social security disablilty is rejected for to many people that should have already been approved & those people could get get coverage under changes without working, which they can not do without making themselves worse health wise | My husband's employment status does not change. But his inco sometimes does; he is self employed. He is a CPA, CFM, CMA. | I wonder how it will effect people like my comedian friend in a wheelchair. She has severe developmental issues, and cannot really do much. As a matter of fact, she needs medical assistance just to function each day. |
219 | My nieces and nephews are attended community colleges and trade schools, and work jobs without health benefits. Thanks to Medicaid expansion they have had no gaps in coverage, access to preventive services, and peace of mind. | Some of the changes, such as eliminating vision and dental, would not be in the best interest of some of the lower income families. Dental, especially, is very expensive and lower income adult families and elderly persons on fixed incomes would not be able to afford these services without medicaid coverage. | My husband's employment status does not change. But his inco sometimes does; he is self employed. He is a CPA, CFM, CMA. | I wonder how the "volunteer/work" would be supervised--as a pastor of a church, I am not qualified or able to do it. |
220 | My parents farmed all their life and Selene only on their social security benefits to survive. With part B they have to pay 20% of each bill or visit but because they worked their entire life for their home they don't qualify for any other assistance. It sucks to have to decide to buy insulin or groceries They earn between them $1100 per month and their meds run over $600!per month until they hit the donut hole then it almost doubles. | some of these changes would trap working poor and sick poor. this eventually costs the state more than keeping people healthy. | My husband's income fluctuates weekly. Sometimes he gets paid for sales and that will put us over the income limit. Every week I would have to report a different amount. Its never usually the same | I work 2 jobs just to make ends meet. I'm not a deadbeat. I don't need to earn the right to insure my child. |
221 | My parents get services they normally wouldn't be able to afford. | Some people would not make their payments and then risk missing put on necessary medical care. | My husband's work load changes often. Would we have to update our status constantly? This sounds like an undue burden. | I work 20 or more hours a week already |
222 | My partner was out of work and got double hernias. Medicaid made it possible for him to get surgery and return back to work | Some wouldn't be able afford it | My income and employment do not change regularly; for that, I am grateful. That is not true for many people in our community. I have a good income; I cannot imagine living from paycheck to paycheck and having to worry about all the things that would be imposed upon them within a 10 day period. How would we regulate that, anyway? | I work 37.5 hours weekly |
223 | My sister has had severe mental health issues for decades, was 450lb. Has been on Medicaid for decades, living off $630 a month, barely surviving. She has used transportation, wheels, and bus, to get to countless number of therapists, physicians. Thank God, she is finally better! Working her way off Medicaid! She has lost 250 lb and looking for a job! She has a bachelors degree in social work, and an excellent teacher of reading pre-schoolers. She needs a job! Not her benefits cut! | Stop abuse of benefits | My income and employment status does not change regularly. | I work a full time job and am a single mother. I dont have time for more. |
224 | My sister receives transportation to see a special medical doctor that is located 40 miles from our hometown. She only has one kidney and has been a dialysis patient for about 10 years. | Taking away transportation would prevent my family member from making it to some appointments | My income and household status does not change often. | I work a full time job and my husband is a full time nursing student so this will not affect me and my family. |
225 | My som has 4 kids, He can't afford insurznce thru his place of employment. My babies need to be znlebto Go to doc. One suffers from asthma. Without this, he would have already died. | Taking people's insurance away from them is wrong!! | My income changes from month month . | I work at least 20 hours a week. I think should be required to show effort that they're trying to work |
226 | My son and grandsons receive Medicaid health insurance. | Tax payers are burdened enough and requiring working helps both those on Medicaid and the economy | My income changes monthly and is seasonal/holiday based. I would have to be reporting changes almost every month...clogging the wheels of progress. | I work for a non profit ( that can't afford to pay me a living wage) so I already work to serve my community. Enforcing volunteer hours assumes that poor people have the time and means to volunteer. This requirement is a rich persons perspective on how a poor person lives- WHACK. |
227 | My son has autism and I have been unable to work due to the severity of his disability. Having insurance has been a godsend. | The changes proposed in the 1115 waiver would leave us with mounting physical and emotional burdens as well as a bureaucratic burden and financial burden that we are not able to meet. We cannot foresee continued care access or health improvements from a program that will exclude so many Kentuckians, making the risk of infection in public places higher, the dental and visual health lower. It is an absolute fact that therapy and dental care are barely accessible now and in part this is due to the lack of coverage making practices unsustainable financially. As it stands, nearly every practitioner we see for covered services is writing off more than half of the costs of our care. I cannot access eyeglasses or repair a tooth damaged by a dentist using low cost materials to try to meet coverage limits with substandard reimbursements. We need to expand coverage, raise reimbursements to market levels and open NEMT to on-call pn demand service. We need to expand in-network coverage so that Kentuckians can access timely care and prevent ER visits. We need to look to the future of our state and recognize that many, many adults have never had coverage, and have much greater medical and dental needs as a result. We must acknolwedge that therapy is essential to prevention of permanent disability and that this has both financial and human costs for our state. Lastly, while this plan is proposed as financially neutral, in just a few years for the state, it will be anything but. Moving funds from care to administration while eliminating care will leave Kentucky with higher medical costs, less employable citizens, fewer medical, dental and therapeutic practices and higher rates of disability. Medical concerns lower Kentuckian's ability to participate in work, school, community and civic life. Those who push through untreated and undiagnosed illnesses will be a risk to all of us as we come in contact with them in the community. People will be blind and lose teeth at a higher rate and their conditions while treatable early, will become untreatable. Due to the unfavorable conditions for medical practice, the quality of practitioners will decline as only the least employable physicians, dentists, optometrists and therapists will agree to work here. Medical errors and missed diagnoses will increase. We can afford to invest in Kentuckians. We can't afford this 1115 waiver. | my income changes weekly due to the fact that I work sometimes only 5 hours a week and sometimes 15, it's not easy to remember to report changes within 10 days! | I work full time for a company that is tax exempt, my daughter is a full time student, and my son is a high schooler with autism. None of these changes effects us. |
228 | My son has been recently diagnosed as epileptic. The insurance premiums through my job are so high that I wouldn't have a paycheck. Without Medicaid we wouldn't have been able to afford my son's medical tests, hospital stays, or medication. | The changes proposed simply put poor people into situation of not getting preventive or early intervention care. Problems worsen and families are decimated. The state is hurt by high hospital bills or unmet financial obligations. How is this supportable? | My income didn't change much since 1979, and I just retired. | I work that much anyway. And STILL didn't make enough to be off Medicaid. |
229 | My son has catastrophic coverage due to Medicaid. He has mental health issues and has difficulty finding employment. | The changes would be a burden on my family member. | My income does fluctuate quite a bit, but I do not qualify for Medicaid, so this would not affect me personally. | I work too much as is, and cannot afford childcare. |
230 | My son has health care coverage for the first time since becoming an adult. He has been able to see a counselor which is really critical to getting him healthy. | The children my kids go to school with would be affected which concerns me. Many would not be able to maintain their Medicaid coverage so would begin using ER as their primary care which would drive healthcare costs up for all. | My income does have some changes and this requirement would be burdensome along being somewhat arbitrary and capricious. | I work, but most weeks, I do not get 30 hours a week. I already volunteer 3 hours per week on my day off, but unless you count teaching children's classes at church or something like that, I don't work or volunteer on another day off, the Sabbath. |
231 | My son in law is working at a place that is not required to provide health insurance, the insurance at the marketplace takes a huge hunk of his salary with few benefits. The dental and visual care is an essential service for all in our community for their systemic health and to help them in school and workforce. | The cost of medicine can be prohibitively expensive without substantial assistance. Changing the Medicaid program in Kentucky would negatively impact people's ability to pay for necessary medication. | My income does not change as I am retired. However if I were working 3 jobs and living "day to day" it could be very difficult. | I work, but there have been times when I couldn't find a job despite applying for dozens. My experience is NOT unique. |
232 | My son who could not otherwise afford to get glasses was able to get them. My daughter who is a medical student is able to get coverage. | The dental coverage is much needed and the poverty area that we live in would prevent patients from obtaining care that they would need. | My income does not change radically. | I work! Let them pull their share |
233 | My son would not be alive today if not for Obama Care. He had no job, not able to work, no insurance. Last job went out of business. | The dropping of dental and vision is particularly upsetting. These are expensive health needs. | My income does not change regularly and I make more than the qualifying incomes listed here. | I would absolutely try my very best to do that. |
234 | My twin sisters are have been deemed Disable from SSI and receive SSDI benefits. This coverage has allowed for them to receive health care that they do not have access too. Their employers do not provide benefits. | The elderly, children and pregnant women need affordable medical care | My income does not change regularly but giving someone 10 days to report is outrageous. 30 days should be plenty of time. | I would be create more hardship. I currently do not have an extra 20hrs/week to spare. And I would imagine this is true for other low-income applicants. I think this requirement makes problematic assumptions about the amount of time people needing medicaid have, and what they should be doing with their time. Healthcare is a human right. No one should have to prove their worthiness. |
235 | My Wife is able to afford the prescriptions she needs to survive because of medicaid. Without it, we would be paying for medication and not eating. | The health concerns that I was able to take care are also concerns that has me on medical leave. My income is not supplemented and I can not afford co-pays and being expended for coverage. I would have to work to pay my coverage and go against doctors orders. I don't know when I will be released to work. | My income does not change regularly; however I could see how having to report a change within 10 days could be difficult. Clients now have to walk in to the office and are not able to make appointments. Some days they are waiting for hours. If they have just started a job they may be unable to take leave to do this. The phone number is available but clients also wait for quite some time on hold and are often given wrong information. This is a burdensome change. | I would be unable to pay for childcare. |
236 | My work did not offer any health benefits and being a single parent with one income I was unable to afford health insurance. I was able to get Medicaid due to income and it helped me to be able to afford to go to the doctor and deal with my medical concerns that I was having. I don't have to worry about neglecting my health. I am the only parent for my two kids and I can now be healthier for them. | The job and volunteer requirements could not be fulfilled because of lack of a car and also public transportation and the fact that there are very limited job opportunities in some of the areas where my family live. Some of us, because of lack of education, really could not manage the 3 separate accounts. It is all just too confusing and so much red tape. | My income does not change regularly. | I would expend my time resources on volunteering instead of finding a job. Also, as a volunteer coordinator at my previous job, I can attest to placements being hard to find and 20 hours being a burden on organizations. Fewer hours (like 20 a month) would make more sense for participants AND nonprofits. |
237 | Myself and my children are able to see a doctor when needed, including my 3 year old son's cardiologist (my son has down syndrome) whenever we need to. If we did not have Medicaid, we'd be unable to get care, as we would not be able to afford it. I am unemployed and their father is a full time student. | The mental health community would suffer greatly if their benefits were reduced. It's hard enough to get mentally unstable folks to seek help in the first place, making it harder for them is not helping matters. | My income does not change. However, many of my patients and their families are able to work periodically and may earn more than $640 for a few two-week periods a year. However, this may be all they work in the entire year. | I would have to find a way to pay for childcare and be away from my children who need me, one of which breast feeds. |
238 | Myself and my partner are able to go see a professional psychiatrist bi weekly to function in this society. Living below poverty line is a full time job, and mental health accountability has greatly helped our family survive and remain compassionate members of our community. We also can see a doctor if we are sick, without the expenses risking our rent money. | The proposed changes will make it more difficult for low-income individuals, who already struggle with many barriers, to access healthcare. It is likely that adding more hoops to the process of accessing medical care will result in less utilization of healthcare services for prevention and timely treatment. This will be costly for those individuals and for the community. | My income does not regularly change. | I would like to hear more about this requirement, how many would be impacted here. It sounds good in theory but I don't believe it to be possible in many cases. I also believe it will be found that many Medicaid recipients already work at minimum wage jobs and many others would be exempt. It sounds as if this rule is toward the disabled. |
239 | Neighbors have received tx long delayed. Has assisted refugees in resettlement. | The proposed changes would leave many people I know uncovered or with much worse coverage. | My income doesn't change as I'm physically unable to work even part-time. | I would need more information before I could support this. What of a person who is actively seeking employment but has yet to find a job. Job hunting itself can be a full time job. My husband became unemployed. Even with two Masters it took him 4 months to find a job, networking, interviewing, sending resumes every day. While we were able to survive on unemployment and my salary, I saw how time consuming job hunting really is. |
240 | Non-emergency ER use is already down. People are able to get preventative treatments which will eventually save taxpayers billions. And people are able to get coverage when their employer's insurance in unaffordable. | The proposed changes would lock people out of care. For vulnerable people, the changes could put lives at risk. It would make a challenging system even more difficult to navigate. | My income doesn't change often and is not substantial enough to alter my eligibility for coverage. | I would not be able to afford daycare. I would have to have a job that would allow me to take my three year old with me. |
241 | Not dying is beneficial to most people to whom it happens. In Kentucky, if Medicaid were to be cut in this way, it would happen to less people. | The proposed changes would make it more difficult for me and my dad to keep Medicaid, and it would result in fewer benefits, primarily access to dental and vision care. My dad delivers pizzas, making the minimum wage plus tips. I serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA, making less than the minimum wage. | My income doesn't change regularly. | I would not be able to participate since my academic program consumes most of my time, my family members already work 5-6 days per week depending on the employer's needs. I don't see how they would be able to squeeze in another responsibility to meet requirements for eligibility. |
242 | Not everyone is a millionaire like our creationist laying on of hands governor . It helped My Mom when she was critically ill. | The twins would not be able to pay for this coverage. It isn't far not to back date coverage. My sister were recently kicked out of the system due to computer problems and it has taken me several months to get is fixed. It isn't fair not to back date coverage for something beyond their control.! Further more it is not fair to expect an individual to work, or volunteer to earn benefits. Don't you think they would rather work and have more money but can't because of a medical condition. That seems like they are being singled out. | My income is above the limit to qualify. However, I know a number of people who work multiple part time jobs, because employers don't want to pay benefits. It is an undue burden for individuals to lose medical care due to greed... and lack of compassion. | I would not be able to work 20 more hours a week. We do regularly do volunteer work to role model for our kids. Our 2 neighbors ...one is a caregiver to husband and son with disabilities...she could not work the 20 hours a week. The neighbor with disabilities can not work due to mental health problems. |
243 | Not. No one in my family has ever received Medicaid I do support ER penalties but it would not let me check it | The Vision and Dental I currently get under Passport is minimal. This is one area where the 'My Rewards' might help someone in my position at least get a few things done per year. | My income is consistent but it's hard to know how it would impact my son if he were to need the waiver..again, a much better and efficient system would need to be in place to require 10 days. | I would only further politically divide us and foster hate and contempt from the poorer and less fortunate. |
244 | One of my children has Epilepsy and another is on the Autism spectrum. The prescriptions and therapy for both of these conditions are very expensive and would not be affordable under my employer provided health care plan. In addition, the copays required for multiple visits per year to doctors would be unaffordable under the proposed changes, forcing me into a "Sophie's Choice" between providing for the medical needs of one or the other of my children. | There is a broken system in place now, and changes made in this manner will cause more issues for the medically undeserved population with IDD/DD than help. | My income is stable | I would see the effects when the people I see @ CR become gainfully employed. |
245 | Our access to medicaid has been essential in providing my son with access to occupational and speech therapies that have helped him in many ways. I believe the current limitiations on NEMT are too strict, leaving many families out when the definition of reliable transportation access include non-hoisehold members at the same street address and is only available on a 3 day advance notice- this leads to ambulance trips for some emergencies that might be treatable in doctor's offices if patients could get there, it does not account for insurmountable costs of distance travel to other cities or frail drivers who may be able to make it up the block to the grocery but should not be on the interstates. We were excluded from this benefit and paid for taxis we could not afford. I have also had to forgo appointments and medication for myself while I was charged copays. As an unpaid caregiver to a special needs child, our familiy depends on a very small KTAP (TANFF) benefit of $225.00/month and a tiny tutoring income of $100 from my online editing service to medical students. I can't work more and cover my son's needs, and I can't cover copays, premiums or other costs for my care at the expanse of gas to his therapies. Further, the language in the waiver on p.22 is not clear on the coverage limits of therapy. While services for protected groups are repeatedly stated to be the same as before, changes to the state plan and coverage limits seem to allow for the denial of prior authorization for ongoing physical and occupational therapy. For us, this would be devastating and lead to setbacks in independence for my son. For others, it may mean that critical periods of recovery from stroke or other concerns may be missed. | There would be more people unable to cope with mental illness and preventative health procedures would be ignored. More people would die. The poor would suffer. | my income is steady | I would support |
246 | Our children are on passport, and it would be very difficult to cover their medical costs otherwise. | These changes are an asinine attack on the poorest of Kentuckians. The Governor should be both embarrassed and ashamed. | My income is steady but sometimes people have bigger things to deal with if for some reason their employment status changes. | i would volunteer if I knew where |
247 | Our family member is able under the current program to receive medical treatment for ongoing chronic health issues. They are able to get quality affordable card and affordable maintenance medicine for a heart condition as well as for a thyroid condition. | These changes are awful. Plain and simple. | My income is the same right now on unemployment. When I go back to work, I assume I will lose coverage and get coverage through my employer. Unemployment requires us to report any changes in income regularly. | I wouldn't mind it, but I'd be worried about the quality of service others are providing, theft, etc. |
248 | Our two son's are adopted special needs children and we rely on Medicaid coverage to assist us with medications and counseling. | These changes are very complex and convoluted. I think it would keep the people who need it most from being able to effectively obtain basic care. | My income is variable and some comes from investments & it is impossible to know in advance what I will make in a year. I may take a $10,000 capital gain one day and not have another gain for two years. | I.have a job so that wouldn't effect me |
249 | Pays co-pays and deductibles not covered by Medicare. | These changes do nothing to enhance the current Medicaid program, some of these sound like a rediculous system of rewards and punishments for people of low socioeconomic statuses. People shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get medical care simply because they are poor. | My income or employment status does not change regularly. | I'll be starting a job soon and won't be on Medicaid anymore. I think requiring this is a terrible idea because it will put more people out into public that don't want to be there and no one really wants to deal with them and every employer and customer will suffer in some form. 20 hours on top of school and work is IMPOSSIBLE. Healthcare is a RIGHT not a PRIVILEGE and as humans we shouldn't have to work to be worth supporting and treated as humans. |
250 | People are able to get the medications needed and early treatment so that they will not have to be hospitalized. People are able to get the mental health care needed. | These changes seek to put more money in the hands of the wealthy at the expense of sick and vulnerable people's lives. | My income or employment status does not change regularly. | I'm a full time student and work as much as I'm able, about 20 hours a week. |
251 | People are getting mental health treatment they could not access prior to Medicaid expansion. | These changes seem to point blame at us for not being upper middle-class. These changes seem to assume that more people than not are taking advantage of assistance and need regulating. What is not taken into consideration is that decent paying jobs are not falling out of the sky and despite our greatest efforts, we cannot work 16+ hour days at multiple jobs 7 days a week without rest just to pay bills. These changes are punishment for not being able to luck into a higher economical class. It's already demoralizing for many of us to have to ask for assistance despite our education and work ethic, don't make us grovel for basic health care. | My income or employment status does not change regularly. My daughter is not at the employment age. | I'm assuming this would not apply to disabled children. I am wondering where all of these people are supposed to serve their volunteer hours. Untrained volunteers can often be more trouble than they are worth. So much so if they are forced volunteers. |
252 | People are getting preventive care and connecting to a PCP which together will lead to better health outcomes and reduce costs over time. | These changes will destroy any progress that has been made improving kentuckians health. Sadly , Bevin does not care if poor people have teeth or not | My income or employment status doesn't change regularly, but a requirement to report changes within 10 days is too small a window of time. Not everyone is able to get time off work, or find a babysitter or even a ride during business hours. | I'm assuming this would not apply to disabled children. I am wondering where all of these people are supposed to serve their volunteer hours. Untrained volunteers can often be more trouble than they are worth. So much so if they are forced volunteers. |
253 | People need to be able to get care! Especially the elderly | These changes will make more people homeless who are now barely making ends meet. It's a disgrace to treat our poor with such coldness | My income or employment status has changed once every 1-2 years since I got out of college 6 years ago. However, I am an application assister. Many of my clients work for horse trainers or are self employed or pick up day labor as they go. Their income changes every 2-3 weeks or even more often. They are always busy working and looking for work. It is hard enough to maintain coverage and be able to access care with their work schedules. It would be a very detrimental burden on them to have to report income and employment status changes within 10 days when this information for them changes so frequently and accessing DCBS can be so difficult and time-consuming. I know people who have taken a day off of work to be able to go to the DCBS office or to sit on the phone with DCBS. Missing work is not want we want to promote. | I'm assuming this would not apply to disabled children. I am wondering where all of these people are supposed to serve their volunteer hours. Untrained volunteers can often be more trouble than they are worth. So much so if they are forced volunteers. |
254 | People that can't drive or get to their medical appointments depend on, The funded transportation assistance. That includes me. And Many others in my community. Most of us depend on the dental insurance, That's All we have got. Rewards program, NO. Extra co-pays is just Crazy for us that can't work that do not draw any government checks. | These changes would affect the poor and people that can not find work. In the eastern part of Kentucky it is hard to find jobs. These changes would be devastating to familes and children. | My income status does not change frequently. I am one of the lucky ones. While I do agree that it is appropriate to ask Medicaid recipients to report changes in income in a timely manner, a 10 day window is too brief. A 30 day window is more appropriate. Many of us with multiple jobs and families would find it very difficult to complete these types of tasks in such a short period of time. | I'm assuming this would not apply to disabled children. I am wondering where all of these people are supposed to serve their volunteer hours. Untrained volunteers can often be more trouble than they are worth. So much so if they are forced volunteers. |
255 | People with disabilities - especially over the age of 18 - cannot typically provide personal transportation and not every community has public transportation for them to access medical care. Some of those same individuals can't work/volunteer to "earn" credit. Working with special needs students - especially those who become adults with those cognitive and functional disabilities - I see how much they are dependent on Medicaid coverage. And how ignorant the staff is when those low functioning individuals are asked to complete paperwork and their court-appointed guardians are not allowed to assist. Some of those families are struggling even with Medicaid and should the coverage change, their financial circumstances will become dire. | These changes would have a devastating effect on my son. He cannot drive. He will need health care insurance very soon. | My income stays the same | I'm completely disabled and the nature of my illness is such that even if I become healthy enough to return to work part time, I can't push myself that extra mile physically or I'll be right back where I am now or worse. So it's a very scary though that it's no incentive to improve being presented. I'm essentially being punished for getting sick, and then being punished for getting well enough to work again... (bc there would be a period of time that I would be working and therefore "able-bodied" again and therefore subject to these rule changes which would make me disabled again. So it's really not fixing anything just shifting to a new set of problems. |
256 | People without income can actually get medical care when before they could not before. Many families suffered before because they could not qualify for any assistance in seeing doctors and many diseases and disabilities were left untreated. | These changes would keep many vulnerable Kentuckians from receiving quality medical coverage. This hurts us all by keeping many people sick, thus disabling from offering their gifts to our community. | My income tarely changes unless my child support doesn't come in each month | I'm curious....how an 84 year old woman,who can't walk, has dementia, and only a niece....is gonna volunteer or get a.job? |
257 | Plain and simple, medical treatment should be available to every American no matter their financial status. | These changes would make it harder for me to pay for health care. | My income varies based on schedule and overtime. I may make $400 in one week, then $160 the following week. We are scheduled based on expected business for a day. | I'm my husband's caregiver and my daughter's as well. I am also raising my youngest 2 who do not qualify for school yet. |
258 | Please tell us how you, your family or your community has benefited from Medicaid coverage. | These changes would make it harder for working persons or the elderly to get the care they need. | My income will change in the coming year. A requirement to report changes within 10 days of income changes for people - such as service industry workers - is complicated and unfair to people in lower income jobs. | I'm not able to work I'm disabled. |
259 | Prenatal care, post natal care, preventative check ups. Dental cleanings, fillings extractions. Have you ever had a toothache that felt like you were dying? That was so infected your face was swollen? Expanded Medicaid is the only reason some of us can see a dentist, it's the only reason we can get a check up, birth control, an antibiotic for a sickness. The expansion made it so that even male members could be covered. Please don't take it away! | These changes would make it less likely that Kentuckians would maintain their coverage and get the health care services they need. | My income, as a retiree on a defined benefit plan, is stable. | I'm not able-bodied but since MS is an invisible disease these clowns might try to say I am. |
260 | Prescription medications would cost me at least 2000 a month without Medicaid. | These changes would make staying healthy, wholly healthy as an individual requires, nearly impossible for a very large population of people, primarily living beneath the poverty line. When basic human rights are taken away, people in a position of helplessness only fall further and the cycle of poverty continues. Medicaid, as is is, has "gifted" myself, many friends and family members the basic human rights that have been withheld from the working class people for too long. | My income/status no longer changes regularly, but I toured for many years as a songwriter (based out of KY), and my income changed drastically from month to month: when on tour, we made the money that had to last us through off-months and recording sessions. Many of my closest friends now are entrepreneurs, and find themselves in similarly changing situations. During my first years, my income was at or just above the poverty line. Having to report changes would have been prohibitively impractical, if not impossible. | I'm not sure how some moms could arrange adequate child care to donate 20 hours a week to work as many are single parents ~ I would rather see parents made acutely aware of how much the care for their children is costing the citizens of Kentucky and perhaps placing some form of accountability on the parent. Are you aware that if a MC parent does not bring their child in for regular well child exams that the PROVIDER is penalized? How can I have any effect on this matter if the PARENT does not keep up with regular medical appointments??? |
261 | Preventative care saves money, and suffering in the future. Healthcare is a human right. | These changes would prevent a lot of poor people like me from being able to go to the doctor because they couldn't afford it. | My job and income rarely changes. | I'm not sure. I am a full time student, but my husband is only a half-time student, and he is also self-employed. It's unclear to me how this would apply to him. |
262 | Preventive care whereas before they were considered to have a preexisting condition due to a hobby | these changes would put even more stress on families working just to survive, for something as basic as healthcare. no one should have to choose between buying food for the week and paying a premium for Medicaid to be able to take their kid to the doctor | My job doesn't, but many I know do. If you are in food service your hours can flux from 5 to 50 from one week to another. Some provision to account for that type of working (unless it already exists) needs to be planned out. | I'm unsure as to what community service people would be participating in. Also, I believe that if a person is truly able to commit themselves to community service for 20 hours a week, then it is possible for them to find employment. Perhaps, this requirement would push people to find work that would require them to work at least 30 hours a week. |
263 | Prior to having health insurance, my husband rarely went to the doctor because we saved medical savings for our son who has neurological issues. The ACA took the pressure off and my husband got a checkup and discovered he had cancer. The cancer was treated and my husband is alive, healthy and working but does need to take medication for other health issues. Had we not had the coverage, we might not have celebrated out 25 wedding anniversary. Through the coverage, my son has been able to successfully navigate college as an honor student, tutor middle school students and act as the youngest appointed state board member in the Commonwealth. | These changes would put undue burdens on individuals already struggling to make a living. I have previously been on Medicaid while working 2 and 3 jobs to pay the rent. Having work hours added would have made the access to healthcare impossible with the hours I was already working. Vision and dental benefits are also not luxuries for many people. I am legally blind in 1 eye without correction. Not having access to vision care would prevent me from providing my own transportation to and from work. | My job is pretty stable. I am not. 10 days is too short. | I've answered this question in my responses to the previous questions. However my daughter who has a young son and is able bodied who works 30 hours a week at minimum wage can barely survive on what she makes not to mention what she has to pay for daycare, and she would be required to have to volunteer and work an additional 20 hours a week for nothing just to get health care for herself!! The 1% that are coming up with these requirements are not living in the real world and are making these decisions for the 98% that are struggling to get by in this country!!! |
264 | Prior to the ACA and expanded Medicaid, I could not afford health insurance; I had cervical cancer in 2000 and because of this "pre-existing condition", health insurance prices were exorbitant even though I have had clear checkups (paid for out of pocket) for the past 15 years and am a very healthy woman. I have had my first physical in 25 years which has revealed advanced osteoporosis which should have been treated years ago and is currently being addressed. I also received my first mammogram (at the age of 54). If not for the ACA and expanded Medicaid, I would not have been able to afford these tests. | These proposals are unnecessary, insulting, and corrosive to anyone who depends on the health insurance exchange. | My job is stable, because I have far more education than most Kentuckians. 10 days is too short, most folks who lose jobs are just beginning to grapple with the news then. | If a primary caregiver is required to work 20 hours per week, who is going to take care of their dependents? |
265 | Probably wouldn't be alive if not for the coverage for medications and doctors I need. Couldn't afford to go to doctor on the income I had when my doctor told me to cut my work week in half and apply for disability. | These proposed changes would be a nightmare. I have power of attorney for my mother, and the proposed changes would multiply the tasks I need to perform to re-enroll her in Medicaid and to pay all her bills every month. With the disastrous Benefind system (which took me three months of multiple multi-hour phone calls to re-enroll my mother this year), I fear that the slightest mistake would be used to bounce my disabled mother from Medicaid coverage. The penalties listed are multiple and petty, and would increase bureaucratic red tape and difficulties for many families. The proposed premiums would create a hardship, as well: my mother is allowed to keep $40.00 a month after paying for her nursing home, which I use to pay for small items for her--a haircut, or hand sanitizing gel, or similar things--and this would be eliminated with the $37.50 monthly premium. Additionally, the lock-out periods and ending of retroactive benefits would hammer many working-class and poor individuals. It was difficult enough for me to figure out Medicaid enrollment with a college degree--I had to hire an elder-law specialist to help me. Heaven help those who don't have the money to hire a lawyer, or who make an innocent mistake, or simply don't know how the application process works. With Benefind workers taking 45 minutes to an hour to answer calls (I have had to wait this long 4 separate times, and been on the phone up to 2 hours each call to deal with a simple Medicaid recertification), I fear this system will be come a nightmare out of Kafka novel--a bureaucratic headache designed to drive people away who desperately need help. | My jobs vary all the time. I have two part time jobs that never have regular hours. As soon as I would report a drop in pay, the next week, it might go up again. I have access to internet and a PC, but everyone is not able to do this. I am currently on the ACA with a monthly insurance rate of 68.00 and I pay about 20.00 a month for medication. It would be a nightmare always having to figure out my "weekly" pay and reporting it. I am currently earning just over the medicaid limit, but some weeks my income would make me eligible. | If I am already working one or two jobs, I am already working. If I had to volunteer, then there would have to be volunteer opportunities in my community. If I live in a rural area, those might not exist. |
266 | Provided much needed health care and preventative care for healthier communities | They would create a huge burden on the underserved communities | my mentally disabled teenagers has received services to have the best life possible. Because of medicaid he received life saving surgery for a brain tumor one year ago and will require follow up every three months for years including CAT Scans. He can not work and he needs these services. | If I can't work because of medical conditions how in God's name could I volunteer to work!!!! |
267 | Provides a way for low income Kentuckians to improve their health and therefore the quality of life. | This director also commented that she does not look forward to dealing with an onslaught of returning low-income people who will undoubtedly be bumped off Medicaid with all these changes. Many low-income barely keep their heads above water. Premiums, copays, managing multiple accounts, no dental-- all will have severe impact on people who live month-to-month, hand-to-mouth existence. | My patients work temporary jobs or have seasonal increase in hours. Not stable jobs | If I could do that I'd get a job instead. |
268 | Provides access to care for hundreds of people with severe mental illness allowing them to get medications, therapy and support needed for recovery. SMI is not something we can cure. It most often is a lifetime battle, so removal of benefits at anytime during the person's lifetime can lead to relapse ,more expensive care and greatly decreased quality of life for the individual as well as family and community burden | This is an attempt to disenroll people. The bureaucracy of the new plan will cost more than it will save, I think. | My personal income or employment status does not change regularly. I can see for those who have these issues would potentially have problems. Many times not only are you dealing with poverty, but you are dealing with many other socio-economic challenges that would make it extremely difficult for them to follow the requirements being proposed. | If I could find employment for 20 plus hours a week I would be working. This requirement is designed to force people off Medicaid and thus save the state money without regards to the health consequences. |
269 | Putting these barriers in place will make me and my community more sick, and thereby more costly down the road. These are short sighted fixes on the backs of the poor. The changes and proposals should focus on those who have the resources to spare and anyone at or under 138% of the poverty line doesnt have anything to spare. I know this because I have been on medicaid. We are not lazy layabouts. We are working hard to make ends meet. We need help, not hoops. | This will make poor, sick people just poorer and sicker and not resolve budget problems. | My position is stay and I make above the limits. My concern comes for families who truly need the benefits. | If I could work, I'd be doing it for myself. I'm sick. I'm disabled. Those are real conditions and I hate them. If I could change it, I would. I don't need big gov't telling me to change them. I can't change them. The only way to change them is to get the health care I need. |
270 | Saved my life. | This would hinder rather than help those in our community who are the most in need. | My salary doesn't change, but the people I teach are very low wage, part time workers or job hunting. Having to report even when getting a temporary job is asking for a log jam of paperwork already know to be notoriously slow in response. This will affect their ability to stay healthy and stay in school. | If I do those things, I would not be able to work at all. |
271 | Saves money by not having to have private insurance. | Those on Medicaid are already struggling. Punishing the poor has never helped them become less poor. In fact, it just makes people's lives even harder, perpetuating generational poverty. | My schedule fluctuates from week to week, I don't get consistent hours. I would be calling my local office each week if I had to report changes so much. | If I ever lost my job, it might take me a while to find a new job and I would probably need to devote myself full time to getting one. |
272 | several of my family members who work very hard but are starting new families, are unable to pay for expensive healthcare coverage, but quality healthcare in the first 5 years of a child's life is essential. these people should not be penalized or given more restrictions when they are just trying to care for their families | Treating those of us who need Medicaid as though we don't deserve medical care is disrespectful and dehumanizing. I work hard in an underpaid community service job, I've paid taxes since I was 16, I have a college degree, and both of my parents are Army veterans. Yet, somehow I'm going to be deemed unfit to receive medical care simply because I happen to earn less money right now. If I lose access to care and medication for my asthma, I will no longer be able to work, no longer be able to support myself. Similarly, many members of my family work extremely hard and contribute to society, but would be unable to continue doing so if they lost their Medicaid benefits and the improvements in their health that those benefits entail. The proposed changes punish Kentuckians for poverty and will hurt all of us, and I'm deeply disappointed at the dehumanizing, ignorant rhetoric about poor people that our governor has propagated in order to pass an unreasonable plan that is clearly just a move to score cheap political points while destroying his state and its citizens. | My son is not working, so it would not affect him currently. If in the future he were able to work, he would have difficulty staying organized and on top of reporting to meet deadlines. | If I had to do it, I wouldn't be able to meet this requirement. Working a 40-hour a week job and then having to fit in 20 hours of volunteering on top of that is nearly impossible for me and I'm a single individual with no dependents. Think of the single parents with full-time jobs. Are they just expected to not take care of their kids? |
273 | Simple things like school physicals, my son got pink eye... I've used it to access physical therapy for an adhesion in my neck and related shoulder problems. I am self employed and don't use a lot of money or a lot of medical services, but it's good to have access if you need it. | Trying to make it on your own is difficult. Balancing working to make ends meet and learning the skills to have a career, health care is often not affordable. Modifying Medicaid coverage will make it impossible for hard working adults to thrive. | My son is self employed and income ranges wildly. This would be a hardship and put coverage in jeopardy. | If I had to use 20 hours of my time to engage this bull crap communinitybi live in then when the hell would I be able to sell insurance and get me and my husband on our feet and off of Medicaid |
274 | Simply put, I can participate in life because of my benefits. Without the coverage I have, I would be very ill or even dead. | Unfortunately, my daughter is still paying off huge medical bills that went into collection, for a spine injury years ago when she was uninsured. Even though she now has coverage, she still hesitates to seek medical treatment because she fears she will incur the huge bills she had before. If the program is eliminated or changed dramatically, I know she will be even more hesitant to seek basic medical care, fearing the expense that she cannot afford, even working full time and earning $11 an hour. | My son's situation does not change quickly or often. However, it is not very difficult for him to report any changes within a 10 day window. | If I lost my job, this would make it much more difficult to conduct a job search while caring for my child. |
275 | Since getting Passport I have been diagnosed and treated for diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea in addition to being treated for my previous diagnoses of hypothyroid and autoimmune hepatitis. I get probably over $5000 a year in benefits. This is why I do not mind paying the $15 per month for this coverage. | use common sense, see above | My son's work hours change frequently. This reporting would be a hardship. | If I was in a circumstance where I had to leave my job to become a caregiver to a loved one or if I were unable to attain 20 hours or more a week at work during a slow season, this requirement to obtain Medicaid would cause great suffering considering I need regular prescriptions and medical checkups. |
276 | Some in our community go without medical care or needed medications due to the cost of same. Medicaid helps many elderly and families with care that they may otherwise just not get! | Vulnerable populations like refugees and immigrants, the elderly, and the undereducated need fewer restrictions and rules and more flexibility to access medical benefits. Nationally, healthcare spending is well under what was proposed and many who could be under crushing debt are not because of Medicaid expansion. If anything, fewer restrictions and easier access will make administration more efficient and less wasteful. | My status does not change | If I was medically able to work per several Dr's I wouldn't be needing assts. I worked very hard for alot of years. But unfortunately I just can't anymore. ... |
277 | Supports elderly family in nursing home. | We are on a limited income. The charges would be coming out of bill money. I wouldn't be able to do the work activities to keep my coverage. I have health issues myself and raising my child. I wouldn't have time or possibly the ability to do it. | My work requires that I re-submit a grant application every six months and that application may or may not be approved. Funds are dispersed every six months as well so it would look like a windfall, when really its a relatively small amount of money that has to be stretched for six months. | If I were in a nursing home because I'm too sick to live on my own, how the devil would I be able to do that? Would you throw me out in the street? Is that what KY has come to--only a good place to live if you are rich? |
278 | Taking care of medical problems when they occurred has kept the problem from getting bigger and more expense to treat. | We are stressed enough, taking care of a child with special needs. We don't need to worry about how we're going to take care of ourselves, as well. | N/A to me, but I can see small business owners, seasonal businesses, and even farmers having difficulty with these requirements. | If if if a person is physically able they should put forth an effort... but a 98 yr old cannot... or my self as the caregiver for a 98 yr old parent... I do not have 20 hours a week to give... .. again... able Mothers or 2,3,4,5 kids should. Be working not just sitting around the house smoking drinking and using food stamps for their pop, chips and candy bars... and MANY in every community are doing that.. they should work |
279 | The Care I received through Medicaid saved my life after I was suddenly let got from my job. | We could not afford to go to the doctor or buy our medicine. If we aren't well, we can't take care of our child. | NA for me. I know from working with people with unstable employment that such a requirement is onerous and only works to deprive them of coverage and care. Up | If im forced to take anymore time away from them, my children will be neglected. I am living to work, to pay the government, to live. I'm tired. |
280 | The client's on my caseload must have Medicaid to be eligible for the SCL waiver. Through the SCL waiver, my clients are able to receive necessary services which enhance their life, prevent institutionalization, and ensure their health, safety and welfare. | We couldn't afford our medicines | No but 10 days is unrealistic especially since the department is ridiculously difficult to reach if you have questions for a "live" person | If someone is "able-bodied" but has mental illness that prevents them from working, would they be forced to volunteer? If they were capable of going out into the community to volunteer, then they would be capable of working a paying part time job. It seems that all this volunteering requirement does is create a hardship on people who are already struggling to cope with the basic demands of living. |
281 | The current system has decreased the use of emergency services and enabled the poor to get basic health care. Treating the poorest of our community as if they matter and giving them hope decreases illegal activities and drug abuse. | We have a healthier community since Medicaid expansion. Keep it that way. | No but a friend would be affected | If someone is already working 30+ hours a week where are they suppose to find the time to meet this demand? If they are working 30+ hours a week and this how are they suppose to take care of their family? Children will suffer. They need that interaction and support from their parents and if their parents are never there how can they get the guidance and support they need? How will the parents be able to afford addition daycare or babysitting fees to fulfill this commitment? |
282 | The entire homeless (the most at risk for mental health disorders and catastrophic dental emergencies) population has dental and mental health coverage for the first time in their life. Working is not possible. Volunteering is not possible. This will set back the entire medical community. I get grown men crying and thanking me for stopping the auditory and visual hallucinations that have ruined their life. These are people who have tried suicide many times and these changes would basically doom them. | We have Medicaid not because we refuse to pay for health services, but because we do not earn enough to pay for them. These changes would reduce the services available while putting further financial burdens on Kentucky families like our own. | no but I am privileged . | If someone is on Medicaid, it's possible they cannot volunteer somewhere for 20 hours per week. This is a ridiculous amendment to propose. |
283 | The first time they have had insurance. Coverage for health, dental, vision, medicine and transportation to and from getting health care. | We help at a Dare to Care facilitie and see the people in need in every area of their lives. Some have illnesses that let them function normally for days or weeks but then another set back happens. Their lives are enough of are a roller coaster without having to jump through hoops to get health care when needed. One friend was a pharmacy rep until MS took her health, her job, and almost her home before she finally got Medicaid health care after her third try. Just examples of what I've seen. | No but I feel that many who are going through changes in jobs etc may not be able to report changes in time. | If someone is working how are they supposed to also volinteer 20 hours a week. Who is supposed to supervise and implement all these volunteer activities? |
284 | The medicaid program has been a huge asset to my family. Without it we would simply be uninsured. | We help at a Dare to Care facilitie and see the people in need in every area of their lives. Some have illnesses that let them function normally for days or weeks but then another set back happens. Their lives are enough of are a roller coaster without having to jump through hoops to get health care when needed. One friend was a pharmacy rep until MS took her health, her job, and almost her home before she finally got Medicaid health care after her third try. Just examples of what I've seen. | No but it would affect our clients who wok temp jobs or have trouble holding them for reasons such as sickness or childcare needs | If the government can find jobs for people to do in exchange for health insurance, then why can't they hire them and pay them actual money? Sounds like serfdom. |
285 | The number of clients with Medicaid insurance has increased dramatically allowing more people to engage in mental health treatment even if they are not determined to be disabled. | We like most around here are grandparents or family members raising family members. We get no help from the state for food, clothing etc. We need the medical card to make sure the get the medical care they desperately need. | No but it would affect our clients who wok temp jobs or have trouble holding them for reasons such as sickness or childcare needs | If the program was engineered properly, and was supervised properly, thus could be beneficial on several levels. But I believe 20 hours a week is unattainable in certain areas. |
286 | The poor and working poor get health care and tragic health situations and decreases in work productivity are avoided. | We may all lose coverage... | No but it would affect our clients who wok temp jobs or have trouble holding them for reasons such as sickness or childcare needs | If the state is running out of money, how are they going to pay to monitor this part? Sounds additional paperwork would be required. Is this helping people or just making them jump through hoops? |
287 | The poor should not be penalized for being poor. Basic health care, including dental and vision care, are human rights that should not be "bought back". Consider the lives of people who live in poverty: unreliable public transportation, living paycheck to paycheck, basic health coverage threatened to be taken away. The state should take care of it's citizens' basic needs, so they can continue to better themselves-- find jobs, contribute to society, rather than focusing solely on survival. | We may lose our coverage or be priced out. This would put us back to not receiving preventative care. | No but it would affect our clients who wok temp jobs or have trouble holding them for reasons such as sickness or childcare needs | If we had that kind of time to work more and make more money, we would. But, people in these situations should be able to work normal hours and spend time with their kids/families without a requirement to volunteer. Everything should be easier for low income, underserved people. |
288 | The providers in the community at least receive some payment for rendering their services. People unable to afford health insurance can get good coverage through Medicaid. | We should have single payer universal healthcare. For profit healthcare is certainly evil. | No but it would affect our clients who wok temp jobs or have trouble holding them for reasons such as sickness or childcare needs | If would not. I work more than 20 hours per week and am also a full time student. |
289 | The refugee population I serve has NOTICEABLY increased in basic health since they were able to access medical care through Medicaid. This means more ability to work and less pressure on other services. Also, they pay taxes. | We would be willing to pay a monthly premium but not everyone would have that luxury | no but many have weekly work that is very seasonal and at the will of the employer | If you are unemployed and can't get a job, what kind of job will "they" find for you?? Wouldn't you be better off looking for a full-time job full time?? |
290 | There seems to be a drastic improvement in my community. There have been less incidences of of "bugs" being passed around (could be a coincidence )..I believe it's because people are seeking treatment when they start getting ill because they can now afford go a Physician instead of having to suffer through it ( causing a greater chance of spreading it ),More people are getting treatment for heart and blood pressure problems because once again they can now afford it. The drug problem has become almost non - existent in our community now because more people are seeking treatment for addiction because they can now afford treatment (But they still have to want to get better for it to be successful ).I was at first skeptical of the Affordable Care Act,, But I can't deny the improvements I see in my area..Where the act failed is by not putting limits on insurance companies ..keeping them from "raping " the middle class and lower middle class. and by not limiting greedy Dr's and clinics from scheduling excessive appointments under the guise of it causing a higher success rate for recovery. | We would have to help pay for our grandparents' medical bills | No change | If you don't have children and are able bodied, YOU SHOULD WORK!! End of story. I work 2 jobs and I am tired of supporting you. |
291 | There's people that didn't have any way to pay to go and see a doctor because they couldn't afford to go | We would likely have to skip some medical care we would otherwise receive, or we'll have to make choices between medical care and other necessities (most likely food, since we don't spend money on "entertainment" or anything we don't really need.) | No effect | If you don't have the money then one should offer their time. Shouldn't be free. I agree. But if they work with children training needs to be involved. Manual labor is some sort would be better: picking up trash, painting, mowing, training tonsit with the elderly, read to children |
292 | Those with children and who are students, received medicaid | We would lose our coverages. | No income doesn't change. | Impossible to find a job I would be able to do. |
293 | To date we have not. However, my son will not have insurance coverage in November, as he will turn 26 in October. My son has ADHD and Asperger's syndrome. He is currently working with Voc Rehab in order to try to obtain employment. He may need these services very soon. | We would not be able to keep our home or a vehicle if we loose any of these benefits | No ir doesnt. It would have little effect on me. | In a larger town like Elizabethtown, I can see this being a pretty easy thing to make happen and is beyond reasonable in my opinion. Previously I worked in a rural county in Kentucky and this would be much harder to do given the lack of jobs, general poverty and difficulty getting around that I witnessed. At the same time, there was a severe culture of dependency from what I experienced, so forcing these people to get out and contribute in some way, shape or form is a good thing and you'd be hard pressed to argue against it. |
294 | Very simply, my family and others in my community have been able, some for the first time, to get medical attention for some serious health problems. | We would return to the bad old days of having to choose between food and medicine, or medicine or rent. Emergency services again flooded with severe illness left far too long untreated. | No it does not | In our area there are very few jobs. Train for what? Move to where? Most of the people I know work full time jobs to live and still are eligible for Medicaid. There are only so many hours in a week and working two or three jobs to survive sounds like enough to me. |
295 | We actually have health care coverage for the first time in years. We are healthier because we have access to routine, preventative care. | We would see critically ill folks as a result of a lack of regular medical care. | no it does not | In rural areas of Kentucky there already isn’t enough jobs and there would be no way to provide volunteer hours for places tha have 40% of a county on Medicaid. My biggest fear is that this will be abused by employers so they can have free labor instead of hiring employees. |
296 | We are a family of 7. My income is the only income in the family (which isn't much). My wife and I have 5 kids that live with us and she takes care of them all. We have benefitted from Medicaid because, with 5 kids and a wife with health issues, medical bills would pile up. Insurance companies would take a majority of my check, leaving nothing for rent, food and utilities. | We wouldn't be able to afford food if we had to pay the premiums every month. Employers refuse to pay a living wage in the state of Kentucky, especially in the rural areas. We don't receive any other government assistance other than the medical cards, although we would probably be eligible for food stamps, we do not apply because we want to work for everything that we can afford. Every dime that we make goes toward groceries after we've paid all of our bills. If we could no longer afford groceries due to the cost of premiums, we would be forced to apply for food stamps, putting further strain on an already stressed system. Our governor's plan to revoke the Affordable Care Act is rather counter-productive and a mistake for Kentucky. | No it does not change frequently but I know others where this would affect them | Isn't this requirement illegal? |
297 | We are all covered thanks to this! | We wouldn't be able to afford the bills and wouldn't be able to go and start having deterating health and everyone should have a right to health care that is of poverty level! | no it does not change regularly. | It can't work for many groups of individuals. |
298 | We are on disability and my grandson and granddaughters medicines alone would have cost us a fortune. That doesn't include doctors appointments and other medical needs. | We wouldn't be healthy | No it does not. | It does not impact me directly, though I would be embarrassed for our state and fellow citizens if such a program were enacted. It is demeaning to require the poor to "prove" themselves in this way. It is also arrogant by implying that those who have health care are somehow more worthy. |
299 | We didn't have good insurance before we received Medicaid. We purchased insurance but had 7500 deductible. | When people know they will be confronted with charges they cannot afford, they choose not to use health care. The proposed changes to Medicaid would increase the uninsurance rate and put the cost of indigent/uncompensated care on providers. The administrative costs to the new system do not save Medicaid or taxpayers any money at all. | No it does not. | It doesn't |
300 | We didn't have health coverage, before. | When there is no way to pay for medical care and no trips to doctor. That hurts our entire economy. They will end up in the emergency room and no way to pay. | No it does not. A requiremnet to report is not necessary and even interferes with a persons rights to privacy, life? Liberty, and pursuit of happiness. | It doesn't . Maybe not have volunteer hours but have a copay of $1-2 for visits . |
301 | We don't have to use the snap program because not paying for insurance helps students with buying our own groceries. | While I will not be affected personally, the thought of children and older adults going without dental and vision care, strongly disturbs me. As an RN I know that poor dental care can lead to a number of other illnesses. Children cannot learn and people are not "work ready" without good healthcare. And that includes services that some people seem superfluous, like eye glasses and hearing aids. | no it doesn't change frequently. But when you do start a new job, you're trying to get acclimated, you may not get paid for a while, or any other circumstances. 10 days is a very short period of time. | It is not practical, especially when you have other obligations. |
302 | We had Medicaid for a short period of time. It helped me to provide medical coverage for my children. I was able to ensure they had care. It was the best thing at a time when we could not afford coverage. | While we no longer need Medicaid as a family, many, many in our community do. Removing people's access to health care coverage will decimate the health of vulnerable people. How can people get jobs and thrive if they don't have access to care when they're sick? If we want a healthier Kentucky, we MUST ensure that everyone can get care. Medicaid is the most effective way of doing this. | No it doesn't change regularly | It is punitive. Why be mean spirited? |
303 | We have a child with a disability and are limited to the amount of time we can work outside of home. This has been a wonderful program for my husband and I. We were falling behind on healthcare, and we are now getting better! | With the proposed changes, my daughter may lose the healthcare she has needed for so many years, or she will have to pay co-pays that she cannot afford. Our governor has plenty of money and is out of touch with the reality that most of the working poor face. they do not earn a living wage and when they cannot afford to pay rent and food, they cannot afford the copays. | No it doesn't change. But some people would not be able to report changes in 10 days. | It is shaming people who use system. You going to have same requirements for someone getting other state benefits? |
304 | We have a friend living with us who lost partial use of his right arm in a work related activity years ago. If it weren't for workman's comp and medicaid disability, he would not have had a way to pay medical bills for some botched surgery related to a heart bypass. A man who does odd jobs for us occasionally cannot get a job, nor can my niece's fiance, because they have felony records. Forcing them to work when they can't get jobs is ridiculous. The one depends on Medicaid for his health coverage | With these new changes I would be further in debts | No it doesn't. | It is unrealistic for the individual to find and secure work and for the community to have adequate work or volunteer options for all who would need it. |
305 | We have been able to have a lot of preventative things done and have had tests that we couldn't get before. | Without expanded Medicaid, I will simply lose my health insurance. Until I can get work, I cannot afford the premiums for even the most basic coverage. If I get really sick, I could lose my farm and become destitute and then really cost the state a slew of money. I don't want to be poor. I've always been industrious and have a college degree. But women, especially, are negatively impacted when they have to be care givers for someone in the household as I was. No work history, age, rural area. No jobs. I think the Commonwealth's energies would be better spent doing its job of providing decent paying jobs with health insurance. It's not as if you can just go find one at will! People will die from this. Make no mistake. We will also be a laughing stock in the nation once again. We finally do something right, something that becomes a national model and then we set about to undo it? Why? Why are we so consistently foolish? Be more than this! Stop this madness of Gov. Bevin's twisted ideology. Please!! | No it doesnt Not alot but we Never Make enough to Pay for things with out help . | It may affect my close family |
306 | We have been able to substantially increase healthcare for members of our community | Without Medicaid coverage people will get sick and not seek help until there is a hospital stay or they die. | No it has been the same for over a year. | It often isnt skill building work that their given from my experience. Non profits can have too many volunteers. Also it takes away from potenial job seeking time or school time and isnt purposefully done. |
307 | We have Medicaid as a secondary for the children. It helps cover medical expenses that primary insurance doesn't cover such as my sons ADHD medicine & consuling. | Without payment for medical services, my poor town is likely to lose those medical services for everyone. Too many people can't afford healthcare on their own. | No mine doesn't but I know people who this will affect because hours and other qualifications change on a weekly basis! | It often isnt skill building work that their given from my experience. Non profits can have too many volunteers. Also it takes away from potenial job seeking time or school time and isnt purposefully done. |
308 | We have several halfway houses in our neighborhood, and th residents at these facilities would be in dire straights if their coverage were interrupted or they had to pay premiums. Most are disabled or have mental problems. We want all people to have access to basic health care without regard to their socioeconomic status. | Without the Medicaid expansion I will once again not have insurance. Many families I know would not have any also. | No mine personally does not, but 10 days is too short of a period for a major change, I believe it would be more acceptable to have 20-30 days | It often isnt skill building work that their given from my experience. Non profits can have too many volunteers. Also it takes away from potenial job seeking time or school time and isnt purposefully done. |
309 | We live longer | Worse health. Increase stress | No my income or work status does not change regularly. | It often isnt skill building work that their given from my experience. Non profits can have too many volunteers. Also it takes away from potenial job seeking time or school time and isnt purposefully done. |
310 | We lost the coverage we paid for out of pocket and could not afford another plan. Applying through KYNECT was our only option. | Would be confusing then one gets kicked off. I have a chronic condition- if something happens to me there is nobody to care for my children. | No one has time to report in more than once a month. | It often isnt skill building work that their given from my experience. Non profits can have too many volunteers. Also it takes away from potenial job seeking time or school time and isnt purposefully done. |
311 | We would be uninsured without expansion. It has kept us healthier and given us peace of mind. | Would not be able to afford medicaid | No this does not affect me personally the 10 day limit is much too short. | It will fail |
312 | We wouldn't be able to go to the doctor, dentist, eye doctor, or hospital and get the care we need if we didn't have Medicaid coverage! | Would not be able to get medical treatment, medications. | No this would not affect me at this point in my life. I do have a brother who suffers from chronic depression - those who suffer this often job hip. He shouldn't be punished if he forgets to to report a change (forgetfulness is also a symptom). | It will help agencies in our area have more help! |
313 | We're healthier | Would not have been coverage if new laws go into effect. | No when I am able to work I keep a full time job and sometimes work other part time jobs. | It will not affect me, but I could see it interfering with someone who is trying to find a paying job. |
314 | When I had an eye emergency, I was able to go to an ophthalmologist | A community which lets sick people suffer is a sick community. | No- but my clients who struggle to maintain housing and employment would undoubtedly be penalized as a result of a need for assistance understanding and completing forms- not to mention receiving them in a timely manner- as it is, with support, they often receive mail from the state after a dealing has passed and need assistance to avert crises. | It will not impact me, but will be a barrier to some people getting care. |
315 | When I had nothing me and my children had health care coverage. COPAYS at the doctor and prescription is TOO high, and I work a full time good job and my kids are on Medicaid and I'm struggling paying my own copays. | A healthy community is a happier community. Providing medical insurance for this population costs less in the long run. | No--but it is contingent on clients. | It won't affect me but as mentioned above it could impact single parents and stay at home moms. |
316 | When the KY Waivers that our children w/disabilities qualified for and were receiving were unjustly taken away from them without Due Process after we requested a new Case Mgr, they were left without much needed Healthcare and Medical Services, their workers lost jobs, we as parents were left without respite, our children ended up in Emergency Rooms, and our young daughter was admitted into the hospital for Suicidal ideation. The KY Waiver system abandoned and left our children for dead. We were denied a Fair Hearing we requested from the KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services, giving us "no voice" and no hope to find resolution. When we thought all we had were more health concerns, medical bills, a hopeless case, and a prayer, we turned to KYNECT/Expanded Medicaid for coverage and it saved our children's lives!!! | A lot of people would no longer have health coverage | No--unless I was medically unable to get out to report it, like when I had a hip replacement. | It won't affect me but it does put the recipients in a bind and at the mercy of the employers, especially the bad bosses. |
317 | When we moved to Louisville, our family of four had Medicaid during a period of unemployment. My daughter has epilepsy, a genetic condition, and special needs, and we would not have been able to afford her health care without this coverage. It was vital; it helped her to keep growing and thriving until we could afford coverage on our own. | A small premium could be managed, but I think there needs to be a limit based on income, such as 1%. | no-but the income stipulations are awful. How do you expect a family of 4, living on $34000/yr to afford health insurance. You are opening up another generation of indigent people flooding the ERs | It would affect me in that my Medicaid clients would have to stop receiving mental health services. |
318 | While my husband is in school and we work part time while caring for our 2 year old son medicaid has been instrumental in caring for us as a family. My husband had to be tested for lupus this year and those appontments would have been costly. | After our bills are paid on payday my budget is 200.00 until next payday. I can't imagine how it will be if I had to pay up to 50 for coverage. | No, but 10 days is a very short period to report changes during such dramatic changes in income, employment status, etc. | It would be difficult for some for sure. Many people who need Medicaid are pregnant, children, elderly, and working, so this sounds like just a political jab aimed at the lower class. |
319 | Without it, I would have been uninsured after I lost my job in late 2013. I had it and used it in 2014 and it was a godsend. I am a contracted employee and student, so it's difficult to afford health insurance. | Again I am sick of seeing people go to the doctor for free when I can't afford to go because I work. My son was in a car accident this year and my husband had to have eye surgery. Two separate insurance plans, two separate deductibles. We will spend 12,000 in deductibles this year alone plus the 20%. I will spend well over half my yearly income on health care alone. If we have 8 more years of a democratic president I am quiting work. You know the saying if ya can't beat them then join them. | No, but 10 days is along time to connect with our gov. | It would be great and people should have to earn what they get it will also be a wonderful addition for the community getting all those volunteers |
320 | Without it, I would not have any coverage during time I spent in college and now as a recent graduate, the period of looking for work. | All of these changes would be detrimental because I will not be able to afford the premiums or copays working minimum wage | No, but for Kentucky's temporary, contract, and hourly employees this is a bureaucratic burden that will eliminate access and cause early, preventable disability as workers go without care for treatable illnesses, injuries, and endemic health concerns. | It would be hard for those working paycheck to paycheck. Many can't afford daycare already and they would have to pay out of pocket for childcare in order to perform the community service. Or some would have to take off work and lose much needed money. |
321 | Without it, myself and others wouldn't be able to afford any medical treatment. The transportation assistance is a major big help, especially for those other us who live in rual areas where we can't walk down the street to the doctor. | Although we need the medicaid coverage I do understand the weight that it adds to the state budget so I agree to most of the proposed changes. Even if we have to pay a small part to be eligible, we would still be much better off than we would if it were taken away. I will gladly pay a small premium or Co pay in order to be able to make sure my family is healthy. It might be tough sometimes but I could make it work. | No, but I imagine it would be very difficult for the very poor to understand and to meet the demands of these requirements. | It would be hard in this community since there are no jobs. |
322 | Without Medicade my disabled daughter could not afford medical coverage/ care | Anything that takes away care is harmful! Healthcare should be a right. | No, but I know people it would. | It would be hard in this community since there are no jobs. |
323 | Without Medicaid I could not afford any health care, period. | At this point,I really wouldn't be able to work,because of breathing issues.I wish I could at least be able to work part-time,as right now I can't take a bath without my inhaler. | No, but I'm a retired teacher. Most Ky workers are not. Employment changes are normal for low-income households. | It would be impossible |
324 | Without medicaid I would not be able to have insurance and I have some health issues that require routine doctor visits, its also been a God send to my husband. We are a working family my husband works 2 jobs and I am currently enrolled in a masters program to gain better employment. However, at this moment we have to have insurance my husband has a hereditary issue that could be life ending if he doesn't receive regular treatments that we could not afford at this time. | Bevin wants me to work for Medicaid. I'm 73. Who will hire me? Not even non-profits want a 73 year old volunteer for fear of impacting their own medical insurance costs and coverage. Also, how will I get to this job? If I can't walk to the grocery now, I go without food. How will walking miles to a state mandated job in the dead of winter keep me from needing more Medicaid? My total monthly income is a little over $1,000/mo. The bulk goes for housing & food (Bevin already cut back my food stamps) with little left for anything else, let alone paying medical premiums. I want Bevin to pee in a cup and prove to me he's not using abusive substances, because he sure knows how to abuse the needy and disadvantaged. | No, but it changed last month from making 55k to 0 | It would be impossible for me to do |
325 | Without Medicaid, my children, who are 17 year old twins would probably be in jail or experiencing serious social problems. both have psychiatric conditions and substance abuse issues and thanks to Medicaid (MY private health insurance will not pay for the level of services they get) they are safely getting long term residential treatment. They were out of control while in the community. Now they are both is safe settings, attending school that they once cut daily, staying clean and sober, and seeing counselors and psychiatrists. In fact they are at this moment thriving. Virtually no private health insurance covers this kind of treatment and the average person could never afford the 8 or 10 thousand dollars a month to get the kind of help these children need. | Can't do volunteer work if your disabled or already hold a full time job. No dental and vision is ludicrous. | No, but it does for my patients constantly, and with everything going on in their lives, there is no way all the changes could be reported "timely". | It would be redundant. I have job experience and a degree, I am simply looking for a job. My father has Medicaid and works full-time. He does not need job training - he has a job - he just needs insurance. |
326 | Without medicaid, my mother could not get treatment for her type 2 diabetes. I would not be able to even see a doctor to learn about my health issues, as the insurance offered by my employer is $60 a month and has a $3500 deductible before it pays for ANYTHING. Co-pays don't kick in until you meet at a minimum of $2000 of your deductible. | Changes proposed by the Bevins administration are estimated to cause 89,000 Kentuckians to drop/be dropped from services--that's where the Governor finds the state's savings in the changes. The changes have the clear effect of reducing and delaying access to healthcare for our state's most vulnerable. Low-income participants will need to spend needless hours and days in application, monitoring three accounts, and providing 20 hours a week--half a work-week-- of "mandated volunteer time", an oxymoron if ever there was one. In many cases in urban areas such as Jefferson County, they may not have a car to get to healthcare services during business hours. Without the current nonemergency services transportation provisions, they would make their way to ERs in the evenings. Providers will be forced to do increased paperwork, and will be morally forced to provide services--through more expensive emergency services-- when those no longer covered present with serious health conditions. | No, but it is difficult for me to do ANYTHING in 10 days with all work and family obligations. A month would be more realistic | It would be very difficult for my mom to do this because she spends hours and hours every day working on applying for jobs (resumes, applications, etc). |
327 | I treat refugee families who are too disabled to work. Most of them do not speak English very well, do not have a computer and could not use one if they did, have no spare cash of any kind and have failed to find volunteer work to qualify them for food stamps. Quite a few cannot read or write in any language. I believe that there is a section of the impoverished community in Louisville that is not very much more able than these refugee families. In addition, they tend to move house very frequently, and mail is not likely to reach them in a timely manner. For people with these disadvantages, discontinuing their Medicaid for any reason is a disaster. It is immoral to discontinue health coverage for people who may have life threatening conditions. Yesterday I saw a woman who has extremely unstable diabetes. Her health coverage has been discontinued for no reason that I can understand, and without warning. Unless this woman continues to receive her medications, she is at risk of her life. | Children would not receive mental health coverage. Their mental health impacts academics, perpetuates "pipeline to prison", and affects our community at large (esp. economically as early intervention helps children grow into prosperous adults). | No, but many of my family and friends work as freelancers. Income varies widely comparing invoices sent to invoices paid and the time in between. Also availability of freelance positions is a rapidly moving target. Ultimately this 10 day limit fails to take into account entrepreneurs and people who are self-employed. People who the Governor claims he wants to help. Not buying it. | It would effect me as I am currently unemployed due to mental health issues. My concerns would be how long I would be given to meet these expectations, what would happen if I was not able to meet the requirments due to my health status, and how I would pay for transportation. If I lost Medicaid coverage I would not be to see a specialist such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist, pay for my prescriptions, or visit the hospital in a crisis. |
328 | A family member of mine had Passport for about 18 MO this and it was literally a life saver. | Co pays would give people some skin in the game not totally free unless unable to pay. | No, but my daughter's status if fluctuating as she is currently looking for a job. | It would hospitalize me. |
329 | Able to get medical help | Co-pays and premiums will hurt folks who are trying to make ends meet. Healthcare will be the first to go when it comes to paying for Healthcare versus paying for food or electricity. | No, but my son's does. As you can see I think this would cause individual's to be without insurance. | It would impact my 25 year old grandson (with a mental disability) as he only works minimum wage jobs and currently is not employed. He usually only works about 6 months at a time and then loses his job. My oldest daughter is not capable of working. |
330 | Able to medical care and medication that I would not be able to afford. | Community health is important and should be a priority, regardless of income. | No, but the employment of many people who I care about does change regularly. | It would impact the elderly. People like my grandmother who can't work anymore due to she's at the age of retirement. |
331 | Able to receive specialized care when needed. Able to get glasses for my daughter as well as getting hearing aids. | Community residents with diminishing healthcare coverage could could result in their diminished health, which would make our community a less desirable place to live. | No, but this is too short of time to notify . Give 30 days | It would make people who have to balance school and part and full time work have to add another 20 hours of labor to their lives. Most minimum wage jobs don't offer the flexibility to make this possible. A full time student's schedule would not generally allow this so easily either. I personally can't afford to put 20 hours of additional work per week toward something that's not going to keep a roof over my head and keep me fed. Your proposal that this be a requirement is ridiculous. |
332 | Adult friends who have not had medical coverage in years are able to obtain health insurance and establish a relationship with a regular doctor. No more fear of medical bills making them homeless. | Cost more money | No, I am on a fixed income, as I am retired. | It would mean a lot of folks doing a crappy job of volunteering very, very slowly. |
333 | After being on medical leave for much of the year we were no longer able to keep our paid plan through Kynect, and was enrolled in medicaid. At first I was upset that we weren't able to keep the plan we had, but this was a God send. Life has been stressful enough with limited income & constant doctors appointments. I'm very thankful for the changes that were made so I would be currently eligible for medicaid instead of being sick & unable to work for sometime and not having insurance either. The set up does need some changes, but overall I am extremly grateful! I wouldn't be against paying a set amount towards a premium or instead paying deductibles because I am so thankful for the coverage. | Decrease in ability to hold a job, children lingering in foster care because parents can't get their services, decrease in number of private providers which impacts access and quality of services. | No, I think that is a reasonable request. | It would not affect me directly but it would affect the people who need medicaid but are members of the 'working poor'. Those individuals who work one or more full time jobs but make less than or equal to the minimum wage, which is NOT a living wage. |
334 | After our daughter aged out of our family ESI, she was finishing college and could not work during that year. Previously, she had to take a 2 year break from school to have surgery/recover so she was finishing later in life and still tired from being sick. Medicaid made it possible for her to keep insurance until she could graduate and gain employment. During that year, she would not have been able to do extra activities to keep coverage or pay premiums. She is now insured by an ESI. | Devastating if they lost either. | No, it does not | It would not affect me directly, but may have an impact on someone who has multiple children. It is difficult to work/take care of your children on a single income. |
335 | After years of not being insured due a job change, have been able to once again see doctors and receive medications for lupus, arthritis, high cholesterol, glaucoma, and diabetes. All had gotten worse due to 5 years without medications. | Eliminating dental and vision coverage will mean that my partner can't get regular dental work done or regular vision checks. | No, it doesn't change for me but there are many people it will effect. 10 days is not enough time and I doubt seriously unless KY invests a great deal of money is new software to track this, they will be able to competently keep up with the information being sent in. | It would not affect me personally at this time. However, i would have had great difficulty meeting such a requirement as a student unless there were provisions in place to allow my clinical work to count. I likely would not have been able to keep my coverage because i would have been faced with an impossible decision of prioritizing either my health or my education. |
336 | All of Kentucky has benefited by having more people insured and healthier communities. | Extra financial burden that would take food from the table. We barely get by now. | No, it doesn't change often but whenever a change is going to happen, I try to report it as soon as possible. Documentation is sometimes hard to find and provide, especially if I hear that what I submitted is not sufficient. | It would not affect me personally, but for qualifed people, looking for a job is a full time job. Childcare, transportation and engagement opportunities are not equally distributed in the community. |
337 | All of my children have been on medicaid since birth and several have had critical health problems and would have had permanent problems without access to medical care. In addition, last year my husband got a deadly case of MRSA and would have died if we had not had medicaid to pay for his hospital stay and medication. We are grateful to have the coverage that we have had to provide care for our family. | Firstly, the elderly people are already having a hard time accessing the current system, the new system (mostly the automatic renewal removal) will really hurt them. If they don't remember to renew then now they are locked out for 6 months??? That will kill people because now when they fall and break their hip they can't go to the ER. This new system shows how little Bevin and the state of Kentucky cares about its citizens and how much our lives mean. It's not my fault I need glasses to see, as do probably like 60% of people. Now I'm going to have to pay at least 2 weeks of a pay to afford my glasses. I pull 16 hour days at minimum wage. I work 2 jobs and I will not be able to afford the monthly payment that they are probably going to give to me. But who cares, because I will most likely get locked out because no one sent me a letter telling me it was time to renew. This system will hurt the hard working, the poor, the elderly, all the students. | No, mine does not change frequently. But, my wife's does. As a student working part time, it is hard to know what her hours will be each month. | It would not affect me personally. However, I have already described issues with this in previous comment. |
338 | Approximately 440,000 additional Kentuckians are receiving vitally important healthcare because of the expansion. it allows them to work, go to school, raise their families, contribute to Kentucky and their communities. I have worked with refugee resettlement and with low-income groups in Louisville's West End. Individuals I've gotten to know in both communities rely on the Medicaid healthcare program to help them get to and use health care services without dedicating every waking hour to it. They simply could not work or pursue it if they had to spend literally half of their time on "volunteer" and paperwork time associated with the new proposals. | For one, at certain times of the year I do not work because as a student with a family as well, I don't have the time. So any premiums would not be payable at those times. My schedule is tight so if there were penalties for missing required appointments, I'd probably incur them. These rules just assume that everyone on medicaid is lazy. | No, mine doesn't. However, I adopted a child with FASD. While I am doing my utmost to try to ensure he'll be as independent and supported to be successful, many people with his condition struggle to maintain employment. His issues would certainly make likely that he might miss that 10 day cut off and, as a result, be unable to access the medications that keep him able to function within society. Without those meds, future employability would be nearly impossible. Now, as long as I'm living, I'd find a way to help but I probably won't live forever and, although I'll leave resources, there is no guarantee they will work out. So, what then? I have to assume the same issue surrounds other people like him, people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia would be the same. It's a stupid requirement. If people are truly fraudulent, prosecute them for fraud. Don't make the process harder for people in crisis. | It would not affect me, but most folks that need the assistance would have to suffer through this process. |
339 | As a Director of Client Services at Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelters almost all women and children who come to our shelter have know insurance and we help them apply for this assistance. We serve over 600 clients with children every year most of these women whom we serve have not been to a doctor for a checkup in years . As well as to have never seen a dentist. Without this the women and children would suffer tremendously. | Getting and staying covered will become too difficult, or impossible. The changes appear to be completely punitive to low-income individuals for having medical needs at all, and to merely retain coverage. | No, my employment status has remained the same for the past 10 months. | It would not affect my family as of now. How can you expect someone like a single parent to try to support and better their family by working two jobs *and* have a volunteer requirement? Many who qualify for Medicaid can still be working two jobs and still qualify under the income limit. Your assumption that people on Medicaid are just too lazy to be able to afford regular insurance is dangerous and perpetuates an inaccurate stereotype. |
340 | As a family of five I don't know how we would make it without this coverage because we cannot afford our own insurance plan. | Given the large numbers of disadvantaged citizens in KY, this would clearly have a negative impact by presenting barriers to coverage. | No, my income and employment status does not change regularly but those working in small businesses can be fired without notice if the business shuts down. They should not have such a short time frame to report changes in what could already be a stressful time. Even if it is a positive change, acquiring a new job, ten days is too short of a turn around during a time of change. | It would not as he works full time but the poor don't have reliable cars or transportation. This is just another way to eject them from Medicaid |
341 | As a retired educator, I saw daily how Medicaid improved the health care of children. Children who miss school due to illness and attend school not feeling well or without dental and vision care are not able to learn to the best of their ability. | Governor Bevin's proposal appears not only to be a common sense safety net for vulnerable community members, it seems to be a fiscally sound proposal as well. This is the leadership Kentucky has been needing for years. | No, my income and/or employment does not change regularly because I am a salaried employee. However, that has not always been the case. When I was a student and young mom I worked an hourly job in which I was guaranteed a set amount of hours thus allowing my income to fluctuate. This is how it works. Requiring Medicaid recipients to report such changes within 10 days will be like a never ending reporting cycle! Again, this is another barrier to make it life a bit more difficult in an effort to get people to "drop" from the roles due to frustration or the inability to maintain this cycle. | It would not directly affect me immediately but may eventually affect me should I ever lose my position. |
342 | As a retired state employee, these people have better coverage than I do. | health care wouldnt be affordable to me. | No, my income doesn't really change, but if it did, a 10 day limit could be difficult. If someone gets a job, they don't even usually get paid for at least 2 weeks, so that would be impossible to report. 10 days is unrealistic and put a an undue burden on people. | It would not directly impact me. |
343 | at least now we get to see a doctor and get dental and vision for kids that need it | I agree with a few of the changes. Requiring those who can to volunteer or work is a good idea. | No, my income/employment status stays the same. | It would not impact me |
344 | Because I qualify for Medicaid under the ACA I am able to work part time at the moment while I spend the rest of my time applying for grad school next fall. If I did not have health insurance, I would need to find a full-time job, and would not have enough time to devote to these applications and the GRE. | I am 65+ and on a limited income, in HUD housing. I live in constant austerity, and appreciate the break from medical bills. | No, my status does not change regularly. | It would not impact me because I am not eligible for Medicaid but I think it's unfair and ridiculous. |
345 | Because it actually was there when we were sick and needed to use it, I do not promote over use of it in any way, but to have it and use it as actually necessary and be careful and thoughtful about that is a good thing | I am a stay at home Mom and it would cause me to go back to work and try to stay out of debt to pay for child care and insurance. Right now I do not have to worry about it. My husband does not make a lot of money but we are happy to have the little boys home. I breasted too. | No, not currently | It would not impact me directly |
346 | Before Medicaid I had to really move w caution regarding my healthcare fearful every day something could happen and I would not be treated. I saw this w my daughter who suffered severely with health issues only to have pain pills thrown at her just to get he out of the ER. She got hooked on opiates as a result. Then she finally got Medicaid and it was found she had severe ovarian scuds and also had to have her gallbladder out. | I am concerned about people in my community having to earn reward points for something that affects their health. That is a cruel way to punish someone simply for being poor. Rewards should go towards uncovered expenses and optional, if at all. Many people in my community are going to appointments for the very first time and are engaged in the health and eager to take steps to get healthy. I have concerns about shutting something down or changing this until we can see it through another year or two and then review that data. The needle is moving for the first time, but we don't really know how much if we take away the means that move the needle. | no, not mine but I have low wage earners with children that have to decide between child care, medications, utilities etc... sometimes it is impossible to met a 10 day deadline imposed for this particular population. | It would not impact me directly, but I fear for those in the community who might not be working in paid jobs, but who might be taking care of others. |
347 | Better health care means better health for Kentuckians! | I am considered an "able bodied" individual, but am far from being able bodied. I have chronic migraines, which means 20+ days per month I am in the bed most of the day. I am sensitive to light and sound, cannot eat, and would literally pry my eye out of my head if it would help the pain. Luckily, I am receiving treatment for my migraines. This treatment helps the extremities, but is far from a cure. I also suffer from extreme back pain, even though physicians seem to believe I am too young to suffer and refuse to even allow me to get a scan for this. I cannot stand for more than fifteen minutes at a time, without having to sit down and take a break. I cannot shop anywhere that does not have a cart for me to lean on, and do no leisure activity that requires me to stand. Even though I am in constant pain. I have little job experience because I stay home and act as a caregiver to my fiance' who is on dialysis. It is hard to work because of constant migraines, having to be a caregiver, and my back pain, even though I am considered "able bodied". I have tried to look for desk work, and even with a degree, 90% of places I apply to will not even call me back, let alone hire me. Perhaps its because I have little job experience? Perhaps nepotism runs rampant in small towns? Many of us would work if we could find work. Even with working, most people in KY on medicaid are making minimum wage, which is by far not a living wage. After paying bills, they can barely afford to eat, let alone pay insurance premiums and deductibles. Those who do not struggle cannot empathize. I do not mind paying co-pays or a premium, however as a family of two who gets 795 a month, struggles for the basic necessities. I believe this would affect KY as a community greatly. KY is second poorest state in the entire USA. Lack of access to healthcare is basically a death sentence to the poor. When families struggle to eat, how are they supposed to come up with money to visit a physician? For those who do not drive, many cannot afford or even find someone to take them to routine appointments. My fiance' is on dialysis and does not drive. I take him to in center hemo, but if anything happened to me, he would not be able to go if not for transport. Also, who determines what is an emergency at the hospital? I understand people use the er for frivolous reasons, and yes, they should be penalized, but where is the line drawn at what is considered an emergency? Symptoms that aren't considered an emergency could in fact be something deadly. My father had back pain so bad he could not stand. He went to the emergency room and because he was already on pain medicine they snubbed him and sent him home, with no scan or anything. Back pain may have not been an "emergency" per se, however, two weeks later when his doctor ordered an MRI, it was found he had stage four cancer, all throughout his body. He passed two months later. Even something that seems simple, like a headache, could be an aneurysm. Next, many in Kentucky are uneducated, and are not able to understand forms, accounts, and anything computer related. Having one account is confusing, let alone having to manage three. | No, our income and employment of my husband has been constant for the last 4 years, at least. | It would not impact me directly. My understanding is that required work/ volunteer hours are a paper work nightmare, and even adults who can (and even want to) work or volunteer, may have difficulty finding an approved site with hours they can actually work. This would be especially true of individuals with previous convictions, but have repaid their debt. Again, this would impact children in the household as well. |
348 | Better prenatal care and outcomes | I am not able to get much of anywhere to volunteer my services; I do not own a car. Thus to require volunteer services and then not provide transportation is ludicrous and puts hardship on the person doing it, especially when public transportation does not go everywhere needed. It is a fool's errand. I have a friend who is diligently looking for a job. She is able to get only part time or temporary work because of the nature of the job market, the fact that she cannot easily get the Ritalin she needs for her depression, and that she must volunteer on top of the jobs she has and on top of not being able to get this restricted medicine easily. AND she cannot get a doctor who will take Medicaid. When Medicaid won't even pay for the procedures a doctor must do for a patient, and when the doctor won't take Medicaid, the purpose of Medicaid is defeated and is a terrible state for Medicaid recipients. Medicaid should be reasonable to be accepted by all doctors and healthcare practitioners, should pay for all screenings that doctors recommend, all vaccines appropriate for a person's age, pay for doctor's visits with a small co-pay in order to get regular exams and provide for the medicines a person needs, including restricted medicines. It should act like a true insurance. The one thing my friend was able to do with Medicaid was to get surgery for her Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for her right hand--her dominant hand--so that she could look for a job online without hurting due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and get a job and do it without impairment. When my friend is not required to do volunteer work, she is more likely to get more done in finding a job: posting resumes and getting interviews, because looking for a job is a 24/7 job in itself. If you wish people to do volunteer work, have it be for job-finding workshops, networking events; Louisville's Urban League has a Workforce Development program; Youth Development Programs; Vocational Rehab; and others. These should be connected with finding proper and appropriate employment, not with requirements for health insurance or subsistence. They should be voluntary and advertised as such. The programs should provide transportation to those who don't have reliable transportation. These programs should employ one-on-one contact between client and caseworker to be a team for finding the client a job, taking into account the client's health and physical abilities, trade capabilities, degrees and certificates, and traditional and non-traditional forms of employment networking. Since resumes are submitted, unformatted, into dialogue boxes, they reduce the ability of clear presentations. The caseworker should be familiar with these forms and be able to teach people how to get noticed. People with mental disorders such as I would have a difficult time trying to volunteer and find a job simultaneously. When a program is built on understanding the special needs of a mentally-ill person (whose disabilities are often "invisible" but require special accommodations), matching a job to their abilities and interests AND their education and experience (mentally ill people often have at least one college 4-year degree; I have 2 degrees), then success, keeping a job, and preventing deteriorating mental condition is more likely. And when a person with a mental disability finds and keeps a job, they pay taxes like anyone else with a job does. So eliminate requirements for volunteering. Promote VOLUNTARY networking and job-seeking programs with client-tailored provisions. Expand Medicaid to allow all healthcare providers to accept it and to help pay for people's medicines and treatments. This will allow people to get preventative medical screenings and dental and visual treatments. This in turn will reduce the number of people in the Emergency Room and in the hospital, thus reducing the cost of medical treatment in the long run and overall. Everybody wins. Keep Dental/Visual insurance available for a reasonable cost for Medicare recipients, and no cost for those whose income is not sufficient (and thus on Medicaid). Do not charge copays for recipients of Medicaid. Do not make them volunteer for these benefits. Provide transportation for Medicaid recipients. | No, their employment status does not change regularly | It would not impact me personally but I would be concerned that people in some of KY's most impoverished towns would not be able to cobble together 20 hours per week. |
349 | By providing me a means to keep healthy when the people in charge to serve us in the government need to look for ways to strengthen our country economically and by restoring and building morale instead of selling us out for their own life style benefits. What happened to the government BY the PEOPLE and FOR the PEOPLE. | I am not able to work or pay for this, I have been denied disability and waiting on court date. If I lose this coverage I will have to quit going to dr appts and not be able to get my medicine for kidney disease I have. I am on dialysis now and still waiting on disability and Medicare | No, there are no changes in our household to the income or employment status. | It would not impact me personally. |
350 | Can go to do. As needed and get prescriptions for my bealth filled | I am not affected | no, these changes do not affect me , but they do affect people I care for at our rural clinic. | It would not impact me, but as someone who runs a non profit, I am curious how I would be expected to report on people doing their hours as a volunteer. That is a burden that these over worked organizations should not have to bear. |
351 | Clients are able to access Medicaid billable substance use treatment so they can work towards being productive members of their community. They are able to access necessary dental care that has been neglected for years. | I believe 100 % that doing away with Medicaid expansion WILL kill people in Kentucky. I wouldn't want that on my chest. | No, this is not about me - I'm lucky enough to be in good health with work provided healthcare. This is about protecting our most vulnerable citizens and living in a society with a moral sense of duty to those less fortunate. | It would not impact me, but I know it impacts all of the single mothers I know who are Berea College students. All students have to work 10 hours a week, but the State imposes double that on young mothers who already have an extra burden in caring for children while pursuing a college degree. Many of them made unwise choices in their lives, have been abandoned or have fled abusive relationships, but are now trying to better themselves. Why does the State make it harder for them to do so? |
352 | community is healthier; workforce is healthier; economy is stronger | I believe people that can work should work. Not take every handout available. For generations people in the U.S. have milked the system and won't work. I don't think people who are really sick should be punished and have to pay premiums when people that are to lazy to work have things handed to them. | No, this is the only help we get with her due to middle income household. | It would not impact me, but I think it is a stupid idea, especially since children and the elderly are primary Medicaid recipients. I can't imagine why anyone would consider requiring volunteer, work, or job training for either of those populations. |
353 | Community members feel like they matter | I believe that most proposals would not benefit the below poverty population which is the population that would need this type of assistance. However, careful screening and incentives to enter school or the ranks of the employed (people of advanced age excepted) should be part of the program. | No. | It would not impact me, but many people do not have the opportunity or transportation to meet this requirement. |
354 | Couldn't afford coverage | I can't afford my employers medical insurance. If I'm forced to choose it simply because it's offered I won't have any medical coverage at all. | No. | It would not impact me, personally. It would impact many people, many of her and would end up losing their insurance. |
355 | drug coverage | I cannot afford to enroll in my company's health plan. While I am eligible, it is so cost prohibitive that with such a high deductible that I could not provide my children and myself with health care. Even adding copays could seriously negatively impact out quality of life. | No. | It would not impact me. |
356 | Expanded Medicaid has allowed low-income residents without minor children to receive access to healthcare. All Kentuckians should have access to healthcare without having to rely on the ER. | I care about the c are for the mentally ill. We need MORE care, not less care and harder to get care. What a step backwards these changes are for the people for KY! | No. | It would not impact me. However, I have worked in CMHC settings and most of my clients could barely make it to appointments and keep their families taken care of so this is simply rich white male privilege stereotyping. I find this offensive. |
357 | Families and children are receiving coverage they have never had before and could otherwise not afford. | I could be disabled for the rest of my life. | No. | It would not impact my household, as my son is disabled. |
358 | family member used Medicaid benefits after devastating stroke that left him unable to work | I do not believe there are any of the changes proposed that will not affect anybody in my family. | No. | It would not personally affect me, but it would the people in our rural clinic that I care for. |
359 | Finally been able to get all my bad cavities filled after years of problems. | I do not know yet. | No. | It would not, but this isn't possible for everyone and would put undue stress on many who don't need it. |
360 | Finally getting back some of what I've paid in over the years | I don't have a problem paying a copay for when I go to the doctor i think that everyone should work for there benefits even if its volunteer work. | No. | It would not, however as an OBGYN in an underserved area he is providing community engagement all the time. |
361 | food stamps and some medical coverage | I don't have money when they need medical attention. | No. | It would not. |
362 | For the first time in a long time I have been able to go to the doctors and not worry how I was gonna pay for it. Even when I had employer based insurance I couldn't afford the copays. | I don't have time to volunteer, I work. I just don't make enough to pay the cost of insurance. I need dental insurance really bad. My teeth are horrible and it's caused some serious issues. I make too much for food stamps for my family so when I work, I'll have the choice of buying food or paying premiums for insurance. Believe me, I'll buy the food that my family needs before taking care of myself. | No. | It would take away from parenting and being home agent my children are home. |
363 | Greater access to coverage for adults right on the poverty line. We have been able to access care for venerable adults that did not have care under the old system. I have seen positive impacts upon how my community has benefited because there are adults who are getting much needed medical and mental health care. | I fear for the health of our communities in Kentucky when we make access to health care complicated and with access restrictions. These will create access barriers that could set back the current progress realized via Medicaid expansion. | No. | It would take him away from work for which he is paid! |
364 | Hard working people who couldn't get much needed medical treatment before are now able to. I myself have only been able in the past to take very very necessary medication. I feel much better now because I'm able to have lab test and such to help with other concerns. I do work everyday and have since I was 14 years old. | I feel like I could afford the monthly premiums. But the copay is stupid I may be sick and not have 50.00 to pay to the Dr. That exact day. | No. | It would take him away from work for which he is paid! |
365 | Having transportation and Medicaid has provided children of all ages to stay healthier and up to date on health issues. | I feel that people would lose their insurance and that a lot of hospital's will lose a lot of money on self pays as they will still come to the ER for treatment as people know they can't be turned away. | No. | It would take me from my family and Taking care of my husband as he is Injured now. |
366 | Healthier individuals make a healthier community. | I have 4 kids. Paying premiums and/or co-payments for 5 people is too much. | No. | It wouldn't affect me as I'm medically frail, but I feel it's too large a demand on the member's time and abilities. |
367 | Help with dr bills | I have a good part-time job that puts me right on the edge of eligibility for expanded coverage. I could personally afford to pay up to $30 per month or so in premiums. I think everyone should have Medicaid and that payment of premiums should be on sliding scale. Therefore I don't think I would be negatively affected by those changes. Also, my Passport plan has very minimal dental and vision care, so I might actually benefit from the My Rewards if it allowed me to pay for even one dental procedure per year. | No. But even though my child has a lifelong disability and income is not supposed to be a factor in his benefits, we are still required to report our income. Going through the annual recertification process is already emotionally debilitating for parents. If this provision is extended to families like mine, it just feels like punishment for an already heartbreaking situation. | It wouldn't affect me but it would be heartless to ask cancer patients, sick children (and the parents who care for them), the elderly and disabled to require volunteering when are sick and need assistance. Again, this is our moral duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society. |
368 | Helped | I have a lot of medical issues. I cannot afford my employer's insurance. | No. But even though my child has a lifelong disability and income is not supposed to be a factor in his benefits, we are still required to report our income. Going through the annual recertification process is already emotionally debilitating for parents. If this provision is extended to families like mine, it just feels like punishment for an already heartbreaking situation. | It wouldn't affect me or my family. |
369 | Helps immensely, I am disabled, awaiting disability and can not afford insurance | I have been denied my social security and am unable to work due to neuropathy and constant leg numbness. I would not be able to pay premiums or a high co-pay. | No. But even though my child has a lifelong disability and income is not supposed to be a factor in his benefits, we are still required to report our income. Going through the annual recertification process is already emotionally debilitating for parents. If this provision is extended to families like mine, it just feels like punishment for an already heartbreaking situation. | It wouldn't because I work. But some people may not be able to get out and work due to a disability. |
370 | I ,and now my daughter, have been denied( documented)disability by Soc Sec for YEARS, unable to get or afford prescriptions, medical, dental, optical and mental health care..finally with medicaid she and is able to see specialists like neurologist, and physical therapy and has access to SOME of the help she needs | I have considered re-locating from Kentucky in deference to available health coverage provided and availaible elsewhere. | No. But even though my child has a lifelong disability and income is not supposed to be a factor in his benefits, we are still required to report our income. Going through the annual recertification process is already emotionally debilitating for parents. If this provision is extended to families like mine, it just feels like punishment for an already heartbreaking situation. | It wouldn't but I worked with welfare recipients years ago. Some of them struggled with drug addiction, lack of transportation, criminal records and other barriers. This, coupled with lack of places to actually volunteer and lack of jobs in Harlan County created a cycle of people losing benefits. |
371 | I am a hard working SINGLE mother of two children, one who is in college. Even though I do work everyday, I still cannot afford to have commercial insurance of my children, because it's too expensive. My father who is on a fixed income has custody of my nephew and without Medicaid he wouldn't be able to afford commercial insurance on my nephew either. Medicaid IS NOT WELFARE like Bevin feels, there are a lot of people out here working every day trying to provide for their families, but because of their low pay, they're unable to afford commercial insurance. I work in the medical field and if these changes that he's proposing go thru, my job along with many other people could be in jeopardy!!! Clearly he hasn't thought this situation all the way thru. Anyone with a heart or who cares even just a little for others, would never want these changes!!!!! He wants to take away dental and vision benefits away, what about people who have Type I Diabetes? That can affect their vision. If he takes away dental benefits...this could cause more harm to people....when people do not take care of their teeth...this can affect their heart, if they have an abscess and it goes unattended...it could go to their brain and kill them. He clearly hasn't thought about any of this or perhaps he just really doesn't care about others! | i have glaucoma so i guess with out vision coverage ill go blind | No. But I know many people who this could possibly affect, such as painters, electrions, and construction workers. Their pay can vary weekly. | It wouldn't change anything for me. I work 60+ hours a week. I don't support this change because most poor people have children. I highly doubt you are going to offer childcare. Further, my life is better since I started my professional career again after my accident, not work. My life was miserable working reception for close to minimum age at my dad's office. The job was boring and tedious with no benefits. Now I have my career back. I am happy and inspired. The money really isn't there, but I pay my bills, and it's meaningful. Forcing people to leave their children in order to work low wage jobs that are meaningless doesn't help them. I like the idea of volunteer work only if childcare is provided. |
372 | I am a healthcare worker and see both the benefits and the abuses of Medicaid daily. Although more individuals are covered, we have seen Medicaid abuses increase as well. More and more requirements are placed on healthcare institutions to help offset the cost of a program that the government know they couldn't pay for when it started. This program has benefited some of the working poor in the community; however, by allowing workers who did not have a healthcare benefit available to them before to be eligible for coverage. | I have insurance through my employer, and I am a single mother, but if I had to put them on my insurance, not only would my premiums triple, but their coverage benefits would essentially disappear. There is no dental or vision and I have a $2500 deductible before any coverage would kick in. We live pay check to paycheck, and sometimes we don't make that. So if these expenses were to suddenly to be, chances are my daughter wouldn't get her medicine and, at the risk of sounding neglectful, I simply just wouldn't take them. I can't afford it. | No. But poor folks have enough on their plate without having to jump through more government hoops. | It wouldn't effect me but what about people who are under employed? Wouldn't we want someone to work part time if they couldn't work full time? How will they find full time employment if they are working 20 hours and volunteering 20 hours? Also, where will their kids go? |
373 | I am a provider at a "safety net" clinic, and I am deeply concerned about the effect these changes will have on our families who are in extremely fragile social and financial situations. | I have medical issues that need to be monitored. Failure to have medication would result in my death. | No. How can no jobs, no income change? | It wouldn't have |
374 | I am a psychologist who sees Medicare and Medicaid patients. Some have never before had coverage and for the first time can access mental health benefits. | I have seen firsthand the look of relief as community members learned that they would now have health insurance, some of them for the first time. They've gotten primary care providers and started caring for themselves. I am so worried that it will be taken from them in this very complicated system that they won't be able to navigate. | No. However, if did, would be hard for me to keep up with reporting. Suggest 30 summary period. | It wouldn't have a direct impact on me but I see clients with Medicaid coverage. By mandating work or volunteering, they would have less time to be seen in my office. |
375 | I am a single mom who works were I am not offered insurance. I can't afford private insurance which is why I have medicaid. | I have several family members on Medicaid, and while a few of them appreciate the benefits they receive and use them responsibly, the majority do not. One in particular has abused Medicaid repeatedly and feels she should have no personal responsibility for her health management. Hopefully these changes will force her and others in my family to be more aware of what they are getting (at a great expense) and take some personal responsibility in managing their health. | No. I am also not on medicaid. But I know people who are. | It wouldn't impact me directly but I'm aware that transportation is a huge issue in rural communities. Who is gong to pay for transportation to make this happen? |
376 | I am a single mother who works full time. I cannot afford insurance through my employer for myself and my son. If we didn't have medicaid, we wouldn't be able to take care of ourselves. | I have two mentally challenged friends. The changed plan requiring them to self-manage their accounts, to face 6-month disenrollment if they miss a reenrollment date would likely have a negative impact on their ability to receive timely medical attention. | No. I have had steady employment for several years. | It wouldn't impact me negatively but I feel that it would add stress to some that don't feel like it being up and active for 20 hrs per week. |
377 | I am a single mother with a two yr old. I have worked my whole life since I was 16 yrs old. I stay at home now to take care of my child and my mother who has liver cancer. Recently I had a severe tooth ache resulting from never paying to go to the dentist. When I was working I had dental coverage but never went bc I was working pay check to pay check and couldn't afford the copay or deductibles and that was before the ACA went into affect. Now on medicaid, I was able to go to the UofL dental school and found I had a severe tooth infection. They pulled the tooth and treated the infection. If I had waited longer, I could have died leaving my child an orphan and my aging sick mother to care for her. It tears me up to think that something as simple as this out patient procedure that saved my life could be withheld from someone else. They even fixed the rest of my teeth so now I am able to smile. As soon as my child is older and my mother hopefully by the grace of god beats this cancer, I will be able to return to work and with no more black teeth, i have a much better chance of getting hired. | I have weak teeth and bad vision. Both dental and vision benefit me greatly and I would not like to se them go. I do not abuse my benefits and don't think the misuse of others should affect me. Penalize those who obviously abuse the benefits. | No. I've been employed at the same place for 17 years and health insurance was a job benefit. I've lost money because of the Affordable Care Act but I do not care because others now have access to health care. | It wouldn't impact me unless it was in an increase in crime. I think that increase would happen because when you force people to work you're making them do things they can't do or won't do (a lot of us have been forced to do work that we absolutely hated and that has a negative impact on a person) and will therefore turn to other ways of making a living, which doesn't rule out crime. |
378 | I am a social worker for a hospital and a majority of the people have Medicaid. This is the top insurance in our community. | I have worked healthcare and have seen poor people in KY struggle with the cost of healthcare and medications. I have been in homes where they had to decide between their meds or food and heat. Kentucky residents deserve their healthcare as much as any state in this country and it would contribute to poorer health and death for some. | No. Just makes it more difficult | It wouldn't impact me, per my Doctor, I am not able to work. |
379 | I am a student and can't work full time, and therefore make very little money. My parents have never supported me as an adult, and Medicaid is truly my only option for coverage. Recently I had a chest pain scare and after calling the 24 hour nurse support line that came with my medicaid plan, it was determined I should go to the emergency room. Without this plan I would have been too afraid of the costs effecting my life and education, and would have stayed home for this life threatening emergency. Medicaid saves lives and livilihoods. | I live in Northeast, KY most of us are working poor. A lot of people can't afford employee health insurance for their families. These changes would complicate the system and make impossible for some to afford health care. | No. This is a bureaucrat's dream. Reduce costs by keeping the system as simple as possible.. | It wouldn't impact us now, and hopefully wouldn't in the future. It would be helpful to have easier access to lists of volunteer possibilities for those living in areas with few jobs, however. |
380 | I am a teacher, and the small, private school I work for does not offer health insurance. My sons being enrolled in health coverage through Medicaid is the only way I could get them insurance as my salary is so low I would not be able to afford to insure them. | I lost my job when I had strokes no income at all to pay and I would have to do without insulin for diabetes | No. This wouldn't affect me personally, but I am very worried about the effect these changes would have on my patients. | It wouldn't. But volunteer work shouldn't be forced, because then it isn't volunteer work. |
381 | I am still alive, and would not be if not for Medicaid the past 2-3 years!!!! | I might not have to wait four hours in ER to be seen. | None | It wouldn't. I spend more than that volunteering already. But for the people on Medicaid who are incapacitated; in very rural areas or mentally ill, it would be devastating! |
382 | I am unable to afford the Insurance at my work. don't go to the dr maybe once a year and I will pay more for insurance premium and not even go to the doctor with Medicaid I don't pay therefor I have money for grocery's and other expenses that may occur like if my car breaks down. | I think for the most part some of the changes would be positive, it would encourage people who are sitting at home in excellent health to earn their part in some form or to contribute towards it. I'm a CPht, and I'm constantly seeing people who come kn with their medicaid and get upset over $1 copay & saying "my medicaid covers that" & we have to explain that this is a $200 drug so yes they covered X amount but this is your part. I think it would be great for everyone to have a part. | None of this effects my husband or myself, but as a member of the state of KY and a member of my community, I have a moral responsibility to look out for others. | it wouldn't. I think a lot more people should volunteer. |
383 | I became disabled and had no pension disability and could not afford coverage for my family let alone myself. Medicaid dramatically saved us and helped us during the time when we needed it most in our lives. | I think my son will lose coverage and he is just starting to get the medical and mental help care he needs. My community will have fewer healthy people (and workers) | Not all people have transportation to their local office and if they are working do not have time to wait for a person to talk to in order to report unless there is a TelePromp wait times are long. | It wouldn't. I work full-time. But I think it is a really good idea. People should have to earn what they get. |
384 | I believe it should be monitored more closely I personally know people that lies just to receive it and I just think that is really wrong | I will not be able to afford both blood pressure medication also I have some blood glucose issues and I will not be able to have the labs as often for my doctor to keep a check on that. | Not employed at this time due to mental health issues. I would think however that this could really be a hardship on individuals that are self employed, work for labor and temp agencies , seasonal workers, and tipped workers. | It's a litmus test. I do not support it |
385 | I can go to the doctor now and take better care of myself | I work at clinic where Refugees come for their first two health screenings. Some of these patients have NEVER seen a doctor before and so many health problems going on. These patients are able to see specialists so their medical problems can be addressed, without it, it could very detrimental to their health. This also goes for others who have various different health conditions. | Not enough time, perhaps 30 days. | It's condensing and judgemental of poor |
386 | I can't afford insurance and my employer doesn't offer it so my kids and I would not be able to afford to get sick or regular check ups without it. If I didn't have medicad I never would have gone for a regular check up where the doctor was concerned over the appearance of a cyst that I didn't notice. He never would have ordered test to make sure I was fine. The cancer would have ravaged my body and I would have died at 32 leaving my two children without a mother. | I work full time no time to volunteer. | Not lately, but we live in a much less stable employment environment. Not only do employers rarely see it as their responsibility to provide long term stability but wages are low and we must be willing to change jobs and move when opportunities arise that allow us to better care for our families. It's not the 1950's. | It's feasible But annoying |
387 | I cannot afford my employer's insurance. I am the only one currently working. | I work in a rural health clinic in Lincoln County, and the majority of our patients are on the Medicaid program. Since the expansion we have had MANY new patients with major health problems start to finally receive medical care. These people have went without medical care for years simply because they could not afford it but also didn't qualify for Medicaid. It would be disastrous to end their coverage now. | Not me personally but the typical Medicaid patient, absolutely. | It's hard for folks I know to make it out to volunteer opportunities on a regular basis, and then some folks may call into question what counts as 'community engagement'. |
388 | I could never afford it, Most people I know can't afford it! | I work in the refugee resettlement field. There are already work and community services requirements mandated for all newly arriving refugees through federal regulations. Adding more hoops to jump through with Medicaid will make the journey to self-sufficiency even more difficult, especially those that have medical issues that need addressed before starting work. | not mine. been at my job for 17 years. but I see lots of older people being laid off or fired. this would effect them. | It's not as easy to find a job as people think. |
389 | I could not afford coverage on the exchange and I have gotten healthcare I've not had access to in the past | I work part time I can't afford dental or eye Care | Not personally but I do know many people in this situation. | Its a few cents short of slavery, and fairly demeaning to people who already need help. |
390 | I could not afford the co pays on my last insurance. I missed many doctor appointments due to lack of money.. | I work with chronically mentally ill clients who would not be able to meet these new, complicated guidelines. They don't have transportation to volunteer for their benefits, would not have money for expensive co pays, and their mental conditions would suffer from these changes. ....putting themselves and/or others in danger. | not possible, living week to week not month to month | its needed, let people work for their benefits, after all the taxpayers who provide the benefits have to work |
391 | I currently work full time, my husband lost his job when the factory he worked at for 10 years closed. He is a current full time student. I do not make enough money to add my children to the ins plan that my work place offers. My 2 children are currently enrolled with Medicaid and it has been a lifesaver. My daughter has asthma and we could not afford her life saving medication at this time without the Medicaid program. | I worked for Kynect via Xerox. I prepared thousands of applications. Since retirement, I've helped many friends seek affordable insurance through this program also. It is such a blessing to the citizens with all of their different and difficult scenarios in life. My husband and I just retired and cannot afford to pay premiums for our youngest daughter's medical insurance so we started her on Medicaid since she is just getting started in the work place. She will probably be paying for insurance by next year due to a recent career change. For now, Medicaid is such a blessing since she is working long hours 6-7 days per week. | Not reasonable - 30 day window minimum | Job training for 20 hours a week is good In theory. Working 45 hours on minimum wage doesn't allow another 20 hours for anything. |
392 | I did not have no coverage and could not get none due to pre existing illness | I worry about removing the transportation assistance for people without access to transportation. I feel this would prevent people from pursuing preventative care to manage their health. Instead of requiring work or volunteer activities for coverage, could there instead be a "bonus" for volunteer or work activities that could earn them deductions on premiums or add vision/dental in exchange? Volunteer service is a good idea, but the goal should be to get all people minimally covered and then they could add more benefits if they are able to contribute their time to volunteer. | Our employment does not change regularly, but I have learned that the details that you will have to live with are not necessarily known at this time. | Job-hunting is a job in and of itself. I fail to see how "community engagement" via job training is useful; all it does is shame Medicaid recipients and make them beg like dogs. Actual job training with no strings attached? Yes, please. Making Medicaid benefits contingent on job training is condescending and makes life harder for the poor than it already is. |
393 | I do not have to worry about how much it will cost taking my sons to the doctor for health check ups and when they are sick. | I would be in a mess of I had to do that stuff, my family struggles for everything even with my husband working full time! We do our best! I never leave my house, I am home with my kids all the time! | Our employment status does change often. | Jobs, jobs, jobs-- Where will they work? |
394 | I do not personally receive these benefits-never have but provide care for those who do. | I would be with out meds | Our income and employment doesn't change regularly however 10 days is enough time for someone to (who wants something for free) to do their paperwork to get it | Just because you are presumably "able-bodied" does not mean you are able. |
395 | I don't know that it has. | I would have no choice but to go to the emergency room for ear infections. It was over $150 plus the cost of medicine to take them to the family doctor and I usually can't afford the antibiotic once I pay the dr. Before kynect I only used the dr for emergencies. I had to take out a loan one time to take my son to the dentist. It was a nightmare. The dentist would not see him unless I had $4000. Thankfully that was our only true emergency. The emergency room will become everybody's dr again if kynect is taken from us. | Our income is consistent. | Just like food stamps I would be without coverage. |
396 | I don't see how this could be fiscally responsible for Ky, how much will it cost the state to hire people to collect these small premiums? | I would just want to give up. I know what it's like. I haven't been to a dentist for years, and need to go. But someone is always cutting back on serving people who can't afford to pay. My social security is cut in order to pay for Medicare premium. Now how am I going to pay my co-pays for my prescriptions. I guess I'll go without---as usual. And if an ambulance takes me to ER because I wasn't taking medicine the doctor told me to take, I guess somebody will think I'm mis using the ER. An who will pay that bill, and who will get the prescriptions????? | Our income is solely provided by Social security Disability,my son will be cut off at 18 soon but I still have to put him through college somehow,He is fortunately on the Governor's scholar Program,but that doesn't pay for healthcare | Just where are hundreds of thousands of people going to find this kind of community engagement work? And how many state employees will it take to keep track of this? It would create an impossible situation for me. |
397 | I got coverage for the first time and because I could see a dr when I got sick, I could recover and not miss work. Earning minimum wage, loss of work could mean not paying bills or have food. | I would not be able to afford all the medicines I'm on now | Our income is steady so far, people will always complain being forced to comply | Kentuckians affected by addictions might be assessed as "able-bodied" before their health status is adequately diagnosed; they'll need immediate medical treatment as soon as they're in a health care facility or jail. |
398 | I had not have coverage for many years , now I do thru medicaide and so much has been found wrong with me , I am getting the help I need now to be healhier | I would not be able to afford to cover my children. | Ours does not change often but we do sometimes go away for 2 weeks at a time and we would Miss a short deadline like this. Too short | Laughably. |
399 | I have a lot of medical problems. I only draw $753. a month that includes my SSI and SS. I find it hard right now to pay my copays on medicine and my deductible on my Dr's visits. Like the eye care, you get a free exam but if you need glasses you have to do without. Even if you need a lift chair or a scooter that is beyond reach for people like me. | I would not be able to get the care I need , or my medications | Ours doesn't change regularly, because for my literal entire life we've only had disability checks. My mother and my aunt and those in my neighborhood, however would be devastated. 10 days is not enough. We have lives. We have families. 10 days is just not possible. | Like many on Medicaid. There are times when I am unable to work due to disability. |
400 | I have asthma, and would not be able to function, much less work, if I did not have the medical coverage provided by Medicaid. | I would not have coverage | Part time work is inherently unstable, and in many areas it's all that's available. Coworker takes some time off and you cover for them? Boom, income change. They come back? Income change. More hours available over the holidays? Income change. This is a ridiculous requirement that only overloads the administration of the system. | Looking for work is a full time job. Caregivers don't have time to volunteer; they ARE volunteering to care for family members, and that should count. |
401 | I have been able to be treated for depression while also growing my small business. | I would probably lose my job of my sons coverage changed and would require me to transport him or manage three accounts. | Pay periods are every two weeks so submitting income information within 10 days would be difficult if not impossible | Making people work or volunteer for health benefits assumes that the person CAN work and is not too sick or disabled. Many people DO work full time and receive Medicaid because they are poor. They can't afford medical care otherwise. People don't WANT to be on Medicaid, but they have no choice. This includes the working poor, the disabled, and the elderly. |
402 | I have been able to go to the doctor for the first time in 10 yrs with out having to worry about buying food or go to the doctor and get much needed medicine that I would never have been able to afford | I wouldn't be able to afford to see a doctor without my insurance | People will decide that working is a larger burden than benefit. Our system is already set up to deplete government resources at a level of income that is much lower than a family can survive on. | Many aren't able to do and will let coverage lapse |
403 | I have been able to obtain mental health care so that I can be a stable mother for my two children. | I wouldn't be personally affected, but I worry for families and individuals who would. You shouldn't have to choose your health over you electric bill. Our state, our country, has enough to do for all people, if we get our hearts and heads in the right place. | Please DO NOT TAKE AWAY MY HEALTHCARE I AM A DIABETIC AND I HAVE SEVERE HEART DISEASE I CANNOT PAY FOR DR VISITS TESTS OR MY MEDICINE PLEASE STOP THIS | many elderly or mothers with young children would be unable to meet this requirement consistently because of transportation or child care issues. |
404 | I have been able to seek attention when needed. As a grad student & graduate assistant my stipend is merely 10,800 a year. Without the expansion I would not be able to afford healthcare of any kind. | If charging a 1.00 or 2.00 premium would help keep and pay for the original expanded Medicaid program I would be willing to pay that. | Please institute a plan that helps people graduate from Medicaid without feeling punished for doing better. This is the most important missing policy piece. | Many Medicaid recipients don't have transportation, child care, or extra time to complete volunteer work. We are going to pay someone to regulate all of this added documentation...it would be much better to spend that money on job training and Medicaid benefits. |
405 | I have breathing problems and many other health problems,I would probably be dead without insurance.I honestly wish,I was able to work,but,I can't take a bath,without using my inhaler or nebulizer,with my insurance,I'm able to get my medication and I am taking steps to improve my health.I'm praying that it improves.please don't take it from me. | If expanded medicaid were to go away I would be unable to provide insurance for myself, medication for myself or insurance for my children at this point in my life. I'm eternally grateful for the coverage. | Practicality purposes I would much rather see this enforced in child support arrears tha Medicaid. You can't enforce them to report their job changes so how do you propose to enforce this? Fix the problems you already have first. | Many people are not able to complete the 20 hours and there are not enough positions in this area |
406 | I have clients who have to rely on Medicaid; they have no choice. | If I had to pay, I would probably be homeless. | Recently, yes. There are so many other things to do when changing jobs that remembering another step is just assinine. | Many people are not physically or mentally able to fulfill this. |
407 | I have family members and clients that I work with who have Medicaid coverage. This coverage has allowed my family and my clients to benefit from medical coverage that they would not normally be able to get. This coverage has allowed them to get their much needed medication and transportation to needed appointments. | If Medicaid was not available, then they simply would have to go without medical coverage and would not be able to get necessary treatments and medications. | Reporting changes is difficult because the offices are packed and you have to wait for hours on the phone. People who work 7-5 can never get a hold of anyone. | Many people now on Medicaid already work at least one full time job. Children are not allowed to 'work or volunteer' and elders in nursing homes obviously can't. If by chance there are some able-bodied people not seeking employment then perhaps this would be done. Let's cut the fraud; not penalize those in need. Case by case. |
408 | I have foster children who otherwise would not have medical care as I cannot claim them on my insurance. | If people had to pay co-pays, they couldn't afford medical care. Premiums need to be reasonable. (Not 50% of the income; minimum wage earners bring home $600-$800) | Reporting in 10 days is too fast when people have a family or job emergency. | Many people would not be able to achieve this. Given opportunity, transportation, and physical and mental capacity. |
409 | I have four kids and no family that can help care for them. Working would only pay daycare and not even all of it. Medicaid has provided for my family while I'm not able to work and helped me stay at home to raise my babies. | If people were denied coverage for vision or dental, life threatening conditions could go untreated unnecessarily. If the sick or disabled are unable to find transportation then how will they get the care to get better. If you force individuals who can't afford premiums or co pays how will we produce a heathy and productive society. If people are healthy, they can work. If they work the economy booms and the costs cover themselves. Less burden on the courts and social security for people who don't really need disability to be treated. | requirement has to be longer than 10 days; some wages fluctuate weekly. it would be extremely hard to keep up with this requirement | Many rural areas do not have these opportunities available. Many do not have gas money to get to training or volunteer locations and rural areas do not have public transportation. Again, the poorest of our state will be punished. |
410 | I have had 4 major operations I have needed nearly my whole life but couldn't get. I am 30 and haven't ever had insurance that I can remember. I got my double vision corrected and can see to drive again! I had to drive with double vision for years and am so greatful to be able to see again. The road is safer for everyone now! My children now have insurance. I had to take them to the er all the time because I couldn't afford the dr and there was times after the er I couldn't afford their medicine. I have cried so many tears in the pharmacy parking lot because I couldn't afford the medicine my sick babies needed. Kynect has literally saved my life and made my families much easier | If the expansion is eliminated we will no longer be insured. | Requirement to report within 10 days includes as long as a three hour wait on the telephone on some occasions (I can personally attest as a former Kynect employee who served individuals who waited for long periods of time to check their application and as an applicant who called for myself as a citizen, not Kynect employee). I, as a matter of fact, had to report within 10 days of hire for the Kynect position which paid $15/hr., lost my coverage as promised by being over the income limit, and then forefeited health insurance to assist others in applying for healthcare because the cost of the market coverage would have put me at the same income as the serving job I was doing at the time. | Many seemingly able-bodied people have problems, not visible, that can get in the way of regular employment. People's lives are not so simple and things are so seldom black or white. |
411 | I have had three surgeries I should have had years ago. I finally feel like a human being again. My nose surgery helped me to breathe again. I never knew how bad it was until they corrected my nasal deformity. I also had eye surgery that corrected my double vision. I can see for the first time in ten years and the roads are safer for everyone because of it. I had no choice but to drive with it because my husband works out of town a lot and it's just me and the kids. He's a subcontractor so his employer doesn't have to provide insurance. Kynect has changed my life's and the lives of my family. My children never had insurance until kynect. | If these changes are put in place I am not sure what will happen to us, and our community. This was a major move forward for Kentucky and I fear that now with all that is proposed things are going to get very bad. | Retail work schedules vary often and on a weekly basis. Not feasible to report accurately in such a fine period. | Many volunteer opportunities require training or prior knowledge/skills. Could be burdensome to train. Where are the job opportunities going to come from? |
412 | I have health insurance but for those low income families that do not this program help with health are | If these changes go into affect literally hundred of people in my community won't be able to go to the doctor for their needs one because of not having a vehicle no money no jobs and no hope if these changes go into effect they will be a death sentence to hundreds if not thousands of Kentucky residents | Ridiculous! The government office involved doesn't work this quickly anyway. | Medicaid itself is the strongest work incentive that could be adopted. Having continuing coverage available allows low-income and vulnerable people to work at jobs without benefits. |
413 | I have lifesaving and disease managing medicines that afford me an okay quality of life that allows me to work. Otherwise, i would be on disability or dead | If these changes go through, then many of my clients in the domestic violence shelter would lose many of their needed benefits. These benefits help with counseling for mental health and the medication that goes with the diagnose. Many of my clients have been through so many traumatic events in their life and this counseling is very much needed for them to be able to make progress in their lives! | Scary for the working poor, very scary. | Medically frail adults? How will this be judged? Who will be the judge? How will it be decided?? |
414 | I have many friends who have benefited from Medicaid in between jobs, and I work regularly with refugees who desperately need access to medical care upon their arrival to the U.S. These individuals do not have the financial resources needed to access care without Medicaid and rely on it for the care they need. | If u can't pay the premiums and afford insurance slot more people are going to die | Seasonal employment could put you over during the busy months while your income plummets otherwise. This wouldn't work for my family member. He'd be on and off Medicaid each year and still would be below the poverty level for the year | Most able bodied adults do work. they work in low paying jobs with little to no benefits. Adding this requirement is a way to "trim" the rolls. |
415 | I have medicaid coverage. I could not afford to pay expensive premiums. | If would effect us in many ways ! We would have to choose between buying food or meds . Or paying utilities or doctors ! | Seasonal work changes with weather, etc. No way to predict hours. | Most jobs seem to fall close enough under 40 hours that you can't obtain healthcare but you can't live off your earnings either. I pay over $800 in rent, this doesn't include utilities, and phone service. I do not have luxuries like entertainment accounts. I pay for wireless access for my work and for my child's education. If I lose the 2nd job...on account of having to meet the volunteer requirement.... It really gives a person pause as to how important their health is. I cannot choose to NOT cover my child. But then how will I afford school expenses if I drop a job? Simply, I would probably lose coverage. |
416 | I have not had health insurance for many years, and was thankful and relieved when I reached 65 and eligible for Medicare. Along with Medicare, came the opportunity for additional coverage with Medicaid. Now, I can take care of some of my physical issues that I have been unable to address. I don't use the ER, since there are plenty of other care options. | Im not sure really but the transportation I may need one day as I am aging and it cheaper than a ambulance , right ? | Seasonly. I would still be able to keep my coverage | Most medicaid recipients ate working individual/families |
417 | I have retired and this is the only coverage I have | In Kentucky, 106,330 consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in quality, affordable health insurance coverage through the Marketplace as of Feb. 22. Nationwide, nearly 11.7 million consumers selected a plan or were automatically enrolled in Marketplace coverage.Kentucky has received $289,303,526 in grants for research, planning, information technology development, and implementation of its Marketplace.Reducing the number of uninsured Americans: Nationwide, since the Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion began, about 16.4 million - PDF uninsured people have gained health insurance coverage - the largest reduction in the uninsured in four decades. And Gallup recently announced that the uninsured rate in Kentucky in 2014 was 9.8 percent, down from 20.4 percent in 2013.Expanding Medicaid: Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, states have new opportunities to expand Medicaid coverage to individuals with family incomes at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (generally $32,253 for a family of four in 2015). This expansion includes non-elderly adults without dependent children, who have not previously been eligible for Medicaid in most states.Thirty states plus DC have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, including Kentucky. And as of January 2015, 492,522 Kentuckians have gained Medicaid or CHIP coverage since the beginning of the Health Insurance Marketplace first open enrollment period. Across the nation, approximately 11.2 million more Americans are now enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts-and-features/state-by-state/how-aca-is-working-for-kentucky/index.html Making changes to KY's current KYKNECT will reverse all of the gains that have been made since the ACA has been passed. We don't want to take insurance away from Kentuckians, we should empower Kentuckians by continuing KYKNECT. | Self employed micro business, my income is extremely intermittent. One week I may make a $1000 sale, the next two I might not have sales, then a show might bring in $600 and another $100. The rules need to accommodate micro businesses struggling to survive. Not everyone works for someone else, some of us are creating our own jobs. Having a little help, by way of help with health care costs, lets me try and make my own business when there are no jobs to be had. | Most people needing Medicaid are children, elderly, or to sick to work anyway. This is just another excuse to shunt people who need care off so some idiot gets a tax break. |
418 | I have seen access to care grow in the last few years and patients are seeking preventative care services in greater numbers now. | Instead of going toward the health of KY residents our taxpayer dollars would go toward the administrative burden of monitoring compliance and payments. | Self employed people cannot always predict income. | Most people who receive Medicaid already work. They work multiple jobs at wages that don't lift them above the poverty line or give them steady enough hours to meet the 30 hour requirement. The assumption that people are just mooching off the system is a false narrative. Maybe talk to some real people on Medicaid before just swallowing an outdated Ronald Reagan stereotype. |
419 | I have seen firsthand the benefits that Medicaid coverage brings to newly-arriving refugees who are struggling to overcome trauma while at the same time working towards employment, soon after arrival. Medicaid coverage provides a valuable (and many times temporary) safety net for refugees wanting to begin again and become contributing members of their community. This coverage provides a hand up for them, not a hand out. | It is difficult to know where to begin to talk about how terribly these changes would affect my family and others in communities where I have lived and worked. All the work/volunteer requirements of the new proposal, the restrictions, the monthly premiums or co-pays, the elimination of certain benefits--transportation, vision, dental, and hearing exams, etc.--, the re-enrollment requirements, the keeping of multiple accounts, the elimination of retroactive eligibility, and just the complexities of all the record-keeping this new waiver would require, all this would place an unbearable burden on those who need the Medicaid Expansion program. Many current recipients have limited education, few skills, lack means of transportation, have elderly or child care responsibilities for relatives, and have very few, if any, other possibilities of gainful employment in their community--and they don't have the money to move or enroll in training programs. Some simply do not have skills, opportunities, or transportation to engage in community "volunteer" work. So, many would just not be able to cope if the proposed waiver takes effect and would have to drop out and return to indigent care and emergency room services. The health care gains achieved in the past few years with Kynect and the current Medicaid Expansion program would be lost. Members of my family, friends, and many in the places I have worked would lose their health insurance if the waiver proposal goes into effect and their health would again deteriorate, making it even harder to work and contribute to the well-being of their community. | Self employed people, and disabled people would have difficulty reporting such rapid fluctuations in income. | Most ppl can't do this , if they could work then they'd already have insurance |
420 | I have several serious medical conditions including an autoimmune disease. If it wasn't for my Medicaid coverage I would probably die. I would not be able to afford the hundreds of dollars per month in meds, premiums, co-pays, and tests. | It want affect me but it will some of my family they should do some work because I know they can they are just to lazy and want everything for free | Self-employed folks have to deal with this all the time. | My adult son is not able bodied so I doubt this would impact him. |
421 | I have siblings who are disabled because of a mental illness and are not able to keep up with changes in coverage. They are not unintelligent but, symptoms sometimes give them unrealistic priorities and lack of focus. They have benefited both, physically and mentally from having continued Medicaid coverage. | It will be a massive setback to my wife's health and well-being, and that of our baby. Applying for Medicaid has always been confusing, but now it sounds like it's going to get even more troublesome and that disturbs me. I don't know what we would do if we lost coverage -- I remember when we had to go to the ER this year because my wife and baby fell from the porch. It was very scary BUT we weren't scared of going to the ER and getting overcharged for the service, thanks to our coverage. | Several people in my family have seasonal, weather related jobs and their income often varies month to month. | My autoimmune disease may not meet the criteria for able-bodied. If I could work... I'd much rather be doing that. |
422 | I know people who have worked their own life but never had insurance before who finally have gotten dental and medical help they have needed but could not afford. The local hospital that has served the poor with the Medicaid coverage has actually been paid for more services. Services in the past they would have to write off. | It will be like it was before kynect. Nobody will have insurance and we will all suffer. I have seen so many people die because they couldn't afford medical care. It's so sad! Emergency rooms will become our dr again and I'm so scared I don't want that to happen. I've went without insurance longer than I've had it so I'm just greatful I could have the surgeries I needed. | She has no employment. Functions at a two-year-old level. | My brother helps people get job training. It is a giant scam. People who are 60 and can't work their old jobs anymore get paid to learn a skill and get placed in a job but really are still just being paid an hourly wage by the government. |
423 | I know three different people who's lives have literally been saved by Medicaid. My life has been saved via Medicaid. I know someone who, when they did not have coverage, went to a Vet because it was cheaper than going to a hospital, they almost died from a bacterial infection. Medicaid is keeping them alive. | It will hold people more accountable and will make them earn what they recieve, which will make them appreciate it more. | Should be a better way to report changes.. see above | my brother would not be able to meet this requirement. |
424 | I now have Dental/Vision insurance that I could not even purchase individually before from insurance companies such as Delta Dental and Metropolitan and others. Because of the Medicaid benefits of KYnect, even though I don't receive Medicaid in and of itself, I CAN get this extra coverage for the dental needs I have. I can now get 3 dental exams a year from my insurance company (for my teeth which calcify rapidly) along with important X-rays, fluoride treatments, and cancer screenings. I also was able to pay a reduced co-pay of about $1,000.00 (of a $3,000.00 cost) for a gum graft. I saved quite a lot because of this insurance alone. Vision pays for yearly exams, glaucoma screenings, visual fields tests, and other eye health screenings plus gives a discount on what is now a $400.00 pair of glasses out-of-pocket. At my age, 51, I need more and more preventative medicine, so dental and visual care is important to protect my teeth and eye health. When you protect these organs, you are also protecting your heart and other organs. Anthem Medicare Replacement insurance gives me an all-important discount on the medicines I must take for life for my bipolar disorder. With these medicines and the doctor visits I also get through this insurance, I am able to stay out of the emergency room (a costly visit, no matter how little or how much is done there), and the hospital (even more cost) and I am more able to be a productive citizen, more likely to be able to work and pay taxes as a sane and capable employee. | It will make it even harder for people to access the help they need or be able to afford it. Example you're talking about charging fees or requiring work/volunteer hours for people with limited transportation access who struggle to find enough money for food to last the month, much less finding the money for a car ( insurance, paymeny, gas, repairs) or for public transportation to all theiron necessary appointments. | Should give a month instead of 10 days. | My child is 5. N/A |
425 | I was a student when the expansion took place, and was able to get medical coverage for the first time in my adult life. | It will probably keep my taxes from going up if these people stop getting everything handed to them. They have money for all the things that are bad for them. Why worry about health insurance when they poison their bodies with cigarettes, alcohol, and junk food. | Since I am self employed, I have no way of knowing what my monthly income will be, if any. | My concern is not the work but that it is too rigid and that there would be no flexibility or help in obtaining and doing the work - rides, child care - how would that work? |
426 | I was able to go to the eye doctor. I can continue to try and build up my small business without worrying I will lose everything I own if I get sick. | It would affect me and my community negatively. Clients would not be able to access services as quickly and would be turned away in crisis. It is our responsibility as a community and as humans to help those who need these benefits. | Small changes in income would constantly throw us on and off of Medicaid coverage, which would be a huge hassle to continuously re/apply for and would also require constantly changing medical providers for our children. | My daughter does that. My son is a one on one with staff 24/7. Impossible for him |
427 | I was able to go to the ob gyn, and they found a bunch of cyst on my ovaries | It would affect my family because I can not afford to pay full price health care. | some of those people need help now. not ten days later. | My daughter is 13 but due to health concerns especially seizures I do not know that she can participate on volunteer or job training as an adult due to her medical condition. |
428 | I was an unsured diabetic , and could not afford to go to the dr like I needed to go, Now I can get the care I need, and my medications that I need. I recently was diagnosed with heart diease | It would be a nightmare. | Sometimes d/t your current job title, or if travel is required for your employment there is no way this is possible. | My daughter is 8 so this doesn't apply currently. However, requiring people to volunteer to maintain coverage could be problematic for many people. Transportation and childcare are just two challenges that affect many Medicaid recipients. Applying my daughter's current circumstances to adulthood: My daughter "looks" quite typical, you can't look at her and tell she is sick. She would not be considered medically frail. However her condition is so unstable she can be perfectly fine one moment, and moments later require immediate medical intervention. Expecting an adult with similar afflictions to volunteer in order to maintain coverage could be dangerous to their health, and could prevent them from maintaining the coverage they require. It would also be a massive burden on the state to track and manage such activities. |
429 | I was diagnosed with Shingles. It was very painful for about two months. My medicaid was all I had for coverage. | It would have disastrous consequences economically since preventative care is less expensive than emergency care. | Sometimes it does change -quickly. So, by the time I report a change in my income another change can occur. My life is extremely busy, child, school (mine and my childs) homework/meetings, work, doctor's appointments etc. 10 days isn't enough time. | My disabled son works 20 to 30 hrs a week. He goes to school full time. I hope that this "community engagement" will allow people like my son to request exemption based on his already involved "community engagement". I hope that this requirement will take into consideration the people that are permanently disabled and may never be able to do more than they are currently doing. |
430 | I was here when Kentucky they didn't cover medical insurance for parents of children so for 3 years my teeth literally rotted inside my mouth I had to make multiple trips to the ER only to be treated like I was some addict looking for pain meds but on at least 3 occasions I had to be admitted because the infection in my teeth was literally sending me into organ failure because we couldn't afford to go to the dentist and therefore had no choice but to go to the ER luckily ObamaCare came around and I was finally able to get my teeth taken out but I still have problems because we can't afford dentures even though my husband owns his own business it is hard to make any money here and therefore Medicaid is needed for people struggling | It would hurt me tremendously | Sometimes my husband is required to work a few hours overtime. Not a regular thing but sometimes happens. With a medical fragile child sometimes his needs trumps remembering to report a couple hours overtime. | My family and friends who rely on medicaid CAN'T work which is why they rely on medicaid for their health care needs. Forcing them to work or lose healthcare means that they would lose their healthcare, which could ultimately lead to their deaths. |
431 | I was pregnant when I found out I had aortic regurgitation, an old stroke, two blood clotting disorders, a terrible back, and getting to a dentist so that I may try to keep a healthy heart. My husband had not been to a doctor in years due to the price of office visits. Now, he sees a doctor regularly. | It would make member more responsible if they had to earn coverage. | Sometimes my job has mandatory overtime and that could cancel out my medical just because I am forced to do something in order to keep my job. | My family member who is on Medicaid already works as a part-time care giver to an elderly woman. I think there are many people like this on Medicaid - folks who are already working but in part-time or low wage jobs. I fear the state will be taking on an unnecessary administrative burden to oversee work requirements, and moreover, I fear that the confusion on the part of everyday Kentuckians will cause them to lose the coverage they so desperately need and deserve. |
432 | I went through a divorce, and have never had to have public assistance before. My in county Kynector (Ballard County) helped me to understand and be okay with the fact that I can use and do deserve some assistance for now. Without it I would not be able to take potentially life-saving medication. I'm grateful for expanded medicaid and my local Kynect person to help guide me through it. | it would put us in a financial hardship, no longer able to go to Drs or get much needed medicines | Surely 30 or 60 days is sufficient. I, like many these days, work a number of part-time and contracting jobs, and to require notification of every change within 10 days would mean that eligibility is constantly in flux. This sounds like you're just trying to make it more difficult for your poorest constituents to maintain access to healthcare, and you wouldn't do that to your constituents, would you, governer? | My friend has no transportation. In addition, she suffers from anxiety. Besides, no one else has to meet this requirements to have insurance. Why should those who, through the design of the economic system, have less? |
433 | I went without healthcare for 19 years. Just now able to go to the doctor. | It would really hurt people we can't afford to live in Kentucky has it is without having all these co pays and insurance cost on us | Ten days is too short | My grandmother cannot. |
434 | I will be 62 in a few days. Due to the fact I have worked physically demanding jobs all my life; I have reached a point where this is no longer possible due to degenerative joint disease which has also affected by spine. I am not eligible for medicare until I'm 65 so I depend on Medicaid. If not for this insurance I would not have found out I had skin cancer or been able to continue the preventive care screenings or buy my medications. I am not able to work or volunteer and there have been moments when I was not able to drive due to pain. I like many Americans have never received handouts but now all I'm asking for is not to take away my lifeline which is my Medicaid insurance. I paid for my own insurance for years and there was a time I was denied from the insurance company because I had surgery on both legs and now because I have had cancer it is possible they could deny me for 5 years. | It would require Adults to be responsible for their account. The current kynect system takes your "word" for most information. I see everyday adults who have found a job but didn't report it to kynect with no penalties for failing to be a responsible adult. My family works for our medical insurance and so should the 25 year old living in grandmas basement being handed free medical insurance and $194 a month SNAP benefits. It's wrong. | That income is ridiculous. It needs to be adjusted to a higher amount. | My health and ability are unpredictable. I do what I can because I can manage when I am able to attend to it. I am not able bodied...But when I was better abled I was caring for 1-2 disabled adult family members in the home. |
435 | I will have the ability to get back to work. | It would take 400,000 Kentuckians off insurance and then force them to use the ER for non-emergent situations. Kentucky has bad enough rankings in the nation and this would worsen that situation. | That is stupid, no wonder my parents lost everything. | My husband already works full time and I myself am physically unable to work and my doctor can attest to that as I have to get a chemical stress test because my doctor doesn't want my on the treadmill at a brisk pace that would put unneeded stress on my spine and legs that have much nerve damage. I don't know what is considered "medically frail" but I definitely should fit into that category. My health is far from good. It's terrifying to think I could lose coverage as my life literally depends on healthcare coverage. As I've indicated above my husband already works full time. We live on his income. |
436 | I work 2 jobs, one being a full time state merit employee and still qualify for Medicaid. I could not afford to pay insurance for my daughters and my self. Not everyone that a medical card is unemployed or lazy!! By the way....I am not on ant other type of government assistance. | IT WOULD TRULY AFFECT ALOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE,BUT ALOT OF THEM ABUSEIT! | That is stupid, no wonder my parents lost everything. | My husband already works over 40hrs a week. Today is Saturday, and he's at work, even though he hurt his back. If he doesn't work, we have nowhere to live. |
437 | I work at a community mental health center. Many homeless and marginally housed clients use Medicaid and are able to become more stable and rejoin the workforce and find housing as a result of utilizing their benefits. | Lack of dental care effects the whole body's health. There is a serious shortage of dentists in Kentucky. Vision care is critical for children's learning. Poor vision also leads to increased accidents for adults who are driving and operating machinery. Early detection of diseases involving the eyes leads to better care and fewer visually disabled in the community. | That stinks! | My husband and I already work full time hours in highly stressful jobs! We also are active in our community. I volunteer much time as choir director at my church; he is on our parish council. All of our extra time is spent taking our daughter to therapies, activities for special needs children and schoolwork. We have no extra time! |
438 | I work at a primary care clinic. Most medicaid pts abuse their free health care. Oh I twisted my ankle this morning, but get an xray today. Instead of like normal people who give it a couple of days to see if it feels better on its own. | Less money out of my paycheck for lazy | That would put me w/o coverage but after food and other bills, I won't be able to afford regular doc visits or meds that I need. | My husband and I both work full time and do have the time to volunteer for an additional 20 hours. |
439 | I work full time but at a private home and taxes are taken out of my wages but I can't afford insurance. | Losing dental and vision insurance would impact everyone on mediare. I think taking away any coverage and transportation assistance would be detrimental to the community, especially the already marginalized members of the community. Three accounts is too much for a lot of people to manage. Making this so complicated is a poor decision. A healthy community is a great start at having a better future. I can't support any of these changes. | That wouldnt. | My husband and I both work. I don't think it would effect us. |
440 | I work with adults with severe and persistent mental illness who would be unable to understand and comprehend the changes proposed; they should not be penalized for they among the neediest individuals in our Commonwealth. Raise my taxes if it means they will be able to keep their Medicaid benefits as they currently stand. | Loss of coverage would be detrimental to my clients, who struggle to pay basic bills as it is. | The 10 days is ridiculous it should remain at 30 days to report. | My husband cares for our children when I work, so how could he volunteer his time while caring for a 4 year old and a 5 month old? |
441 | I work with families with substance use disorders in the child welfare system. Expanded Medicaid has been a Godsend to them, as we've seen an increase in the services available and quicker access to needed care. | Loss of vision and dental would be disastrous in this high poverty area. | The lack of offices, the slowness of processing, and the lack of internet access makes this a huge burden. | My husband has Parkinson's. Currently, he is working and doing well but our future is uncertain. I foresee a time in the future when I will be his caretaker. I currently have friends who are the caretakers of parents, spouses, and children... requirements out of the home would be burdensome. I support volunteerism but forced requirement is not volunteering. |
442 | I work with individuals with disabilities who benefit from Medicaid | lossing our medical care and medications would literally make life unbearable for us . Medicaid fills in the gaps of my medicare. I have many preexisting conditions, including congenital heart malformation and muscle dystonia. I could not afford care or medications. My daughter has suffered for 10 years, most of the time without medical, dental, optical care. One of her prescriptions alone, was $350.00 a month on a minimum wage job without benefits. Now she has severe mental health issues and is physically disabled and walks with a cane as well. She would be unable to function without medicaid. She has zero income and can not afford ANY co pays or premiums. I can not afford premiums either. Disabled people who are continuously denied Soc Sec disability have nowhere else to turn except medicaid. It is a Godsend. | The low paying jobs fire people frequently and also change people's hours so they have to quit their second job to keep the first one. I don't think you can expect people to report changes within 10 days when their lives are messy, I've dealt with the government offices and they're confusing and difficult. | My husband is sick. I am sick. We have good days and we have bad days. Sometimes it's good and bad weeks, or months. We aren't always capable of doing more. |
443 | I work with many low-income individuals who have been positively impacted by expanded medicaid. Many have been able to get to doctors appointments for preventative care using Medicaid transportation services, thus saving the state significant money in expenses for caring for diseases in the hospital | Lots of people will get injured or sick and die without health insurance | The middle class is shrinking. People don't have access to good jobs any longer especially those that provide benefits. We are penalizing the working poor. | My husband works a freelance job and a part time job. I'm not sure how the government plans on documenting that. My son is a full-time student and I work 25 hours/week. |
444 | I work with refugees who have experienced significant amounts of trauma and depend on this system to meet their basic needs. | Lots of people will suffer because of lack of care for small things that become large. | The phone lines and offices where you turn in your paperwork are notoriously unreliable. 10 days to report a change is highly unrealistic. | My husband works over the road as a truck driver, and he is only home for 34 hours every weekend for his legal restart period. I take care of the house and family on my own, with no help or support from baby sitters or day cares. I have to do everything between therapy appointments, doctor appointments, school activities, and getting them to and from school every day. I don't have a chance to volunteer anywhere else. My time is not my own, and I don't get paid for what I do as it is. |
445 | I work with victims and children of victims of domestic violence. I remember when victims didn't qualify for medical coverage. It was bad. Women went with needed/urgent medical care and preventive medical care. I would hate to see Kentucky go backwards and make it hard for the working poor to receive medical benefits. | Lower my taxes and medical bills. | The requirement to report changes would be the most difficult because when you call the 800 number to report changes you are on hold at times over 30 minutes waiting on an operator to talk to and many times my account has been messed up after talking to them. I choose to go to our local office and talk to someone in person but that takes a lot of time due to them fixing issues from the phone calls and having to drive down and wait to talk to someone. | My husband would be very limited on the amount of and type of service he could perform. In this area, the opportunities for community service are also quite limited. How does the governor plan to handle issues like this? It will be common in Eastern KY |
446 | I would be dead without it when I had 2 strokes at once | Lower quality of life, no dental or eye, food from my children's mouths if I'm required to pay | The requirement would affect me because I sometimes move around jobs trying to find the best one that suites my career. | My mother cannot drive. In a rural area, this mean she cannot work. Without full-time work, she cannot afford insurance. The "community engage" requirement would kill her. |
447 | I would probably be dead, before the Medicaid expansion I worked, but still could not afford insurance. Once the medicaid expansion came into effect, I found that I had lumps in my breast. I have severe asthma and if I don't carry an epie pen at all times I could die from a single bee sting. As most know now, epi pens are NOT cheap. Also, I had to have my gallbladder removed thank goodness for the Medicaid or I would have never been able to have that done. No telling how much I would have owed to hospitals and doctors if not for the Medicaid. I would never ever been able to pay those medical bills. I have a disabled son and if I'm not in good health to take care of him, then I no telling how he would be taken care of. Please I beg that the expansion of Medicaid stay into place the way it is. It saves lives! | make it harder for low-income people to get out of poverty | The system is not user friendly and making changes to income levels constantly would be a nightmare (many poor people do not have steady income, or income fluctuates month to month). It took us 3 months to get our coverage situated to begin with because of computer errors that kept changing our data over and over again. I can't imagine being penalized with a lockout for our children's lifesaving prescriptions because of not reporting changes in our finances every month. Doing so would be a full time job in itself- many times the hold time to talk to someone is so long that you can't even wait, it will just hang up in you. The online system is equally as frustrating and full of flaws. | My mother currently lives overseas, but makes extended visits to the US (for 2-3 months at a time). While she is here, she is able to take care of all her medical appointments and checkups. She would not be able to comply with the volunteer/work requirement at all. |
448 | I'm not separate from others in my community. The health and well-being of community members affect the whole community. | making me work for coverage. I'm 73 years old! Where do I find a job? | These amounts of income are laughably low. I'm concerned about my adult son who changes jobs and moves frequently. For people like my son, such a requirement would be extremely burdensome. He already has enough trouble finding new health insurance coverage every time he moves. | My mother is on a walker/wheelchair and my stepfather is always wheelchair bound. |
449 | iam on glaucoma drops and it has helped my vision | Making things more difficult for people will only decrease the likelihood that they receive adequate health care when they need it | They ask for changes to be reported within 10 days but many people don't have the paystubs they ask for until at least 6 weeks after their start date. 10 days is ridiculous. | My mother is on a walker/wheelchair and my stepfather is always wheelchair bound. |
450 | If it wasn't for medicaid I would not be able to go to the doctor. I have recently become disabled and I had to quit working. My income changed drastically and I am thankful that medicaid is there to help me get the care I need. | Many families would be negatively impacted | This aspect would not affect me. However, people who have this kind of change should have a grace period to keep receiving services until employer based services kick in, even if they do report the change in a timely fashion. | My patients will have problems with transportation, being able to work and caring for their children |
451 | If it wasn't for medicaid I wouldn't have found out I had sugar. | Many people would go without basic healthcare. | this change would affect my quite adversely as a self employed individual with heavily fluctuating income given that any time I am taken off of Medicaid I would have to begin an insurance program with a brand new deductible | My relatives would not be able to complete the work requirement. To my knowledge neither has been determined to be medically frail (it's likely they should be) and the fear is they would lose coverage pending such determination. |
452 | If it wasn't for this I would have no health ins. I can't afford it | Many would literally die because of not being able to afford care | This could be very challenging. Many don't have ready access or the wherewithal the make changes in system themselves. Some might not be able to get to DCBS officeto report. There are so many reasons why an unintentional miss of reporting could occur. | My sister cares for her two children and our mother. Adding a mandatory 20 hour volunteer requirement would be difficult for her to meet. |
453 | Improved access to healthcare will be beneficial to the health of our communities. | might cut down on opioid use | This does not affect me but many people I know and serve. | My sisters are unable to work at any meaningful employment. |
454 | It has help me with a getting to see a doctor when I am sick and to help me to get my meds that I need | More restrictions in coverage make the system less accessible to individuals that need health care. One significant issue and barrier that we have seen in our community in the past is adults and children not accessing mental health services because of an inability to pay. Making sure that mental health needs are being met is an important service that the state has not done justice too in the past. We have seen many families be able to access care under the Medicare changes that have made positive changes for our community. | This does not affect me but would place an unfair burden on many people. | My son can't volunteer |
455 | It has helped families be healthier overall. | My brother is on Medicaid and he had a serious illness that hospitalized him. He is poor and was able to sign up for Medicaid and that allowed Medicaid to pay for that admission. He is healthy now and has a job and is working his way out of poverty. | This does not affect me. | My son has Autism so I don't think it would impact him. |
456 | It has helped them to received medical care that they otherwise could not afford. | My children are covered by Medicaid because they were adopted under a federal Title IV-E agreement. I do not understand whether/how these changes would impact this kind of eligibility. | This does not apply directly to me. However, 10 days seems very soon. Especially if someone is trying to better themselves. I think 30 days would be far more appropriate. | My son is 10...I assume he would be exempt but for those with disabilities that are adults, it might be difficult. For those who are not disabled, I say it is acceptable. |
457 | It has literally saved my life and my husbands as well. My son was able to get some of his teeth repaired | My daughter and myself wear glasses, and my daughter needs braces. If these services are eliminated, then we could not afford the proper care we need. | This does not apply to me as I would not be eligible for Medicaid. | My son is not able to work 20 hours a week or to live by himself, yet he has a high school diploma. Many do not understand why those with autism have difficulty getting or keeping a job unless they are totally nonverbal. |
458 | It has made people be able to actually have health coverage | My daughter is not going to get the care required | This does not effect me | My son looks able bodied, but would not be able to do this. |
459 | It is apparent to me that whoever proposed the changes don't understand the lives of people who need Medicaid. It is a constant struggle to keep up with the every day demands and continual threats just to get what you have to have. Keeping food on the table, getting rides, paying utilities and other bills, keeping the children clothed- it's all really hard when you don't have anything to start with. The mix-ups in prescriptions, the hassles with the pharmacy, the trouble getting all these things all the time is a huge job. I don't see why folks who need Medicaid would even have time to keep up with keeping Medicaid the way it is. All these changes do is punish people who need help and have no where else to turn. Shame on them. | My daughter may die. | This is a barrier to care and a technicality hoping to snare folks into a charge of being illegal. | My son volunteers sometimes but has difficulty finding opportunities. |
460 | It's enabled me to see a doctor and get treated for many different ailments that other wise I wouldn't have been able to afford. | My daughter may not be able to keep her coverage. Some people cannot afford Governor Bevin's plans for Medicaid. | This is a bunch of malarkey! | My son's schedule is working right now. People are hired to be with him at various times of the day. The agency would have to provide someone to go with him or would have to provide transportation to and from and let personnel go because he wouldn't be at the center. I would have to be concerned about his safety - is he in an environment where his needs are met? Is he being taken advantage of? Is this something else that I will have to be responsible for because he isn't capable of working through making the arrangements? I repeat, I AM ALREADY OVERWHELMED WITH CARETAKING DUTIES AND WORKING FULL TIME AT A JOB FOR WHICH I AM PAID FOR 37 1/2 HOURS PER WEEK YET PUT IN CLOSER TO 60! |
461 | It's the only insurance I have and I am unable to work therefore I rely on it. | My daughter would be with out coverage. | This is a hardship on some people. I have in the past sought help for food and medical care through the CHFS and they are not efficient or held accountable for helping people to get the services that they need. To place a timeline so strict on people is not reasonable. If they do, they should also place them on the case workers and hold them accountable. | My wife is working what might appear to not be full time, but as a self employed person, she's working 16 hours a day. If she's got to justify that/volunteer 20 hours a week - that's crazy! |
462 | Just having medical care. | My disabled brother is in a wheelchair and cannot drive. He HAS to get to his nonemergency appointments to get his needed medication. Also, how are children who are on Medicaid, going to do volunteer hours. They have school! | This is bureaucratic policy seems to be designed to take away coverage for the poor, uneducated, mentally handicapped and most vulnerable citizens. There is no way some of the people in my rural community could possibly keep up with this amount of red tape. Frankly, I don't know how the government has the time or means to keep up with all of this. Imposing such policies sounds like a waste of taxpayer money to feed the fattened government workers in Frankfurt. | My working poor and disabled students wouldn't be able to further their college education, therefore, they would be stuck in the cycle of poverty. |
463 | Ky finally has something for which we can be proud. We should continue as we are --making Healthcare a priority for our citizens. | My family member would likely die within a year without coverage | This is not acceptable to me. No matter how often one's employment or income changes, with that comes disruption in routine life. 10 days is simply not enough time. Often times many other things are included as priority during the first two weeks after such a change. I also wonder if the system could react within those time constraints. | N/a due to individual having A disability |
464 | Many low income families have had access to health care they need. | My family would be financially disrupted if I had to enroll in my company's insurance scam. | This is ridiculous. You will starve in KY on $34,000/year for a family of 4. A recent study showed you need $13.95/hr to pay rent in KY (29,016 yr). How will these people handle illness without help? reference:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/01/minimum-wage-apartment-hourly-salary-housing-costs_n_7472472.html | N/A--but it's a stupid, condescending idea which will add to suppressing access to care, esp. preventive care, for thousands of Kentuckians. Many Medicaid recipients with families IN THE REAL(as opposed to right-wing fantasy)WORLD work part-time, less than 30 hours weekly and don't have time for such idiocy!!! |
465 | Many people would be without health care without the current expansion. | My health would go down hill because of the changes. Im 60 yrs old and need my health coverage the way it is. | This might affect me later but not right no ow. I am jobless. | N/A. Regarding the minimum 20 hrs per week, how exactly do you plan to track that? It's going to require a lot of labor to track everyone's hours and prevent fraud. |
466 | Medicaid allowed me to care for my family during a time when life circumstances changed and prohibited me from working for a short period of time. Without the assistance I would not have been able to pick us back up. | My husband and I have already lost our coverage. He is a diabietic and needs other medications which require lab work. I myself am having health issues and now have no health coverage. | This question does not pertain to my grand-nephew, as he is not a wage earner. | N/a. Will there be people to help them find volunteer work and is job training go to be free. My thought is of they are volunteering, they won't be able to afford their premiums. By requiring them to volunteer 20 hours, you are limiting the time they have to seek and perform paid work which would help lift them out of poverty. |
467 | Medicaid allowed my son to get all of his well child checks on time. | My parents would not qualify for coverage, meaning they would have no healthcare in order to get their health needs met so they can return to work. | This requirement seems impossible to keep up with, both on the parts of the recipients and by the state. | NO direct impact on me, but I object to this burden for those in medical care need situations. It is unconscionable. |
468 | Medicaid assist the very poor with assistance. It eases the burden on other family members who are not poor, but who are struggling to make ends meet. | My sister would not have coverage for her and her babies, my mother would not have coverage either. Medicaid expansion has helped people get into drug treatment when they would have not had access to it otherwise. | This requirement would be less onerous than most members of the public believe. All Kentucky employers are required to report such changes in a shorter timeframe, so it would be simple to make them report the change to the Medicaid member or to DMS as an additional part of this electronic reporting. | No direct impact on me, but this I object to this burden on those in need. It is cruel. |
469 | Medicaid coverage has allowed my son and I to seek critical and vital healthcare services for the past few years. As a single mother, this is a crucial tool in facilitating the growth of my son as well as my physical wellbeing to care for him. | My son works at whatever job he can find but doesn't get insurance and doesn't make enough money to buy it. He has some mental health issues. The changes the Governor is proposing will really put him off. He will be made to feel ashamed for using Medicaid and will be very reluctant to go through all the hoops they are proposing. I think he has already lost benefits because they are making everyone reapply and he doesn't have a steady address and he propbably doesn't even know he is dropped. These changes should not be allowed to happen | This shouldnt be too difficult especially if it can be done over the phone or online. If someone must submit such info in person, delaus woth varying circumstances may then come into play. Of someome is late, the circumstances should be considered before denial or penalties are added. | No impact on me, personally. However, if you're going to lay on this requirement, are you going to provide the jobs? |
470 | Medicaid coverage has been extremely useful for those who have no income or can not afford health care for themselves or family. Medicaid assistance has opened doors to better health care that would not have been available otherwise | Newly-arrived refugees would have great difficulty managing their Medicaid benefits through multiple accounts and completing community service hours to maintain benefits. Lack of access to medical care would likely inhibit their progress toward self-sufficiency. | This stipulation is ridiculous. If I were to lose my job, reporting it to the government within 10 days would be my last priority. This seems like a way to keep the poor poor and uninsured. | No way could this work -idiotic plan for the aged and sick |
471 | Medicaid expansion has saved money, early access to Tx is a proven method to decrease cost. All of these proposed changes will result in people unable to access care and waiting until it's an emergency. | No food on the table. | This will not impact my husband or myself but there are many who are in less stable situations.my | No way. I am not allowed to work. Vocational Rehabilitation assessed me and said I could not work. |
472 | Medicaid has allowed my family and I to access medical care. It paid for my entire pregnancy and delivery. Both my sons have been able to see their doctor. My oldest is able to see the eye doctor and densit. | No one get the care as needed. Many ate now able to see PCP and get meds and stay outta of the hospital | This would be a nightmare for myself and other self-employed individuals with unforeseen fluctuations in income. | No, not directly. |
473 | Medicaid has been life saving for a family member | no way to appointments for kids no vision or dental cant live now can pay these copays | This would be complex for people working hourly jobs that worked different schedules regularly. | None. I am retired after working 4 years. But this world would be a better place if everone had to work and earn their own way. |
474 | Medicaid helped me when I lost my job and health insurance due to a layoff and is helping me pay for my health insurance now threw the state program that helps people that on a fix income | Once my wife retires, we will both be on fixed incomes as our health declines. Carpetbagger Bevin is slashing things right and left, seeks to ELIMINATE the safety net, PLUS establish program hoops to jump through, AND create more charges while imposing penalties. He proposes to wipe out a successful program and play games with Kentuckians' lives. | This would be disasterous. | Not a realistic requirement. |
475 | Medicaid helps to provide healthcare (which should continue to include vision and dental as they are important aspects of an individual's health and impact overall health) that allows our community to be healthier. Kentucky government should want to take care of it's community members by allowing access to adequate health care. | One of my brothers would have died from complications of Congestive Heart Failure had he not had continued Medicaid Coverage for his health care. Another time an abscessed tooth caused so much infection that he could have died. "Whole health" is needed even if someone's cognitive abilities creates a barrier but, it's been my experience that feeling overwhelmed and helpless in one's ability for "Whole health," does not create changes in behavior. I'm concerned that someone's "subjective" decision will create more barriers for improved health within my family. | This would cause all 4 of us to lose healthcare. | Not at all unless my son was hospitalized |
476 | Medicaid provides a "safety net" in this, the world's MOST EXPENSIVE healthcare system. | Our communities would suddenly lose important medical coverage. The work criteria, would effectively cut off health insurance for the thousands+ Kentuckians who are unable to work/volunteer due to lack of transportation, caregiving duties, and moderate illnesses (which would not likely meet criteria for "medically frail" yet still pose significant barrier to obtaining work or 20 hrs of volunteer work. | This would discourage anyone from trying to be gainfully employed. For an individual to make $640 per two-week period is too little for anyone to live on. | Not at all; low-income workers however would be highly affected. Disabled workers would be especially hard hit. |
477 | Members of my family would not be alive without this coverage. | Patients would not be able to get to appointments, kids would not be able to go to the dentist and eye doctor | This would greatly affect my daughters coverage. I am an hourly worker with two jobs with two different pays. She would be in and out of coverage constantly. | Not bough job training opportunities & many require money up front Also disabled & retired shouldn't have to get jobs |
478 | Mental health stability increases community safety. Physical health prevention and maintenance is cost effective compared to worsening of symptoms and emergency stabilization. | Paying more money out is not helping that he is on a fixed income with little money to start with. | This would not affect me at the present time, but 10 days seems like an extremely brief window of time when dealing with the loss or change of employment . | Not everyone can work. But people shouldn't be killed for that. |
479 | Mine has not. | People on Medicaid already are facing so many obstacles. Adding further hurdles will only prohibit them from picking up the pieces and becoming self sufficient. Hurdles will result in longer term assistance which will cost more. Healthy people are simply cheaper. | This would not affect me but I also work for an employer who is flexible for me to visit the DCBS or SSA office whenever needed. Many friends are hourly employees or are in public service jobs where they cannot leave to visit or call onto the Medicaid office within 10 days. | Not everyone is able to work. Some don't burden the Government with their care. So it would be a bad thing to require this. |
480 | More and more people in kentucky have insurance coverage now and are able to go to the doctor when they are sick, which keeps people from spreading illness and makes them healthy and more productive | Premiums and co-pays won't be paid because they are unaffordable for most people on Medicaid. People will lose coverage and will have only ER's to rely on. this is not only a poor use of resources but inadequate health care. Ultimately the cost is greater financially and in the human cost of poor health | This would not affect me but I can see how it could affect people in that category who do not have access (computer, transportation) to be able to report. People in this category are already stressed with what life's circumstances. | Not likely to impact me. I question the data used to determine how many of the able bodied individuals being "kicked off " Medicaid will be able to meet this requirement. Most are likely working more than one low paying job, or providing child care so another family member can work. |
481 | My brother has suffered from mental issues since he was in his early twenties . He attended an technical college & had one of the highest GPA's. After the mental problems started he was a different person unable to do things he had always enjoyed like working on electronic equipment. Now he is a stage 4 cancer patient who has lost his hard palette & his left eye. He can no longer talk for I others to understand and has to eat through a gastric feeding tube. There is no way we could have paid for his surgeries, chemo & radiation treatments, meds, repeated hospital stays now due to seizures or any of the other lifesaving medical procedures that Medicaid has provided for him. | Probably not change much for me. I am 64 but am in good health and only go to the dr. If I get an infection or something. | This would not affect me personally. My concern with this proposal is around seasonal workers, and those working shifts (restaurants, nursing homes), as they typically carry more than one job, and pick up shifts to cover expenses such has Christmas or school supplies. 10 days is too short for such a long penalty. | Not me at all since I'm retired, but most of the people I ever knew on Medicaid were/are working at the time--just not making much. |
482 | My brother lost his job and was diagnosed with cancer a month later my sister fell and broke her femur. Neither would have had insurance if it wasn't for Medicaid. | See above | This would not affect me, however with regional sites and an overburdened call-center, it is not reasonable to make people wait for hours on the phone to update their information so frequently. I'm not opposed to requiring updates, I'm requesting that social services be funded better to allow for a more efficient process. | Not me but for many who already work or for children who are too young to work, this is unwieldy and impossible. |
483 | My child, who has autism, is on the Michelle P waiver. She was hospitalized for a month last year. Without Medicaid, we would have fallen into bankruptcy, in spite of my employer provides health insurance. | Significant numbers of refugees' Medicaid coverage has had to be backdated since January 2014. If newly-arriving refugees' Medicaid coverage cannot be backdated, medical providers throughout the state who are committed to serving this population may be forced to absorb significant costs, potentially reducing the numbers of providers willing to work with refugees in Kentucky. Barriers to accessing Medicaid coverage, especially the lock-out periods, will serve to increase use of the ER. | Thus does not affect me at this time bit it would reduce willingness to work a little extra | Not me personally but it would create an unfair burden and undue stress to those already facing numerous psychosocial challenges. |
484 | My children and I cannot afford coverage and I just lost my job, so medicaid is the only way I can afford our medications. | So many, including my son, would not be able to visit the doctor when injured and sick. It would revert to the bad old days when people went to the ER for sick visits and the State picked up the unpaid bills. People with chronic illnesses would be left without treatment. Probably undiagnosed. Mr. Bevin's plan simply stereotypes our poor and working. | Tips in the service industry vary. | Not me, but others |
485 | My children have it which I think all chip need it | Some of the changes don't seem as bad as I first thought. In my commercial plan we have points systems to garner greater benefits. I am not sure why that is consider so bad as it relates to Medicaid patients. Especially for missing appointments - this is the only way we can get people well, to encourage them to make all appointments. The mandatory work thing is very strange, it feels illegal. | To my knowledge because they receive it because of former foster care and it is backup, we don't have to report this. | Not sure this applies to us. |
486 | My dad has medicaid, he has worked his whole life up until he couldn't. He has earned medicaid. | Some of Thsrs changes could be devastating | Way too short. Maybe quarterly would be better. It follows schedule for self employment task reporting and payment. | Not sure. |
487 | My daughter found she had to blood clotting disorders. She has had a major stoke. Her aortic valve is in poor working condition. She would no doubt be dead if not for Medicaid. | State would have money to properly fund pension obligations to employees | We acquired Medicaid when we adopted our son our income was not a factor | Once again the lack transportation |
488 | My daughter has been able to receive necessary surgeries, and I have been able to seek treatment for mental health problems. I am also visually impaired and rely on Medicaid to get my vision checked regularly. | The changes are designed to fail, knocking people off coverage, with Bevins being able to claim "it's their fault not mine". | We personally would not fall into this category but only because my husband has been off work for two years from a shoulder replacement. This mainly would impact certain of our friends and relatives who are underemployed and have no children. | Once again this is a step away from the direction of Universal Healthcare. Also, a disabled person can be "able bodied" some days and absolutely not on others. It just depends on what their condition is, so expecting everyone to be able to work a specified number of hours is unrealistic. |
489 | my daughter has both mental and physical disabilities that have kept her form working for the last 2 years. She has been repeatedly denied Soc Sec disability and has incurred huge medical bills and prescription costs in the hundreds of dollars a MONTH prior to finally receiving medicaid. It has saved her life by finally allowing her to get the Neurology and Physical Therapy care that she needs, along with numerous needed prescriptions. | The changes are not for the health of Kentucky citizen. It is all about paying less! | We would be able to do so. However, it could be difficult because of the long waits at the office and inconvenient times that they are open. | Once again when I did receive Medicaid it would have been very difficult to verify my weekly hours worked. Therefor, it could be possible I would have been required to work an additional 20 hrs of work on top of my very physically demanding job. This is designed to punish the poor and self employed. |
490 | My daughter has multiple disabilities and is enrolled in the Michelle P waiver, and has Medicaid as a secondary insurance. | The changes will stop some people from accessing medical care! It would cost money for people who have no money! Bevins plan is deplorable. | We would be calling in every 2 wks with each pay period, and that is a major pain in the butt. | One family member has 3 children, works outside the home (and is still below the poverty level) and 20 hours a week of 'community involvement' would be only available between about midnight and 4 am. This is crazy. |
491 | My daughter is a high risk pregnancy and cannot work, her coverage is a blessing. | The changes woud force people to do SOMETHING in exchange for the benefits they receive. Hopefully we will bleed less money unnecessarily and will see a rise in proactiveness from this community. | We're pretty income stable, but that's mostly because we're a disability and Social Security-only home. | One size fits all policies are not the answer. |
492 | My daughter struggles to make ends meet. She works but has 2 children in elementary school and needs the coverage. | The changes would hurt if we had to pay a monthly premium or copay. We have very little extra now. | What a ridiculous and undue burden. | Organizations that use volunteers will be overwhelmed by the large numbers of those "required" to volunteer. The quality of their services will decline. |
493 | My daughter was enrolled in Medicaid after she aged out of our insurance at age 26. She was between doing research and going to medical school. It was a safety net that was very important. Just knowing it was there was a stress reliever. She never had to use the benefits but appreciated the coverage. | The changes would plunge more people into deeper poverty. | What the government considers poverty level is a joke. | People in rural areas usually do not have transportation to get to a place for work plus it would put a strain on income having to pay for such transportation. |
494 | My disabled daughter is losing many services from being moved from traditional medicaid | The changes would put undue pressure on people seeking medical care. It would make it virtually out of reach for others. | When I recently left my job (in July) I had another lined up (to begin in September) and health insurance was absolutely not my number one priority-- I had to complete significant amounts of other mandatory paperwork, find and secure housing in my new city, and deal with wrapping up old bills and accounts in my current city. Even when I moved to this state I had several weeks to declare residency and update my license etc. and the same (or longer) time period should be provided when someone is in a transitional period of their life. | People in this situation are already stressed to the max! If they could find decent work, probably a lot of them wouldn't be on this anyway! Also so many are sick and in poor health already. Most doctors do not want to complete forms about this kind of thing anyway. |
495 | My family has coverage because my spouse can't get coverage at work. | The community is programmed at an early age that medicaid will step in. Make them realize you Earn these benefits by hardship and not entitled. | When I was a self employed single mother my income changed regularly. My line of work has seasons of high and low demand. Therefor, verifying my income can be very difficult. | People shouldn't be threatened with their life to find jobs that may or may not exist or to volunteer for positions that may or may not exist. |
496 | My family has never used Medicaid coverage, but as a retired public health nurse I feel that it is essential to many Kentuckians. | The income he has listed to have co-pays is still to high we could not afford them! Taking away vision and dental would impact me and my family and others extremely! Think about the children who would not get the benefits! Also sometimes you are not sure if you should go to the ER or take your child this could cause people to not take proper care of themselves or their children by putting up a penalty! I also am unable physically to volunteer to do any work but am in the process of disability what about the people like me? | When I was on Medicaid, my income changes weekly. Sometimes I was able to find work while other weeks I couldn't. Having to report changes everyday would be a hard thing to keep track of and would be a cumbersome burden that would disincentives me to stay covered. Presently, I am fortunate to have consistent income. | People that can work should our society of people are lazy and want a free handout but that hurts those truly in need |
497 | My family has not benefited from Medicaid coverage | The people who even qualify for Medicaid benefits have so little income that it is difficult to provide shelter, clothe, feed their children. By instituting co-pays, it will be difficult to budget for unplanned medical/dental needs. By instituting premiums, you are taking away from their already low income. People aren't poor because the want to be-they are poor for many reasons and it is very difficult to climb out of poverty once there. Taking away eye and dental benefits is awful. Teeth and eyes are part of the body. They should be included in ALL benefits-not just Medicaid. Not only are they part of the body but they are linked to many of the health issues that effect Kentuckians. By taking away these benefits, you will be creating poorer health outcomes for people suffering from diabetes, heart disease, etc. | When it changes it changes rapidly and is in a period of relative chaos. A tight timeline, especially with so many unknowns and other responsibilities of changing jobs adds to the immediate worry, is easily forgotten, and the punishment is unreasonable. | Per the notation, as long as this did not change, I would be ok with the requirement. |
498 | My family has not benefited in any way. My family has had to pay for health insurance for able bodied people who will not work because they can draw more from unemployment or other entitlements, when I had to go without insurance due to the "Affordable" health care act. | The plan expects people to work to get glasses or hearing aids - how can you get a job if you can't read the application or hear the HR person doing the interview? We have people in rural communities who have no transportation to specialists. Take away their medical transportation and they'll die. No guidelines have been put forth explaining what will be considered good visits to the ER and bad visits - has the governor considered that people may die because they will be scared of losing their insurance due to a bad decision? Is he planning on setting up a phone line so people can call to double-check? Will there be assistance for individuals with developmental delays or learning difficulties? They shouldn't be penalized due to their disabilities. Speaking of those with intellectual and learning difficulties, will there be case managers to assist them through the complicated procedures? Will people who are employed be given credit for the work they are doing or will they have to volunteer elsewhere? As many people involved do have disabilities, why are OVR counselors being cut or having their hours cut? These are the people who would help get people jobs. Many elements of this plan come across as being written by people who didn't think the ideas through and never discussed them with any people who would actually be effected. | When someone does not have a fixed salary, this requirement becomes unwieldy. One would have to constantly chart his income. | Phase in is better. It gives people with children time to caregive and look for a job. Some adults out of jail may have a harder time finding a job and at times it is difficult to find places to volunteer if you are a convict s felon. |
499 | My family members have access to healthcare. I have a nephew with brain cancer. Without the expanded Medicaid he would not have recieved the care and treatment he did. He is still dealing with it but can receive maintenance chemo to keep the cancer from progressing. Prior to him having the medicaid, the er and other healthcare providers were treating him like he had a mental illness or was on drugs. Insurance made the difference in giving him access to a CAT Scan and MRI. | The proposed changes by the Bevin administration would eliminate the safety net in our community. They would decimate our clients sense of well being and safety. These changes should not be implemented. | Why create an administrative nightmare? Why punish a person or family whose income might fluctuate slightly one way or the other? My tax rate is based on my annual income. Why shouldn't the requirement for Medicaid application be based on annual income, not on how that income might fluctuate from one week to another. Ridiculous! | physically hurt now |
500 | My family that has it are elderly, and have worked their whole life and paid into this, and should continue to receive the benefits, of what they've paid for already! | The proposed changes will destroy the little dignity and care access given by the expansion | Why do I have to report ... let me go to Dr.. and they can report stuff.. they are the ones making money... not the sick person.... | Physically unable to do it |
501 | My family was on Medicaid for a couple of years while my husband was not making very much. It was a godsend at the time. But I do believe that we could have paid a premium each month to help offset the cost. $1 a month is almost nothing. | The proposed requirements would be barriers to families getting the services they need for addiction and mental health disorders, which could cause more children to be removed from their families. | Winder if a disabled adult would be in good enough shape to keep up with more red tape. | Physically unable. |
502 | My fiance' has stage 5 kidney disease; aka kidney failure. Since beginning dialysis, he now is eligible for Medicare. Even with medicare, our family cannot afford his prescriptions and cannot afford the 20% deductible medicare required us to pay. He has dialysis three days a week, ans 20% of three treatments is almost as much as his income a month. Medicaid is literally helping to keep him alive. No insurance will accept him because of a pre-existing condition. | Their health will suffer. One my daughters is unemployed now. Ive worked all my life. Shes got sone health issues. Im for helping poor people the american people. Here in usa. Im so against. All these people they bringing over here when not enough jobs for oyr own people | Working when jobs are available and not having a steady income | Please consider how difficult this might be for some. It is a lot to understand! |
503 | My grand daughter was born with severe clubfoot and is still being treated weekly in Lexington and bi-weekly at her family doctor. The coverage has allowed her to make the weekly trips, receive her casts & braces. Without her medical coverage she'd never walk properly is at all!!! My daughter would be blind if she had not had her Medicaid coverage. She had to have surgery when she was 3 that allowed her to keep vision in her right eye. | There isn't enough dental coverage as it is for adults. Removing it could be horrible. Also removing vision benefits for those who are disabled such as myself is not a good thing. | Would be fine | Please DO NOT TAKE AWAY MY HEALTHCARE I AM A DIABETIC AND I HAVE SEVERE HEART DISEASE I CANNOT PAY FOR DR VISITS TESTS OR MY MEDICINE PLEASE STOP THIS |
504 | my grandchildren have health care coverage. Their dad died when they were young. | There will be extreme burdens and loss of productivity on other struggling family members who will have to transport family members to the Doctor. They member who is on Medicaid. will have to miss work or risk losing their jobs to take care of the family | Would make it difficult with constantly changing monthly income | Please see my comments above about this requiring access to transportation. It's also just frankly insulting to assume that one should have to work an extra 20 hours unpaid (which is very close to slave labor) just to be allowed to see correctly or get important dental treatment. These are vital, not optional, treatments. Without vision coverage, how could someone even drive to a volunteer job in order to earn the vision coverage? |
505 | My granddaughter has Type 1diabetes and the supplies and insulin costs are unbelievable expensive. | These changes will limit or take away much needed health care that my family members need and cannot access. Most of them work but their employer does not provide insurance, and/or they can not afford it. | Would not affect me nor my friend. | Quite frankly I think this is unfair and UNCALLED FOR! |
506 | My husband is sick and can't work at the present time. I am caring for my mother who has dementia and can't work outside of the home. If it wasn't for medicaid we wouldn't have any health care coverage. My husband wants to get well and work. It's a relief not to have to worry about dr bills and paying for prescriptions. | These changes will make Kentuckians less healthy. Which will result in a less desirable work force for industry. | Wouldn't. Fixed income. | Requiring 20 hours of 'community engagement ' create additional barriers to obtaining employment for 'able bodied' adults. This will further unemployment, as providers participating have no incentive to hire, when they can have work completed for free. |
507 | My husband works for a prison and coverage for the both us just didn't fit our budget, it was just too high. We finally were able to qualify for Medicaid with the Affordable Health Care act, but just this week, we got a notice saying we were losing coverage. | These changes will prevent well-meaning adults from getting the care they need. | Yes | Requiring people to "work" unpaid is legal slavery. It's unfathomable to me that a person who claims to be a Christian would promote and inact this. It's shameful. |
508 | My husband's cancer was caught in time thanks to finally being able to afford insurance and we can afford my son's epilepsy meds much easier. Without insurance they were several hundred dollars, with insurance, less than $10. | These changes would actively prevent people, particularly low-income individuals, from having access to health care. Eliminating federated transportation in many cases would effectively be denying those on medicaid access to care and stopping their basic needs from being met. | Yes | Requiring volunteer work for Medicaid recipients is ridiculous, patronizing, and offensive. Many Medicaid recipients are working, but may only work part time (as was my situation when I had Medicaid) or have other circumstances that make this not make sense. Further, where will all of these people volunteer? And no, churches are not an appropriate place for people to volunteer. |
509 | My kids get help with dental and vision and medicine that their other insurance doesn't cover. | These changes would be absolutely debilitating to my son and I. I am self-employed and work very hard and I am focused on becoming successful so that I may provide a good life for my son. These changes would take time away from my work which would mean less income for me to provide for my child. | Yes - my income and employment status changes regularly. A requirement to report changes within 10 days of my income or employment status changing would make Medicaid virtually impossible for me. As any informal worker or freelancer knows, income can shift weekly and drastically. The amount of paperwork and time it takes to report changes in employment or income is painstaking. That time and energy are directly pulled from the amount of time and energy that people need to put towards their jobs and developing their careers. This proposed measure is the antithesis of what Medicaid is suppose to do. | Requiring volunteer work or other type of community engagement assumes individuals have no problems with transportation or childcare. It also puts the burden of finding this type of work on individuals who are struggling to meet basic needs. |
510 | My mother draws less than $1000 a month, withcout Medicaid I don't know what she would do. | These changes would be so unethical to have women and children who have been abused physically, sexually and emotionally not to have this opportunity to receive the serves they need to be medically well would be a catastrophe. A lot of the women we serve have never finished school I do not believe they could possibly handle a account. Most of them have never worked a day in their life due to being victims of domestic violence. | Yes as explained above. I am self employed so changes can happen a few times in 10 days. I'm still poor and need assistance. The proposed changes would hurt my family. | resent he is a full time student but an appropriate jobs program would be a good thing as long as Medicaide wasn't removed if he failed. Medicaid keeps people alive and should not depend on anything |
511 | My mother has been turned down for disability although she cannot walk from 2 surgeries so she would not be able to work and comply with the new changes. With Medicaid expansion she has received the care she has required. | These changes would mean I & my brother would be out on the street . I work full time But my brother is unable to work due to his medical conditions. If I tried to put him on my health insurance it would eat up over have of my income & I would not be able to cover my mortgage and other living expenses | Yes it changes because I only receive child support for my two grandkids and the parents are guaranteed to keep jobs. | retired.need any heavy stuff moved? |
512 | My Mother in law has Medicaid, she is 95 and lives alone because she gets help through Medicaid | These changes would not affect me or my family but those who need it to get medical care need to be able to go to doctor and not worry about how to pay for it. | Yes it fluctuates | Ridiculous to expect people to "volunteer" just to have health care. It costs time and money to volunteer. You must have a vehicle, gas, time, ability, and possibly a babysitter for some folks or someone to sit w/an elderly or disabled person while you go "volunteer". |
513 | My Mother in law has Medicaid, she is 95 and lives alone because she gets help through Medicaid | They can't afford to pay more. They are on a fixed income, that they are barely making ends meet now. | Yes it would be detrimental to me. | Ridiculous to expect people to be poor, ill and a slave. Slavery ended over 150 years ago -- or was supposed to. |
514 | My mother Rebecca worked as a grocery cashier most all her life. She worked for GE for three years before being disabled for a heart attack and mild strokes. Mom raised six children and always had a job. She was not one to wait for a handout. After she and my dad divorced and she retired she was forced to take Medicaid for her medical needs. She cleared just over $800 a month ($9,600 annually) For those who think the lazy and entitled are the only ones who need Medicaid benefits, they should walk a mile in someone else's shoes. These new proposals for Medicaid are insane. I already know two ladies who are trying to work through all the paper work for their Grandmother and Aunt. These are two intelligent and able bodied ladies doing what they know is right for their family members. They feel defeated. I cannot imagine my 94 year old Dad or my 88 year old Aunt trying to figure these things out on their own. Many, many people do not have family members to care for them. How in the world do you expect these people to manage all these changes? Governor Beavin and all his political friends should remember they are elected to "Serve" the residents of Kentucky. I cannot imagine he is having trouble with his "handout" of government money and benefits allotted him each and every day from the very tax payers who elected him. I am disgusted with the power of our so called elected officials no matter their political vent. | They could not go to the doctors if they needed to, if they needed medications they could not get them, if a person needs glasses they need them and dental too I am not for cutting Medicaid out, I am for not forcing it on people that are not sick and may never get sick and calling that prevention which waste money that actually sick people really need at times, the hosp fed program will be in place unless that law gets changed Kentucky does not pay for that, but it is expensive when sometimes you just need to see a doctor or something unexpectedly comes up then you may need an ER room an ICU too who knows when those things are going to happen most really don't and most doctors really don't either not ahead of time every individual is completely different | Yes mine does. We have a bullshit sliding scale for bonuses that the amount literally change without notice so I have no control over how or when I receive the final amount dispersed. | Right. If/when I need nursing home care, I wonder what that requirement would do for me? Or how about a child who has medical care through Medicaid? A disabled child or adult. What exactly do you expect them to do so they're considered worthy of health care? |
515 | My partner depends on Medicaid coverage. He has Psoriatic Arthritis. He lost a job due to budget cuts and has had trouble finding work since. Because his disease is degenerative and painful, work that requires him to stand/walk all day is difficult. We decided that he is better off working from home when he has the chance. His medication cost $2000 a month, and we cannot afford that cost, or the $6000+ deductible we'd have to meet every year before my employer's insurance would cover his medication. Before he was able to apply for Medicaid, he was without insurance for almost a year and was without medication during that time. His joints hurt so bad that he could barely type at a computer. Medicaid, as it currently is, has allowed him to receive the medications he needs, the regular medical testing he needs, and the basic medical care he needs. It has improved his quality of life. It has improved our quality of life as a family. It has improved his family's quality of life as his parents worry far less about him. He has one brother who also has insurance through the exchange because he doesn't make enough to afford employer insurance. Neither of these individuals are lazy. Neither are taking advantage of the system. | They rly wouldn't | Yes my income varies and I believe it does for most Kentuckians. 10 days is extremely way too short of a time period. Really folks...how many People will admit that they don't notify DMV that they have moved and update their drivers license timely?? Within ten days?? | Rural people might be unable to find appropriate placement. City wise it may come down to transportation and time especially for caregivers that do not have respite care. |
516 | My previous work in a not-for-profit mental health organization gave me a better understanding of who is using these benefits. I worked for Child and Family. It is the children who would lose out on these valuable services if MA changes are made (or not overturned) | They will cause vision and dental issues to worsen and go untreated, cause people to lose much needed coverage, and worsen the overall health of our state | Yes my weekly income changes when my monthly stays roughly the same | Seeking employment, scheduling interviews, childcare etc. |
517 | My sister and her two daughters have been able to engage in their health and wellness with preventative care and dignity. My sister is a student and works full time with no access to coverage without Medicaid. The peace of mind that she has knowing that she can get care when and if needed throughout this temporary time has been one less thing for her to worry about. | This could force restructuring of our entire program which would not benefit the disabled population | Yes our income is constantly changing because we are small farmers and our business is our sole income. When sales are good, our income is higher, when sales are lower or large purchases happen for the business, our income is lower. | She already works and goes to school. She has to live with me because she can't afford an apartment. |
518 | My sister-in-law would have been uninsured during her pregnancy if not for Medicaid. She had complications with her first pregnancy and a high risk second pregnancy. Insurance coverage ensured that her family did not go into overwhelming debt and ensured that she and the baby received high quality care during and after the birth. Now she and her whole family has access to health insurance and health care when without Medicaid it would be unaffordable. | This would cost us extra money, and discourage people from becoming foster parents if they had to pick up the tab for all of the foster child's medical expenses. | Yes, as a self employed individual my income can greatly change - some weeks I might make nothing and other weeks I might make thousands. Also, many people who this might impact don't have the means or know how to navigate such a complicated system. | She wotks full time already and csnt afford reg insurance. |
519 | My son and his family were able to get coverage during a time he was laid off till he got a permanent full-time job. | This would lead to Los of coverage for many. Many struggle for food how they going to pay penality. | Yes, as a self employed individual my income can greatly change - some weeks I might make nothing and other weeks I might make thousands. Also, many people who this might impact don't have the means or know how to navigate such a complicated system. | SICK people aren't ABLE to work! |
520 | My son is a full time college student with a part time job. He suffered a spine injury requiring surgery. We would have never been able to afford his surgery without Medicaid. My employer charges 600 month premiums for myself and one dependent. This premium would have been 40% of my mediocre take home pay. Medicaid expansion has helped us families who don't make enough to afford outrageous medical premiums and expenses. | We barely make ends meet as it is, if this occurs we couldn't even afford the co-pays. | Yes, as a self employed individual my income can greatly change - some weeks I might make nothing and other weeks I might make thousands. Also, many people who this might impact don't have the means or know how to navigate such a complicated system. | Since I am not a Medicaid patient this requirement would not impact me. However, I have many families with only one adult caregiver. These are families that have a child with a life threatening illness. Expecting families like the ones I serve to volunteer while their child is ill is not rational. |
521 | My son is disabled and without Medicaid I would not be able to afford his care or mine. | We could reach the point of not being able to go to the Dr when needed due to lack of extra money. | Yes, but I'm not eligible for medicaid | Since my daughter has a disability, I wonder how much MORE paperwork we would have to do: how fragile must one be to exempt out of this? Sounds like more doctor's appointments and more time I'd have to take off of work. Again, adding to the time burden and emotional burden of families already with facing hardships. |
522 | My son is disabled. He would not be able to live in independent housing without Medicaid coverage. This would drastically negatively impact his life. | we do not have anything extra for co pays, insurance premiums, nor is she capable of understanding or juggling 3 different areas of rewards etc. | yes, I think the tim period should be changed to 30 days. | So much more easier said than done. |
523 | My son is getting health insurance and dental care for the first time in his adult life. | We would have to pay a CO pay or premium and sometimes it might make finances tight but I also understand that the state can't keep this up. | Yes, I work a full-time job, but my hours vary. A 10 day requirement (with the consequence being a 6 month lockout) would be inordinately punitive. Shame on you, Governor Bevin. | So, again, this does not impact me directly, but will affect many of the agencies with which I have worked. My concern here are the smaller communities that have only a handful of nonprofit agencies, soup kitchens, etc...that will be able to provide "able-bodied" adults with opportunities for "community engagement." Those communities tend to have more of our fellow Kentuckians who utilize Medicaid and other social systems simply because of the lack of opportunities in those areas. |
524 | My son is getting medical coverage for the first time since leaving high school. Medicaid expansion is also greatly helping our east KY economy. | Well in my community I think it would make more people get a job instead of laying around and living off the government and getting obese and doing drugs and such | Yes, I work approx 36 hours a week, but since I don't get paid leave, my income can vary from week to week depending on how many hours I record. I do not qualify for Medicaid, and I struggle very much to pay for insurance and healthcare. | So...a person making minimum wage and working 40 hours a week is expected to volunteer 20 hours a week. Get real! |
525 | My son receives benefits through Medicaid expansion. He has started a business and employs 2-3 workers. He is a sole proprietor and does not make enough to cover a premium nor do his workers. He would be uninsured without Medicaid. He works 6-7 days a week with 10 hour days. Once his business is established, hopefully he'll make enough to afford medical insurance and other expenses but for now, he works very hard and isn't able to afford it. We are very thankful for Medicaid expansion. He's used it twice in two years but it's a great safety net. | Well my wife would die without her medication because her heart is bad. I would be unable to have treatment for my knee and neck that is bad | Yes, I work in catering. Some months are busy, others hardly anything. | Some of my loved ones depend on others for all their care - they are incapable of doing community service. Some of my loved ones can't afford to volunteer because they work numerous part time jobs with changing schedules - how can they fit in another 20+ hours when they're already working 60? |
526 | My son was laid off from the mining industry and just diagnosed with Chrons disease. We could not afford the specialist or medication without medicaid. | Well, when government takes takes takes...What happens when there is no more to take and no one alive to take it from...GAME OVER!! | Yes, I'm self employed | Some of these people already work more than 40 hours a week. When would they have time for this inhuman requirement? |
527 | My son who is medically fragile (renal failure) worked for 18 years and has no income. I am concerned about those with mental health issues who cannot work, volunteer or have transportation. There are homeless folks who would struggle with working or volunteer opportunities. "Able-bodied" kids booted at 18 from Foster care system are especially vulnerable. Vision and dental care are essential for overall health. | Will have to do without medicine | Yes, it does. And again, we've seen repeated mistakes here too. | Some patient are elderly/disabled and this is completely impossible for them. |
528 | My stepfather and mother were able to get Medicaid when my stepfather had to temporarily stop working to have shoulder replacement and cancer treatment. | With the changes imposed, we'd be hurting. I cannot afford the $200 a month cost there is associated with my employer's insurance. I'm paying what I can afford which is the dental and the vision insurance. | Yes, it fluctuates greatly and i would constantly have to update things and not ever know if i would be covered from month to month | Some people aren't able to do 20 hours of community services or participate in job training. This would be extremely difficult for some single parents. |
529 | My wife can see her doctors for chronic diseases. I could get surgery for my hernia. | With the limited income I now have it would be very difficult to pay copays and premiums. | Yes, my income fluctuates regularly, which make it difficult when estimating my income. Currently, my annual income is about $16, 000. | Some people who truly need Medicaid are not capable of working or even volunteering because they are the sole caregiver for someone, or are not medically able. |
530 | My wife gave birth this year, and we have benefited greatly from our relatively seamless Medicaid coverage. We have monthly doctor's visits that are covered, and my wife also gets MUCH needed chiropractic help on an on-going basis that simply would not be possible otherwise. The healthcare coverage (because of the expansion) was a big appeal when we moved to KY three years ago. | Without the transportation many elderly family members and children will not receive the medical help that they need. | Yes, my income varies monthly, as do my expenses. I monitor it on a monthly basis, but to accurately predict my net income within a 10 day window would be nearly impossible. | Son has no transportation |
531 | My wife has had 2 knee replacements which we could not have afforded with medicaid. | won't be able to go to the doctor cause have no other insurance | Yes, my spose and I are self-employed and our income fluctuates based on how our respective fields/industries are faring economically. | Speaking from the viewpoint of my students, transportation is a massive barrier for the blind and visually impaired for employment and would be for volunteering, as well. Will transportation be provided? Will the establishment be required to provide reasonable accommodations for access, like an employer would be? Additionally, the implication that only those who've earned health care should be entitled to it only furthers a negative self concept among individuals with disabilities and a belief of inequality and condescension of the population at large toward those with disabilities. |
532 | N/A | Worrying about how to pay for health services adds an unnecessary burden to KY families and communities. This new plan is designed to make people feel guilty for have state-funded insurance. Health insurance should NOT be merit-based. Healthcare is a human right. If our communities are healthier we can work towards a better Kentucky together. | Yes, our income fluctuates regularly based on the amount of work we do. This is very common for working class people, who this new regulation will effect. | Students and people seeking employment would be negatively impacted in s big way. So unfair!! |
533 | Nearly 500,000 Kentuckians have health care coverage and new research shows this coverage has led to increased health care access and uptake of preventive health care services and a decrease in emergency room use. | Would be devastating for families and individuals already struggling. Less access to preventative health care, mental health treatment. | Yes, our income fluctuates regularly based on the amount of work we do. This is very common for working class people, who this new regulation will effect. | Terrible |
534 | NO | would be uninsured | Yes! I am a social worker and due to the constant cuts in social programs my hours have been reduced and my pay has been cut twice. With these cuts if I was relying on Medicaid I would be having to take off from my job to report these changes which puts my job in jeopardy. Once again Corporate America is not sympathetic to letting you take off to report these changes, but they refuse to give you enough hours where you would receive health benefits through the company!! | That is already occurring with some programs in Hawaii. I have had many volunteers at my program who were completing a work or education requirement. |
535 | NO | Would deeply affect us all, without it, we couldn't afford our monthly medications, all which are life dependent, dental care, too much is at risk if benefits are lost. | YES. | That is already on the books. When I was in ready to work I did my 30 hours a week and it was required. |
536 | No jobs in this area if our county leaders would do stuff to bring in jobs for people. Be a lot less government assistance but instead they are controled by a very rich man that has fancy buildings going up with no way to pay for these. So taxes will be raised. And he will get his pay | Would have to go without medical care and medication. | Yes. 10 days is not enough. The wait time to call and make changes for Medicaid is long. This requirement would put unnecessary strain on important aspects of my life by taking time away to be waiting on hold to report a change by a very short deadline. Time would inevitably be taken from my job, taking care of my health, my family. With much less time to report these changes, it would take away the ability to make calls at more opportune or convenient times. | That would be hard to do unless you offered childcare which I would assume cost a lot. |
537 | No one in my family is currently on Medicaid. I think it has been very helpful to people in my local and state communities. | Would make her unable to go to the dr and there's no way she would make it. | Yes. Anyone who works seasonal labor or pick up work when they are in good health has variable income. | That's a great plan, by all means let's offer Medicaid assistance so that families end up right where they started when they have pay day care for someone to watch their kids while they do community service. Or, pull a student who is trying to invest in themselves so that they can get into a position where they don't need Medicaid away from their studies. Not mention, I am very uncomfortable with forced labor. Calling it "community engagement" does not help. |
538 | now I can get 6 month checkups and afford health care. | Would no longer have insurance. | Yes. As a private contractor/healthcare provider Inprovide a valuable service for the community, but my income is necessarily inconsistent. | That's makes no sense |
539 | Our insurance is a part of our lives ! With out medications we have to have is life threating ! And we live on a fixed income and paying for the coverage would take away from our food and utilities that we need ! We should not have to choose between buying groceries or our meds or going to the doctor when we are sick ! Please take in consideration that we can't afford to pay anymore money or co pays than what we do now ! Pray for us all if this passes ... it's getting to be a sad world we live in ! God bless us all ..... | Wouldn't be able to afford 8 | Yes. I am self-employed and as an artist who gains her income from cyclical sales at arts festivals, I would have to be reporting a change after every show I work, or after every order that is placed that goes over the $640 limit. In the spring/summer/fall I would be reporting every month. In the winter, my income drops to almost zero, and averages out to less than $16,600 annually. But the summer months would erroneously reflect that I earn much more. | The "medically frail" term is too vague leaving room for people to still abuse the system. Also, I feel if they are able to work multiple part-time jobs then the need for the program would be void. |
540 | People deserve to be treated with respect, to receive healthcare. If it makes the community as a whole healthier, we've done our duty towards others. | You never know when you or your family members may hit hard times. They/we still need medical care. | Yes. I have to supplement my minimal disability with some odd computer jobs and from month-to-month there my be more or fewer tasks so less income. (It has been in decline for the last 2-3 years.) | the community would be cleaner and those that are older may get assistance that they may not otherwise.... |
541 | People geto the services they need to adapt better to life changes and successfully reenter independent living with the help they are able to access currently. | These changes would prevent anyone in my community with financial problems from getting medical treatment. I know there's anyways witchcraft but witches aren't licensed medical professionals. | Yes. I offer grant writing services. I bring in 10% of the funds I award the non-profit. If I don't win grants, I don't make money. Reporting changes in income would be a big stress on me. | The definition of able bodied and "medically frail" are ambiguous and the process for determining this has not been explained. Not all people eligible for Medicaid live in an area where jobs are available. |
542 | People in my community and family has benefited from Kynect. They are able to get the health treatments they need and to take better care for themselves. | 2 of my direct neighbors in the Highlands carry Medicaid due to severe disabilities. Medicaid help us obtain services we need to live outside an insitution. | Yes. I rely on commission checks. | The impact will not effect me now but things change! How is someone suppose to volunteer who is actively either trying to find a job, unable to get around,or have children they have to care for. And why do they have to volunteer in order to get help? Health Care should be a right, it's not a privilege to anyone receiving the benefits! It's a life line! This treats them as children. |
543 | People with serious mental and physical health issues are able to access care, decrease dependence on ER and hospitals and improve their health | A colleague is currently on medicaid because she is taking full-time care of her nonagenarian father. She would not be able to pay premiums and/or volunteer hours per week. What she would like would to have more jobs in her community (Perry County) where she could both care for her parent AND have a job and not be on Medicaid. Volunteering time doesn't solve the problem of those wishing to have paying jobs that aren't available in parts of the state! | Yes. I work temp jobs, and so whenever my income increases I have to report it. Whenever my income decreases I have to report it. It's manageable keeping up with the "on-off" reporting with the current time limit to report. To have that reduced to 10 days, would make things very difficult, including the possibility of losing coverage if I don't report within 10 days. | The impact would depend on whether a person needed a Medicaid or not and on what that person's medical and living situation was. If a person is sick and poor, this requirement would be quite burdensome. |
544 | Personally I benefited from it because I was able to go to the doctor for checkups and found out that I am actually a diabetic. Now due to continued coverage I have been able to maintain my blood sugar levels. | A disabled person or someone who draws a government check cannot afford to pay premiums yet they are charged. | Yes. I'm a part time employee. I don't trust that updates would be applied in a timely manner before I'm charged after an increase or decrease in income. Yearly updates should be enough. | The management of a program like this would be an unnecessary expense, and the intent is simply to punish people that more well off people would feel good about. |
545 | Personally, I have gone from no health coverage at all to Medicaid provided by the State of Kentucky through the ACA. I have had routine as well as emergency services provided for not to mention prescription drug costs covered. There is no way I personally could have afforded this care without Medicaid. | A family member who is not able, though not on disability will not be able to fulfill these requirements. | Yes. It fluctuates monthly, so it would make things difficult. | The members of my family who are on Medicaid are in it because they cannot work. Requiring them to do something they are medically forbidden to do so they can keep their insurance is backwards thinking - if they could work, they would not need the Medicaid. |
546 | Poor people get medical coverage they otherwise couldn't afford. We shouldn't die bankrupt just for getting sick. | A good friend who must stay home to care for a very sick son, and is otherwise capable of working, would have to go back to work with these changes. No day care is available/affordable to take a child with his disabilities. | Yes. Many peoples' working lives are not nearly so simple. | The more people that are working in the community, the better for everyone. |
547 | Pregnant wife was able to receive coverage during a gap in her insurance due to loss of my employment. It seems as though too many people in the community are taking advantage of it, however. | A healthier community means a stronger and healthier workforce, thus a stronger economy, and a higher standard of living and quality of life for all. | Yes. May servers months not covered. | The only problem I see with this is the 20 hours may be a bit too much, especially in small communities where there are not a lot of volunteer opportunities and requiring 20 hours may put organizations in a situation where they have more volunteers than they need, so some may not get the chance to do 20 hours |
548 | Preventative and basic health insurance ensure low income families and maintain employment and over me barriers to self-sufficient. Parents who have their children removed due to abuse or neglect can access needed services that are required and necessary to work towards reunification. | A Healthy Community=A Productive Community | Yes. Most people's incomes can change quickly these days | The phase in at 5 hours a week would be better. |
549 | Received healthcare and was able to get healthier. | A lock out period is deliberately cruel. What is someone had a medical emergency during that time? An accident, cancer diagnosis, pregnancy? What if they needed access to life saving therapies or drugs? This policy would be truly harmful to the people of Kentucky. | Yes. My husband works out of a labor union, and his income changes regularly. | The poor have a hard enough time making it to doctors appointments, I think that the community engagement requirement would hurt Kentuckians who need help. I am opposed to this proposal. |
550 | Received preventative care that prevents any worse or costlier medical issues | A lot of us could end up in the same situation as my mom. Not everybody is rich NOR are all these people so-called "DEADBEATS!" | Yes. My independent contract work makes it difficult to know how much my income will change each month. | There are adults who are not "medically frail" but are also not able to volunteer or work. This should be up to a social worker or doctor to determine on a case by case basis. I also have concerns about what will constitute volunteer work and how that will be handled. |
551 | seen lot of laid of folks get insurance they need so they can attend doctors and tests to build case for disability. | a six month lockout? Are you kidding? And what happens to them in that time frame when they need medical coverage? | yes. Thanks to the Bush economic disaster I no longer have a "regular, 9-5" job. I do contract/gig work as I can find it. Some weeks are great, some weeks I'm pounding the pavement looking for my next job. Many of my loved ones who depend on Medicaid are in the same situation. | There are always going to be marginalized people who need assistance. I think it would be difficult for some of them due to transportation and babysitting issues. Who is going to keep up with all of this? |
552 | Several years ago, my wife kost her job which ended our family's healthcare coverage. Her employer and my employer had identical plans. Her employer had fewer employees than mine, but was able to get the same plan way cheaper? My employer paid part of our plan costs, due to my wife having family coverage, i was able to save my employers contribution into a medical flexible spending account. Which totaled $7500.00. Once my wife lost her job, her and my daughter lost healthcare insurance. I could only afford to cover myself due to the high cost of family plans. To make matters worse, Humana Inc. promptly took the $7500.00 in the flexible spending account due to coverage change. That money could n should have been available to help cover the cost if the family plan. My daughter has been able to get coverage through the medicaid exspansion, and has had to use it medically, dental n vision. Otherwise it would have bankrupted our family. My daughter is a college student and works part time and does not have the extra time for Gov. Bevins foolishness. Sadly, my wife remains uninsured, while she runs her own business. She only makes enough to pay her business bills, taxes, 1 part time helper and contribute a very small amount to our household income. She checked into medicaid and ACA, but it would only pay almost half and us paying the other half. Which we could not pay. She was advised to go without insurance, pay the ACA penalty at the end of the year and hope n pray nothing happens to her. The flexible spending money taken by Human, with the ACA penalties paid would have more than covered my wife for several years. Gov Bevins all or nothing, ill thought out plan, is going to do nothing but make things worse for me and my family. When he should be looking for ways to pay for the Medicaid exspansion and make the healthcare better to include those who have fallen through the cracks, like my wife. | A step backwards. There is no need to have all these barriers to obtaining health care, which should be a right for everyone. | Yes. This could make my coverage have a "yo-yo effect". | There are no jobs ! Work on that! |
553 | Significantly more Kentuckians are getting preventative health care, as well as the emergent care they need, when they need it. The alternative? Suffering. | Able bodies should be held responsible. We also need to be aware that emergencies happen in real life. | Many people on Medicaid have transient work or borderline IQs even if they aren’t diagnosed as having an intellectual disability and getting services on that basis. I know from many years of experience working with the population. A good number of people with borderline accuse graduate high school and phase out of supports quickly don’t have any at all upon graduation. I have so many stressors already on them and lack of ability to absorb and understand this will destroy the lifeline. | There are no jobs or no where to volunteer in our rural area. |
554 | Significantly more people are accesing mental health services, which decreases many social problems. | Able body people can help keep our community a clean And there for safe community resources or other purposes | 10 days to notify changes to status is too short. 60-days is appropriate. If you lose a job you have more pressing issues than filing a status change. | There are some who may be able bodied, but also have to be caregivers to spouses full time. Or already work in a home business and are needed there. |
555 | Since I have become unable to work due to medical issues and my husband is self employed I am so glad we are able to get this coverage during the time I am waiting to get my disability! | ACA helps people get the much needed services to get better and manage their illness. | 10 days is an unreasonably short period of time, especially for busy people and those with children. | There aren't enough job training programs or volunteer opportunities available for this to be realistic, and if these folks could find jobs don't you think they already would have done so? Nevermind the aspect of transportation. In so many parts of the state you have to drive a half hour or more to get to town. How do they pay for the gas? This is esentially a tax. |
556 | Single parent minimum wage jobs can't afford this. It is extremely difficult to just provide food and necessities without additional expenses. | Accidents happen and unfortunately people don't have a bunch of money to spend on premiums or they might not be on Medicaid in the first place. | 10 days is not enough time. Folks dealing with a status change have many priorities, e.g. housing, transportation, etc. In consideration of that, they should have 30 days to report. | There at limited job opportunities as it is...what are these folks going to do? |
557 | So many more people are now able to get good health care and KY is healthier for that. That SAVES us money more than it costs us. | All o these changes would make coverage more difficult to attain and thus make more Kentuckians under or uninsured and unhealthy. | 10 days is very short. My employment does not change regularly, but my kids have jobs in the summer, and reporting those changes means waiting on a paycheck, which can sometimes take longer than 10 days. | There is no way my brother could volunteer for 20 hours a week. He does not clock in and clock out as a farmer and may be subject to discrimination with this requirement. |
558 | Some in my family and many members of the local community have had no health insurance until Kentucky participated in the Medicaid Expansion program. Most of them work but their employer has no health insurance plan or it is not affordable. Even if they could have employee health insurance, it would be more expensive. | All of the benefits listed in the previous answer would be eliminated resulting in an unhealthy community which negatively impacts all of us | 10 days is way too short and is simply a way to further destroy our social systems - Bevin is evil | These people already have full time commitments. |
559 | Thanks to Medicaid, my children have adequate medical, dental, and vision coverage. One child is on 5 prescriptions. Without Medicaid, I would not have been able to afford her necessary doctor appointments and diagnosis, let alone her medicine. Dental appointments would have absolutely been neglected because I wouldn't be able afford the visits. Lastly, one child has recently had to have glasses. I have no experience with glasses, but I can say without the vision coverage, I most likely would not have taken her to get checked. | All of them. Working at a non-profit, folks who are forced to volunteer often have other things on their mind, and they are unable to focus. Transportation can be a struggle, and making their care dependent upon their ability to give time seems like a way to just make care harder to receive. | 10 days might be difficult to achieve on a consistent basis given that I am disabled and we have 2 small children. If I were single without kids it would be feasible. | They are not able mentally to do this |
560 | The ability to see a doctor as needed, and on a continuous basis. Having the resources to obtain prescriptions for treatments, and for maintenance drugs needed for chronic conditions. | Although the proposed changes would probably not affect our family member on Medicaid, the changes would adversely affect many Medicaid recipients. The 10 day to report change in circumstances or be locked out for 6 months would penalize people with irregular work schedules and irregular income. The work requirement would adversely affect people who need childcare, don't have adequate transportation, etc. Availability of childcare is the issue that stops many mothers from working in the first place. If the state would provide childcare for Medicaid enrollees perhaps that would allow mothers to work and enter the workforce on a permanent basis, leading to job with benefits or being able to afford coverage themselves, but to require a single mother to work to qualify for Medicaid is not reasonable. | 10 days not enough | They would not affect me but most of the people on Medicaid already work one or two jobs and would not have time for "community engagement" I think this is a cruel stipulation. |
561 | The community is full of people who will not be able to afford coverage if you make these changes. I'm afraid I will be one of these people some day. | Any change that runs the risk of her losing coverage or it being interrupted is not a good change. I jump through all the hoops every year to ensure she is recertified, but it is very easy to make a mistake...on both sides! | A lot of people do not have convenient internet access or cell phone to report these changes. It would be terrible. Part-time jobs don't guarantee a certain amount of hours every week or month. How can this be mandatory to Medicaid? It makes access to health insurance even harder to reach. Reporting work hours every month will only succeed in people losing their health insurance. | this change would greatly increase the cleanliness of parks, streets and sidewalks where trash accumulates and money is not allotted for clean up efforts |
562 | There are so many able to work now, and us this as a hand-up versus using standard medicaid and not working. It's help many out of the hole, instead of keeping there. It's also providing insurance to people who might not otherwise qualify because of working, yet not making enough to pay for / or even be offered ESI. I know of a woman who would have died without her insulin afforded her by Mecaid expansion, simply because before then, she made too much money making a small, part time job. | Any of these changes would devastate my community. | A person who works part-time or two jobs could easily lose their insurance coverage simply for not reporting or because they did not get enough hours to qualify for their Medicaid. This doesn't promote Medicaid's objectives of providing medical assistance. It runs couther to it. it is illegal. | This does not affect me but reduces staff availability to help me as they work with monitoring this program |
563 | These changes would be punitive and take our state backwards in time. | anything that gets in the way of seeing a dr. will affect people's ability to work which gets them off welfare rolls. | after 2 knee replacements my life doesn't change. I can't do much anymore | This doesnt impact us directly as my son is a child. Howeved, my husband works with individuals with disabilities and I work with aging individuals. In many cases this would be an unreasonable requirement. The medicaid system is already extremely cumbersome and difficult to navigate. Adding more requirements, monitoring and screening is going to increase errors, lost services and damage to a large number of our most needy citizens. |
564 | They have received much needed care. | As a person living below the federal poverty level I don't go to the doctor unless I am so ill I can no longer complete daily functions. Had Medicaid required all of the proposed changes at the time I was severely ill with a bacterial infection of my spine there is no way I would have been able to comply with those requirements in order to receive care. It's already hard enough to be struggling to make ends meet and to be in poor health from years and years of lack of health care. | Am on Social security. | This facet of the Medicaid changes is absolutely insane. This is the worst. My grandmother has not been able to work for years. She's a fighter, but she just can't do it. Her husband can't. Does that leave me responsible for being a good enough citizen to keep my family alive? Because I'm a full time student with a job in addition. You think I don't want to give back? Of course I do. That's why I'm going to college. The first one in my family, in fact. So I can come back to my neighborhood, to my family, to my neck of the woods and give people what I didn't get. For this exact reason: Matt Bevin and every other politician pushing this change can fuck right off and provide some actual work that'll benefit Kentuckians, since right now, they're just trying to destroy us. |
565 | They haven't. I don't know anyone on medicaid. | As a single mother with no car, I would not be able to work or volunteer 20 hours a week. How will I get there, who is going to watch my child? | Are the changes permanent? Should people be given a little more time so that the reapplication of their Medicaid cases don't consume even more of the state's time? | This is a ridiculous and unecessary hurdle to ask people to overcome in order to receive adequate healthcare, which is a basic human right. |
566 | This coverage has saved several friends from complete bankruptcy. And, probably saved their lives. | As a teacher, the majority of my students are on Medicaid and still struggle to get care. The answer is expansion, not cuts, reduced access, or stigma. | As a 56 yr old woman making $30k annually. Was making $51k in 2001. Raise the dam minimum wage! | This is a work-camp like requirement. How is the determination "medically frail" legislated? Does depression count as medical fragility? How are very sick people supposed to work that many hours? |
567 | This has provided medical coverage for Kentucky men and singles who before have not been able to qualify for Medicaid. These people need this benefit to encourage healthy living and provide medical care for primary care chronic conditions. | As an adult, it is not clear if my eldest son's disability will prevent him from gainful employment and he may need Medicaid coverage in order to have health care coverage. With the proposed changes, any simple mistake in reporting could take away his coverage and with it, life saving medications. Due to our foster son's prenatal drug exposure, we are unsure of his future and the proposed changes could have an impact on his life down the road as well. As a foster parent over the years, I have seen many families, currently receiving Medicaid coverage. For birth parents working to get their children back from foster care, Medicaid coverage is crucial in their staying well so that they can care for their children. The stress of following a DCBS case plan, maintaining employment or volunteering without appropriate housing, adequate education, mental health issues, lack of access to telephone, etc. is more than many of these families can manage without adding the loss of health care on top of it. I agree that there is room for reform, but making services harder for such a vulnerable population to receive not the answer. | As an in home childcare provider, my income changes on a weekly basis depending on how many hours I'm watching kids each week. It would be a huge hassle to keep up with the requirement to report changes this frequently. | This is an absurd requirement. Volunteering should never be a requirement. |
568 | Three children with disabilities are covered by Mediciaid. Their complex medical and mental health needs would be unmet without Medicaid. | As dental health professional, I see that many of these folks have a difficult time providing for their basic daily needs. This only adds to their burden. Most do not seek care until they begin to feel pain as it is; and by implementing all these barriers to care, we are only putting their health on the line. People actually die from tooth infection. If the coverage isn't there when they need it, it will place extra burden on ER's or put their lives at risk in many instances. The inconsistent coverage will also affect continuity of care for those who do seek care; making it difficult for providers to effectively treat patients and control their dental disease. Oral health prevention is important and by not making it a priority, it will cost more to treat the disease.it will also cost more to administer all these changes than to provide the care, in my opinion. | As I mentioned, one of my sons is not well-equipped to handle red tape. It would be difficult for him to manage this without oversight from a helper. He holds down a service job and is a valued employee (but not valued enough to have health insurance through that job.) | This is an excessive amount of time that takes away from job searching, among other things. Not to mention, many who work in the service industry don't have regular hours, their schedules change weekly. How can you count on regularly coordinating with "community service sites, without risking being short on 20 hours, and losing coverage. Maybe the focus needs to be on raising the minimum wage to get people above this line. |
569 | Three grandsons on medicaid. They live with me and I am 81. | As I am under the 130% mark and do work full time, I would hope that we would still be covered. My daughter has panic attacks and she has tried to work, but gets fired as no employer can have her having attacks at work. | At the moment he does not have a job, but a 10 day reporting period would be impossible for him to meet, | This is an unfair requirement for many people |
570 | Through disability, through disabled child, due to Kinship Care | As I think about families I know who receive Medicaid, im concerned with the 20 hours per week they would Ned to work. The majority of the families do boy have transportation. This would also be very difficult for rural families who do not have access to public transportation. | Because I am self employed, I absolutely cannot predict my income from day to day. Sometimes I make $500 in a day and sometimes I work 2 weeks and make $80. When clients cancel appointments with me, I earn nothing, and days I spend on paperwork are also non income days. I can suddenly get lucky, and think I will earn money and then payments to me migt get delayed a month or two, so I can see where I might report that I went over, and then have insurance cancelled, and then get locked out when I have a few low income months. I can't imagine trying to spend time from month to month applying for short term policies that may not even cover my conditions, and then back on Medicaid, and then back off, switching specialists each time coverage changes, and the. waiting several months to get in to a new specialist to find that insurance has changed again because of either a lucky or unlucky month. | This is an unrealistic requirement for what you refer to as "able bodied" people. Where would they get funds for transportation to and from where their required community service would be? Who decides which Medicaid recipients are "medically frail"? What about mental illnesses that can be just as if my more debilitating as a medical issue? Also, I don't believe there are enough community service projects in our community available to accommodate the number of people who would have to meet this requirement. |
571 | Too many rich benefits included in medicaid exp | As it becomes harder for individuals to access Medicaid, my clients will spend more time trying to get coverage in order to get medical treatment. This will leave them with less time to find employment. As they struggle to get coverage and medical treatment, less people will go to work or the time for them to find employment will be delayed. | Child support can vary if people don't pay. | This is basically legalized slavery. |
572 | We all benefit from living in a healthier community. | As my husband switches jobs, these changes would affect him. Additionally, there are some areas were work is not available, hence why the consumers do not have employer paid health care. These changes would place undo stress on families and communities (see above comment regarding my employment). | circumstances change for my community due to a number of factors. | This is basically legalized slavery. |
573 | We don't receive Medicaid | As our previous private insurance would not cover my daughter's therapy, she would lose all therapy she needs to give her the tools to live independently and work as an adult. I have been diagnosed with many autoimmune diseases and will no longer be able to find insurance at an affordable rate, due to my many pre-existing illnesses. To be "frank," I would slowly die and my family could likely lose our home. | Considering how difficult it can be to report, I would definitely be in trouble. | This is basically legalized slavery. |
574 | We have always worked hard & sacrificed while working 2 jobs or more to have insurance. | As stated above, if there were drastic changes made to Medicare then that could affect the medicines my grandfather would be able to receive. Bills would become unmanageable, and burdens would be placed upon family members that would be difficult to carry. | Depending on how often the changes happen, lots of extra mail, e-mail, phone calls (however reporting was required); and lots of extra time of agency personnel. | This is bull shit, a way to punish the poor. |
575 | We have benefited because we now have health care. We would not have coverage and be unable to afford a visit to a doctor. | As the guardian for my twin sisters, I have learned a great deal about management of PKU over the last 20 years, consulting with some of the leading providers in management of this disease in the state of Kentucky. From knowledge gained I know that my sisters' physical as well as mental health would decline without treatment currently covered by a combination of Medicare and Medicaid. I fear that without this care it would only be a matter of a very few years until I would have to place my sisters in a longterm care facility, at the cost of an estimated $80,000 per year per twin. They belong in our home environment and I pray that decisions will be made that allow them, and many others, to remain in their communities in loving homes. | depends on if the internet us working | This is bullshit. Just another way to shame the poor and intimidate people into not applying for benefits they need and deserve. And another way to kick deserving Americans off their coverage in exchange for tax breaks for the wealthy. |
576 | We have Medicaid temporarily | As the primary care giver of 5 young children, I would not be able to provide 20 hours of work activities per week. | difficult to do ..changes due to health status, access to transportation. | This is completely unclear. As an HCB2 family caregiver, I provide many hours of unpaid caregiving. For caregivers who are not in a waiver, but may be caring for more than one parent aging in place, this could be devastating- forcing elderly parents into nursing home with their sons or daughter who experience strokes or heart attacks due to lack of care. |
577 | We haven't. It's run the cost up for everyone else. I resent having to work and pay for others that won't. | Bad for overall community health and bad for economy (loss of work days due to illness, loss of income due to uncompensated care) | Disabled | This is cruel to the working poor, who have little or no time for such foolishness! This state government seems to assume that all poor people are worthless and they are trying to make them worthwhile. It may be suitable for some, but not for most people on Medicaid. |
578 | We pay for our health care coverage through employer | bankruptcies | Do not affect me but sounds like a hardship on people. | This is just another excuse to strip poor people of benefits. |
579 | We would have to help pay for our grandparents' medical bills | Barriers to obtaining Medicaid inhibits access to health care which hurts families and our communities. | Does not affect me directly, but would be devastating to persons with disabilities. | This is just nonsense. I've paid taxes my entire working life, starting when I was 14. Should the worse happen and I'm down on my luck or unemployed, I'll be damned if I have to keep working for something I've already worked for! And, if I'm seeking employment- how effective will I be if I'm already working an equivalent amount of time to a part time job. Also - if people are working, they should not only be insured but receive minimum wage - seriously what year was slavery abolished? This is just a way to take advantage of those who are already down. SHAME on whoever came up this idea. Jesus is mad at you. |
580 | We would likely have to skip some medical care we would otherwise receive, or we'll have to make choices between medical care and other necessities (most likely food, since we don't spend money on "entertainment" or anything we don't really need.) | Basic health care and more urgent needs would go unmet | Does not affect me personally, but many folks living in poverty do have income that fluctuates. This would create an unnecessary burden on people that are already struggling. | This is not applicable to me, but I cannot imagine how my friends who work their butts off every day could possibly meet this requirement. This is a CRUEL proposal and make a lot of false assumptions about people on Medicaid. |
581 | We would lose our coverages. | Basic health care and more urgent needs would go unmet | Does not affect me, but how on Earth do they expect people to maintain this? | This is not particularly offensive to me, because I think ALL of us should have to do community service. In fact, that is a better idea - require us all to serve the community (with our talents).... for example if you are an architect... some deduction in what you would normally charge for your service; if you are a nurse, some deduction toward health care... a certain amount / week (maybe 10 hours / month x 2 years of service). I think if the person is working more than 40-50 hours of week (for different employers), the person would be exempt from the additional 20 hours. |
582 | We would not be able to keep our home or a vehicle if we loose any of these benefits | Basically, I'd be volunteering so much I can't find a job. Also, delayed qualification means I have to cease my medications. | Doesn't impact me but we catastrophic to many current Medicaid recipients. Very unrealistic given the physical, mental, and socioeconomic status of many current Medicaid recipients. Again, I don't trust that these individuals will be adequately identified as "fragile." | This is simply creating an administrative nightmare and wasting too much tax money to establish and maintain an accounting system, punishing many individuals who are already struggling. If there are abuses in the system, work on identifying these. Job training should be made available for all Kentuckians, not just those seeking Medicaid. |
583 | We would return to the bad old days of having to choose between food and medicine, or medicine or rent. Emergency services again flooded with severe illness left far too long untreated. | Because my husband and son have pre-existing conditions, obtaining insurance would be a financial hardship because of our income. We would worry that about my husband's cancer coming back because there would be no guarantee there would be insurance to cover it and my son would have difficulty finding employment because employers don't want an employee who would raise their insurance rates. And without a job and means of paying for his medication, his life would be at risk due to grand mal seizures. | Employment doesn't change that often, but only problem reporting would present is that i would have to rush reporting, and not get as much information by calling around for recommendations. | This is the craziest requirement that I have ever heard of. I would like to see the governor volunteer 20 hours for his health insurance. Most people on medicare are having a hard time earning a livable wage and this is just another burden on them. |
584 | We would see critically ill folks as a result of a lack of regular medical care. | Being disabled I would hope this wouldn't effect me, as I'm not able-bodied, and we're I to be able-bodied, I'd already be a productive member of society. I do have to say though that these rules/changes don't comsider that people are already working themselves to death at jobs that don't offer insurance through the workplace, when I was healthier, I worked three jobs all part time, (due to my skill set and jobs available in the region I lived in), and I rarely had insurance available through the workplace and would still go to chucrch and help when and where I could there. So I wasn't just lazy and idle, I've been "hustleing" as they call it and working super hard my entire adult life trying to get ahead and get to a stable place. I think that upping education funding that teaches money management in schools from early on, and other skills such as household planning, foreign language, psychology and practical things that adults actually need to know would help produce fewer "lost puppies" out here in the real world and create a more sustainable system. | Employment for our homeless clients is constantly in flux and can end with no notice. | This is the most ridiculous stipulation. Many are already working full time and this will greatly impact time with family and stress levels. |
585 | We wouldn't be able to afford food if we had to pay the premiums every month. Employers refuse to pay a living wage in the state of Kentucky, especially in the rural areas. We don't receive any other government assistance other than the medical cards, although we would probably be eligible for food stamps, we do not apply because we want to work for everything that we can afford. Every dime that we make goes toward groceries after we've paid all of our bills. If we could no longer afford groceries due to the cost of premiums, we would be forced to apply for food stamps, putting further strain on an already stressed system. Our governor's plan to revoke the Affordable Care Act is rather counter-productive and a mistake for Kentucky. | Believe changes OKAY and not as detrimental as originally in terms of sustainability for access to quality care | Employment status changes daily. This would affect negatively | This is unnecessary. |
586 | We wouldn't be able to afford the bills and wouldn't be able to go and start having deterating health and everyone should have a right to health care that is of poverty level! | Besides the obvious fact that we become less strong as a state, people won't have needed access to mental health. Lots of private practices (small businesses) will suffer or close. | Everyone's income and employment status changes from time to time. This is especially true of those who benefit from Medicaid -- such as my children and friends and neighbors. No one else needs to make this kind of report in order to keep health care. This is an unnecessary and expensive burden on workers and on government keeping track of all this. The only goal of this seems to be to kick some people off Medicaid. Well-paid workers in our society do not need to make such reports in order to keep their health care -- and stay healthy enough to continue working and living their lives. | This isn't realistic for people to do that have children or care for others. Will the state provide childcare while parents volunteer? |
587 | We wouldn't be healthy | Between school studies, my child and work (15+ hours a week), i I do not have time to work more hours or volunteer my time. Doing so would leave my child at home alone or add the addional cost of child care. Neither is an option. Requiring me to have the money for premiums up front would prevent me from being able to get medicaid and therefore prevent my child and I from receiving the care and medications we need. | Family member's income varies monthly but probably not enough to change eligibility status. | This makes absolutely. I sense to me. I think of child care costs associated with that requirement, pure exhaustion, lack of transportation, etc. I wonder if these issues have been considered? |
588 | Well there ain't no jobs in eastern Kentucky and I couldn't afford to go to the doctor because I could not pay the office visit, now with the insurance I have a family doctor and she has took test sent me to therapy for my knee and neck and took all kinds of blood work on me that I've never had done before. My wife has heart problems that she never knew until she got insurance and now she has doctors that help her and keep a eye on her heart because her valves leak. So if you take it then she may die. | Beyond devastating | family members are disabled | This measure is problematic for many Medicaid recipients. Firstly, many people cannot find 20 hours of work per week. Secondly, many people need medical attention and treatment in order to work more hours per week. There are also irregular workers who work different hours every week. Other states have programs that help Medicaid recipients find work and provide them with job training. Something like this would make this measure more ethical and appropriate for those struggling to find work or mentally or physically struggling to work. |
589 | When I did not make a living wage and when I was unemployed Passport helped my family and I cover needed medical, vision, and dental visits. | Block grants and lifetime limits would adversely affect many. I worry not only about my son loosing services but also my elderly mother and thousands who will depend on Medicaid for their long term care. | farming activities are random depending on the weather, season, and needed lablor. | This program would not impact me personally as I receive health insurance through my employer. I am concerned about how "able-bodied" is defined for this provision as I worry that it could cause mentally incapacitated individuals to lose coverage. I would be happy to receive more information about how the state defines "able-bodied." |
590 | When I returned to the USA after working abroad, I was unemployed and received Medicaid while I looked for work. After finding a job, I still didn't make enough money to be disqualified for coverage. After earning enough to enroll in the marketplace I cancelled Medicaid. But I was thankful to have medical coverage while looking for work so I could stay healthy by getting preventative care. With no income I wouldn't have been able to afford premiums for insurance. | both adults and children would find their future health and well-being jeopardized with out the early intervention provided by Medicaid funds. | For my patients it is difficult due to the population we work with. | This requirement makes it vey hard on parents that are working a 40 hour week and barely making it, now we are adding 20 hours to an already long week. It is the families that will suffer. It just sounds like you are still rewarding the lazy people to stay home and sit on their butts, but punishing the ones that are trying. |
591 | When my husband and I had kids very young (before we were married) both children were on Medicaid. Also, when my husband transitioned from the military back home they were enrolled briefly again until he found good, stable work. Medicaid should be a hand up. Not a hand out. | By increasing the uncompensated care, these changes would create a hidden tax on all Kentuckians who have heath insurance or use health care. It is likely that cost of care for individuals who rely on Medicaid would increase. | For our patients, many of whom work in seasonal jobs and other part-time positions, frequent job changes are a fact of life. The reporting changes would be a burden to members as they are often more concerned about child care, job hunting, housing issues, etc. Adding one more reporting step is an unnecessary punishment. | This requirement may prevent folks from seeking work opportunities, if an interview means risking loss of coverage for themselves or their family |
592 | When people know they will be confronted with charges they cannot afford, they choose not to use health care. The proposed changes to Medicaid would increase the uninsurance rate and put the cost of indigent/uncompensated care on providers. The administrative costs to the new system do not save Medicaid or taxpayers any money at all. | By making these changes, we will step backward in our goal to cover all our Americans. I truly believe that it is our moral obligation to care for, and about, each other. | Give at least 30 days. Sometimes changes can happen for a short amount of time and then change back. A 10 day turn around is only creating more work for the stateworkers processing these requests. They are behind as it is. | This requirement reinforces the conservative fallacy that low-income individuals are likely to "take advantage of the system" and must be required to work to prove they are not. As if finding a decent job in low-income areas is like snapping one's fingers. This requirement is ridiculous. |
593 | When there is no way to pay for medical care and no trips to doctor. That hurts our entire economy. They will end up in the emergency room and no way to pay. | Care for children and the elderly | Greatly, since we are self-employed, there is no way to forecast how business will be, it is up and down and we would constantly be worrying about how that was going to affect our coverage. | This requirement strikes me as insulting and I can think of many scenarios where it would be a burden. For instance, what if someone has irregular hours at their job, what if they are looking for a new job, what if there is a family emergency they need to attend to that week? What if they get the flu? If a person is on Medicaid does that mean they are never allowed to take a vacation? |
594 | While I will not be affected personally, the thought of children and older adults going without dental and vision care, strongly disturbs me. As an RN I know that poor dental care can lead to a number of other illnesses. Children cannot learn and people are not "work ready" without good healthcare. And that includes services that some people seem superfluous, like eye glasses and hearing aids. | Changes to the waiver would lock out folks for a ridiculous amount of time which is not even mimicked by national insurance carrier companies, lack of public transportation, lack of job opportunities for reward points are not available in rural parts of Kentucky. No public transportation is available and many times folks are charged even by family members to transport. The ability to have medication assistance along with coverage will help the improvement of the population of rural Kentucky. | Greatly. Because I’m only babysitting right now. | This requirement would be crazy to try to organize for the weeks that I am short of 20 hours of employment. I have one job that is "part-time, occassional" that has more hours the first month of every quarter, fewer the succeeding weeks. Who is going to monitor when I am working and when I am volunteering? |
595 | While we no longer need Medicaid as a family, many, many in our community do. Removing people's access to health care coverage will decimate the health of vulnerable people. How can people get jobs and thrive if they don't have access to care when they're sick? If we want a healthier Kentucky, we MUST ensure that everyone can get care. Medicaid is the most effective way of doing this. | Children of parents who don't meet the new requirements would lack healthcare with negative affects on education and long term outcomes for these kids. | Hard | This requirement would be too easy to falsify to make it worth doing. |
596 | With the proposed changes, my daughter may lose the healthcare she has needed for so many years, or she will have to pay co-pays that she cannot afford. Our governor has plenty of money and is out of touch with the reality that most of the working poor face. they do not earn a living wage and when they cannot afford to pay rent and food, they cannot afford the copays. | Children would not be able to master needed skills to learn, older adults would not be able to maintain their health. | Hard to report any changes. Can't get on web site most of the time. Takes over an hour to talk to anyone. | This requirement would be totally unrealistic for my grand-nephew. |
597 | With these new changes I would be further in debts | Community | Hassle and unnecessary | This requirement would not affect me directly. If people are unable to work or volunteer for 20 hours a week, there may be a (physical or mental) health reason they can't work. Health care should not be taken away from people, it is a basic right. |
598 | With two special needs kids it was hard before the expanded coverage to go to the doctor and with the proposed plan it is going to go back to the same thing. | Community engagement would be beneficial to our community. | Having to report changes within 10 days isn't always feasible if you are a senior or have chronic illness. For instance. I am unable to walk to my mailbox. & sometimes don't receive or send mail for several weeks. If you have a chronic illness, there may be weeks when you don't feel like making calls, or even dealing with more paperwork. | This seems impossible to keep up with and it will be nightmare for the people who are exempt. Every year recertification of my son who has a brain deformity is ridiculous this would just be another added hoop. Let's make this less complex and not reinvent the wheel. |
599 | Without expanded Medicaid, I will simply lose my health insurance. Until I can get work, I cannot afford the premiums for even the most basic coverage. If I get really sick, I could lose my farm and become destitute and then really cost the state a slew of money. I don't want to be poor. I've always been industrious and have a college degree. But women, especially, are negatively impacted when they have to be care givers for someone in the household as I was. No work history, age, rural area. No jobs. I think the Commonwealth's energies would be better spent doing its job of providing decent paying jobs with health insurance. It's not as if you can just go find one at will! People will die from this. Make no mistake. We will also be a laughing stock in the nation once again. We finally do something right, something that becomes a national model and then we set about to undo it? Why? Why are we so consistently foolish? Be more than this! Stop this madness of Gov. Bevin's twisted ideology. Please!! | Community has received much needed substance abuse and mental health care | He is not employed, but a number of years ago he was employed and I, as his parent, had to stay on top of his income. I can see how this could be a problem with many people less educated or simply lacking the time due to work hours and family requirements. Deadlines could easily be missed causing a loss of coverage. | This seems ok as long as adults with dependents are exempt. |
600 | Without Medicaid coverage people will get sick and not seek help until there is a hospital stay or they die. | Community needs to do more to get something. If you can't pay with money, pay with your time. | His does and he would have to do this constantly! It is ridiculous to think of this as anything less than an administrative nightmare! | This seems ok as long as adults with dependents are exempt. |
601 | Without Medicaid my mother would not be able to afford her prescriptions or be able to go the doctor. She is disabled and has end stage COPD | Community will suffer. It is shameful to not recognize people that need help. | His income and status has not changed ever in his life, so it wouldn’t be a burden for him. | This seems punitive --how would working parents meet this requirement while taking care of families? Do folks have the transportation needed to get to and from places? |
602 | without my medicaid coverage with Aetna i would not be able to manage my diabetes, mental illness, my medicines, vision, dental, i would not be in good health if i dont have the coverage. Please keep our health plan the way it is. | Community/volunteer service is a great idea, but is difficult to create and facilitate, esp for people in rural areas without transportation and/or childcare. Need to link to adult education and sliding scale based on availability and logistics. | I always managed that when on Medicaid, however, I do not agree with a 6 month lock-out, and think it should be retroactive still. When someone starts a new job, it can be hard to report sometimes. | This should be a suggestion. Not a requirement. Who will watch their kids or parents? How will they get there. Who makes the matches up? |
603 | Without payment for medical services, my poor town is likely to lose those medical services for everyone. Too many people can't afford healthcare on their own. | Cuts on KY Medicaid would mean less amount of hours my son gets for therapy. Cuts mean the children and adults who are currently on the waiting list for the waiver will NEVER get it as the list is currently in the 5000's. | I am a graduate student. My employment status changes at the end of every semester. I am covered by the university until I graduate, but young professionals often change careers quickly in search of better opportunities. These "entry level" positions often translate to part-time, little-to-no benefits, a salary far below the poverty line, little chance of promotion, or a year away from becoming an intern position. This requirement is another way of punishing people with lower incomes for the crime of what? being busy? There should be mercy in health care. | This stresses me out, and I am not even eligible. How can we ask poor people - who are already worried about paying their bills and finding a job- to "volunteer" or work? Many people on Medicaid are already working or work multiple jobs with different hours week-to-week. If the jobs and work aren't available, what do we do? Make them poorer if they happen to also get sick? Because a 6 month lockout of coverage means medical bankruptcy. |
604 | Without the Medicaid expansion I will once again not have insurance. Many families I know would not have any also. | Cutting back medicaid, since my mom isn't technically disabled or coverable under anyone else, but is the sole caregiver for a disabled child with autism (my brother), will put my mom back on private coverage, that on an income under 2k/month she cannot afford. There are thousands of people like this. | I am a seasonal business owner, constant changes | This won't affect or impact me personally but I feel like it will increase our taxes just to pay for policing this. |
605 | Worse health. Increase stress | Cutting Medicaid, or changing it from an entitlement based on income alone to a "benefit" determined by arbitrary rules, will damage the health of this state and will ultimately hurt our economy. | I am actively seeking employment. I would be fine with reporting changes, but it’s confusing. Does it mean within 10 days of getting a job, or within 10 days of receiving the pay? The ambiguities, lack of communication, lack of centralized information, and general confusion make it difficult to know what is the procedure. | This would affect the individuals I work with, by helping them be more involved in their own health care. Additionally, it would make them participate in something instead of having the mindset that they cannot engage in volunteering or work related activities that may risk their Medicaid status. |
606 | Would be confusing then one gets kicked off. I have a chronic condition- if something happens to me there is nobody to care for my children. | Declining health of adults means children are not taken care of as well in the home. Many people with Medicaid struggle with keeping up with paperwork. It's easy to say "well they should just do it" but the fact is, many just aren't equipped to do so. I don't like the idea of health care being withheld because correct paperwork isn't filled out in a timely manner. It's like politicians want to force those with Medicaid to be more responsible and show that they "deserve it". Health care is a basic right. If I don't fill out the paperwork during open enrollment at my job, I at least get covered. I don't lose everything. | I am currently disabled. | This would be ridiculous for people like my mother who has stage 4 cancer and is unable to leave her house. I on the other hand could do this as I am able to work just unable to find a job |
607 | would be uninsurred without it | Decreased access to care and decreased employment in community | I am currently looking into my options to do contract transcription work online. I am very concerned about jumping into any work that would be inconsistent. | This would inhibit individuals who are seeking employment/education opportunities from meeting other requirements |
608 | Would not be able to afford medicaid | Decreased availability of medication will lead to increased crime as people can't afford to get what they need legally. | I am currently retired but I know from my own family members that fast food workers face ever changing and flexible work hours and conditions that severely affect their living conditions and ability to find additional work. A short change in their working conditions would negatively impact their meeting family financial responsibilities. | This would limit my ability to do my work as a self-employed individual. |
609 | Would not be able to get medical treatment, medications. | Decreased care affects every aspect of life. | I am grateful to have stability in this area. I can imagine how difficult is it for people who are undergoing instability and constant changes in employment to keep up with this requirement. | This would not impact me but I do agree that some community engagement would be beneficial for people, but there has to be a great deal of flexibility in the administration of this type of program due to the multitude of reasons for dependency on Medicaid. |
610 | Would not have been coverage if new laws go into effect. | Denies help when most needed. Not financially sound approach. | I am not a Medicaid recipient. Those with limited English (fully vetted and legal immigrants) often require translation of correspondence from DCBS. Although interpreter services are offered by DCBS to resolve issues, immigrants often need time to find help understanding what correspondence says and means in order to get to the DCBS office to report changes. 10 days is an unreasonable expectation. | This would not impact me but it would impact many of my patients. |
611 | Yes there needs to be change but they need to look at other ways to change Medicaid. I work with people with addictions and mental illness. This has had a increase in helping these individuals. | Detrimental to health of our community | I am Not working at this time due to health issues. | This would not impact me currently. Most people who have Medicaid will fall into one of the exempt categories: pregnant women, children, "medically frail", caregivers, full-time students, and people already working 30+ hours per week. However, for the medically frail, caregivers, and/or people already working 30+ hours, the challenge would be in proving their "community engagement" exemption within a timeline that lets them keep their coverage. We do not yet know the process for the medically frail to prove that they are so. People who are homeless and do not have transportation to get to a provider to certify that they are mentally ill or require substance abuse treatment--they will struggle to prove that they are medically frail. Often people with mental illness struggle with providers for months or years before they receive the appropriate diagnosis. It is also demeaning for people who are very able-bodied, but suffer from some condition like mental illness, HIV, or high-functioning autism, to have to classify themselves as "medically frail" in order to access basic healthcare services and live a life that does not leave time for appropriate self care. People who work 25 hours a week and care for a child part of the time and are part-time students are going to struggle to find time to volunteer or do a job training program that may not be timely or appropriate for them. How are all of these volunteer positions going to be coordinated anyway? Volunteer work generally goes better when people willingly volunteer for it, rather than being forced to so that they can just get a pap smear or cancer treatment or a cavity filled. |
612 | the low income and elderly get a little help. what little money they have can be used to buy food and pay on their bills | Devastated | I am presently on Medicaid. I am still working. | This would not impact me directly, yet those without transportation or have their daily basic needs met may struggle to meet these requirements. This really should be a case by case basis and address and meet barriers for these able-bodied folks to participate in. |
613 | *Acces to medical care when it is needed. *Access to preventive medical care. *Access to medical insurance if working less than 30 hours per week or if an employer does not offer coverage. *A generally healthier population that ca address health issues and illness as it arises instead of putting it off until there is a crisis that could be life threatening. *provides some measure of security for the working poor. | Devastating for family that won't be able to work because they will have to try to meet those needs in place of working, also ending employee eligible benefits. | I am retired and my income is steady. Changes would not affect me. | This would not impact me personally. However, I can envision scenarios in which employees would be at the mercy of their employer to maintain their schedule at the level required. Single parents with children will have difficulty meeting this requirement. They will be working to pay for daycare in order to meet the requirement (this assumes they will make enough to pay for daycare; if not there available net income may be negatively impacted). |
614 | 18% of my community lives below the national property level and a large amount of them use Medicaid as their health insurance. | Devastating to many who can't work, volunteer or pay. | I am retired and thus have a stable income. However, I have acquaintances whose lives are so chaotic it seems they have trouble keeping up with anything except meeting their daily food and shelter needs. I can imagine they would have difficulty doing this. | This would not impact me personally. I know people who work part time jobs without benefits who have irregular hours. Just one example would be to think of all those in construction who might not to get to work due to weather that varies from week to week |
615 | 400,000 Kentuckians are eligible for health care screenings. As they become more healthy, because they are finally able to get basic care, annual physicals, and cancer screenings, the quality of life for everyone in our state is improved. The costs to tax payers decrease, since most everyone can be seen by a doctor during normal hours, and the poor no longer rely on emergency room services. | Devaststing, could contribute to homeless | I am self employed | This would not impact me, but is basically slavery. These people are probably trying to find jobs and this would hinder them. |
616 | A friend was able to get coverage for her son's expensive cystic fibrosis treatments through the expansion. She is a waitress with another high needs child, and her hours and income are not steady. I believe expanded Medicaid has helped our community and a lot of people as well as the economy. The benefits should be available to more people, not fewer. It would save lives and money in the long run. | Deviate | I am self-employed and my income fluctuates greatly. Having to report changes every 10 days would be ludicrous. | This would not impact me; however this requirement is demeaning. Everyone deserves healthcare no matter their income. |
617 | A healthier population saves lives and money. | Do not anticipate the changes would affect my sister's status. | I am self-employed in sales, with work from home benefits. My paycheck varies from month to month, but it gives me the flexibility to manage my son’s multiple medical and mental health needs. | This would not impact me. |
618 | A healthy community is a more productive community | Don't mind Co pays but can't afford monthly premiums | I am self-employed so this does not apply to me | This would not impact me. |
619 | A son was able to start his own business working 60 hours a week. The investment into equipment, taxes and wages are very difficult. And he needs insurance | East my is expected to lose hundreds of jobs. Family and friends, young and old lose coverage | I am self-employed, and some months I get no paid work, other months my income would exceed the limit. But taken over the year, my monthly average is less than the limit. | This would take my creating time away....I work making things until time to sell...20 hours is too much, 20 hours too much. |
620 | Able to access preventive and treatment services as well as prescriptions. Will lead to improved health outcomes. | Employees with fluctuating income will have a harder time keeping insurance in place. Requiring work or volunteer requirements would make it more difficult for people who are taking care of children or elderly family members. | I am self-employed, it would be nearly impossible to follow this guideline accurately. | This would take people away from job searching and family care duties. |
621 | Able to keep my 27 yr old son witn severe disabilities home instead of in an institution. | Enrollment period will cause my family member stress and cause them to have and episode that can be very harmful | I am self-employed, so my income is not regular by any stretch of the imagination. They've changed reporting requirements on me several times already, and the current version makes broad assumptions about my income based on clients that I no longer have. A requirement to report changes within 10 days would be highly inconvenient as I'd likely have to make frequent reports, but it would be no more troublesome than the current system I guess. | This wouldn't impact my family |
622 | Able to see Practitioner for health. Friends are able to breathe a little better knowing they won't have to choose between food and prescribed life saving medications | Eventually, less people would be covered for preventative care, therefore have more castrophic medical bills which will eventually affect the economy and be passed to the taxpayers and consumers of health insurance. | I can't walk or lift. I am disabled and on a walker. Can't work. | Time constraints as a caregiver |
623 | About over 3 years ago I found myself unemployed, pregnant, and taking care of my elderly mother who had liver cancer. I was raising a child on my own and caring for my mom. I did not have the time to look for employment but I still needed healthcare for my child and myself. I was also able to get dental work done at UofL which potentially saved my life as one tooth was severely infected. It also gave me back my confidence and appearance to apply for higher paying jobs. Sadly my mother passed away shortly after midnight this past new year's eve. Even though I was completely devastated, I had to pick myself up and make a better life for me and my daughter. I had a job interview a few days after my mother died and I got the job. I've been with this amazing high paying company for 6 months now. Looking back, if I didn't have access to the ACA I could never have afforded to go to the dentist. And it pains me to think my poor daughter being all alone and having to go to 2 funerals. I know the pain of losing a mother but I could not imagine being so young and vulnerable and losing her. Especially over something as simple as an infected tooth, easily treatable...provided one has the means to seek treatment. I have no problem with more of my tax dollars going to pay for heathcare to those suffering the same hardships I went through. | Every human being is important and we are responsible for each other, not just for our own interests and personal gain. Every major religion teaches that we must care for the poor and each other. I believe creating more barriers to access (the work/volunteer requirement, reporting income changes within a short period of time, etc) will be incredibly cumbersome to people seeking access and for administrators trying to track all this data. For the poor who work 1-3 part time jobs with varying hours, this will be a logistical nightmare. | I do not change, I appreciate and keep a regular job and I follow rules. The change would not effect me at all. | Too hard to do. Jobs and or volunteer opportunities have to be available in area. Suggest using a. 10 to 20 hr work level reported monthly. |
624 | Access to health care and more jobs | Everyone SHOULD have healthcare. | I do not face this issue. If I did I doubt I could manage getting the paper work together and to the right place every time my income changed. Our clients lead chaotic lives and suffer from depression. Their ability to manage this is compromised by these conditions | Too onerous, 10 hr. per month max. withmore exemptions. |
625 | Access to mental health care | Fewer people covered with no option other than emergency department. Nonprofits will have burden of managing large numbers of untrained volunteers that are there because of need, not passion for the mission of the agency. | I do not have Medicaid but I work with many clients that do. | Trust me, people aren't milking the system because they don't want to work. The jobs want tons of experience for no money or benefits. A higher minimum wage could help a lot. |
626 | Access to needed medical services and medications/screenings. | Fewer people in my community would be insured because they cannot afford the coverage. | I do not have Medicaid but several family members work as handymen so work is sporadic,this would be so prohibitive. | Two many hours...equals half a normal work week...leave people some time to get their lives together. |
627 | After 25 years working on one job I found myself umployed and then my unemployment benefits ran out and my husband and I were trying to live on his disability income. There was no way I could afford any type of insurance. I signed up and received Medicaid and was able to go to the doctor who sent me for a routine colonoscopy since I was 56 and had never had one. They found a tumor and it was removed which required 6 day hospital stay. I came home and the next day found myself in ICU with blood clots in my legs and lungs and had another week stay. I could have never afforded insurance and I was so blessed having it at this time. | For one I just had knee replacement surgery and im not able to work at this time and I'm trying for my Disablity. | I don't receive Medicaid but this would negatively affect family members. | Ultimately I feel like it would cost more money to run a program like this - this money would better serve us elsewhere. I also believe the people exempt is lacking - what about the elderly for instance - what exactly does "medically frail" mean. |
628 | After a massive stroke my father my father had to be put in Thompson Hood Veteran Center in Wilmore Ky. My mom had to do reverse mortgage and give all the money, bonds, annuities etc to Medicaid that my father had saved for retirement so my mom could live comfortably. They are 78 and 80. Why does our government not support our elderly whom have paid taxes and abided by the law for almost a century. | For those individuals without income how would they pay premiums up front? Will individuals subjected to the community service/work requirement receive assistance in obtaining this requirement. How would individuals in rural communities who do not have transportation fulfill the requirement? What guidelines would be used to deem someone disabled? If parents do not meet the requirements for CS/work would their children also lose Medicaid? How long would able bodied persons with no dependents be given to meet the CS/work requirementments? | I file yearly and my income varies throughout the year. | Ultimately I feel like it would cost more money to run a program like this - this money would better serve us elsewhere. I also believe the people exempt is lacking - what about the elderly for instance - what exactly does "medically frail" mean. |
629 | After a massive stroke my father my father had to be put in Thompson Hood Veteran Center in Wilmore Ky. My mom had to do reverse mortgage and give all the money, bonds, annuities etc to Medicaid that my father had saved for retirement so my mom could live comfortably. They are 78 and 80. Why does our government not support our elderly whom have paid taxes and abided by the law for almost a century. | Forcing people to spend extra time away from family,when they are already working at minimum wage jobs,or are sick will create an unnecessary burden on the family and community,it's just spiteful | I get Social security, but my husband did work odd jobs and that would be very hard | Ultimately I feel like it would cost more money to run a program like this - this money would better serve us elsewhere. I also believe the people exempt is lacking - what about the elderly for instance - what exactly does "medically frail" mean. |
630 | After I turned 26 and was no longer eligible for my parents' insurance, I was at that time going to start graduate school in the fall (my birthday is in June). Medicaid allowed me to have health insurance while I completed school. I luckily did not have to use it much, but did have to go to the emergency room a couple of times while having it. Otherwise I would have been stuck with the measly insurance plan offered by my school, which would only cover 10 months out of the year and had high co-pays/premiums/etc. if I could not receive care at one of the school's clinics. Sad as it is, with my small stipend, I probably would not have gone to the hospital the couple of times I needed to without Medicaid because of the insane cost of evening stepping foot in the ER. | Fraud should be addressed, yes; but the vast majority of people in our community who are on Medicaid are not able to work. Punishing them by keeping health care out of their reach makes no sense whatsoever. How are people to get back to work if they are sick and cannot get what they need to be healthy again? Even the administration of this program will cost more than keeping the ACA in place for the millions of Kentuckians who now covered who had not been before this went into effect. What kind of sense does this make? | I get SSI only. | Unable to work |
631 | After more than 10 years without coverage of any kind, Kentucky accepted the Medicaid expansion and I enrolled for coverage. I was able to go to the doctor and address chronic debilitating pain I had lived with for over 5 years. After a year of being sent to specialist after specialist I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection of the spine and finally received life saving antibiotic treatment. Without Medicaid my infection may have spread from my bones to the lining of my heart or brain: a death sentence. I am 33 years old. | Gaps in healthcare, some would be discouraged to seek healthcare | I have applied for SSI | unless daycare is being provided, this could be very difficult for some folks to achieve |
632 | After my elderly mother sold her home and entered a nursing facility, her money ran out rapidly. Medicaid's beaurocratic hurdles caused high anxiety for my sisters whose task it was to submit the paperwork. Their blood pressure levels sky rocketed. I'm grateful for Medicaid, but I can't imagine how much worse these changes will make things for already stressed out care-givers facing the highly challenging navigation of overseeing parent care. | Gaps or lockouts based on a mistake could seriously harm these families. Fraud is different than not being able to pay a premium and should not be lumped together. Also a significant number of these clients are unable to complete the community service hours due to their pasts or mental health issues or familial obligations. They should not be locked out of needed coverage due to this. | I have been at the same job for 18 years now | Unless there's free child care for those 20 hours, I'd need to find additional employment to pay for the 20 volunteer hours that I won't be paid for. |
633 | All three of my children have Medicaid. | Getting those who aren't in need of this help put of the system can both lower costs to those paying ina dn potentially can increase the amount for those who need it. Though of course neither could be to big of a change as not to drain any budgets. | I have clients who are illiterate or physically/emotionally unstable. They aren't going to have the energy or capacity to report a change in 10 days. They may not even hear about the requirement and if they do may have no access to a means to report it. Not everyone has an assistant to manage life events. Only someone who hasn't born the full brunt of a health crisis can imagine this is possible. It is naive. | Unsure |
634 | All three of my kids have special needs. My husband is the only one of us who can work, because I have to spend my time, 24 hours a day, taking care of the needs of three kids. We cannot afford insurance for ourselves, but having Medicaid for the kids has been a huge benefit, because we HAVE to have medical care for Autism, Anxiety, ADHD and a host of other issues that impact our family. | Gonna cost me money | I have health coverage, but family members who are already seeking employment do not need this added requirement. Money saved would be lost through monitoring, documenting, and managing such over-zealous requirements. | Unsure, I believe it is important but immediately 20 per week is difficult. May agencies require training, background checks etc. |
635 | Allow them to have a roof over their head and something to eat. Basic survival ! | granddaughter would lose coverage | I have income from Social Security retirement and trust income. Social Security in my case has had annual changes in amount over the past 2 years. | Very problematic! |
636 | Almost 500,000 fellow Kentuckians picked up coverage under Medicaid expansion. Some of them did not have insurance before. | Greater health & happiness | I have many friends who work seasonal jobs, or work varying hours. Reporting changes online would be nearly if not completely impossible. | Volunteering 20 hours weekly places a huge burden on a person not limited to gas or bus cards, wardrobe, hair cuts and grooming and coordinating with different non profits. I am 64 and am able to do some volunteering but I never manage 20 hours as I have sick friends, a child at home and a lot of work to do on my own home. |
637 | Although I no longer have Medicaid, it was very helpful when I did have it. It helped our family keep our house instead of going bankrupt when our daughter was born. | Having healthy residents with access to healthcare improves: the economy, attracts visitors and new residents, lowers the risk of infectious diseases and can create a more positive atmosphere. | I have Medicare. | Volunteering would be good as long as it didn't require a lot of artwork or processing on his part. He loses forms or has flexible hours as he needs. If volunteering was not too structured or could be accounted easily it would be a good opportunity. He enjoys helping. |
638 | Although retired, I'm a registered nurse who used to be a community educator for a home health agency that covered 7 counties in Central Kentucky, spending a great deal of time in Garrard County, which at that time had a large Medicaid population. We should be doing everything possible to simplify the Medicaid application process, not punishing people by making this process difficult. Living a life that makes one in need of Medicaid is hard enough. | Having more people in the community healthy would be a positive affect on my community | I have no access to a computer or phone to update anything. | We already work |
639 | An increase in health coverage has increased the opportunity for individuals to seek healthcare when this has not been an opportunity in the past. | Having to report income every 10 days would be a disaster for my family because my husband is self employed he doesn't get a check every week to be able to know how much money he makes every 10 days this would be very complicated! The ability to obtain immediate access to Medicaid is very important I totally disagree with change in the fast track! I personally know of several people who had no coverage one who suddenly found out he actually had cancer and needed immediate coverage! | I have no income | We are much too busy to meet this requirement, since I work a full and part time job and my husband works part time and we have children to care for. |
640 | An older sister-in-law is dependent on Medicaid coverage for ongoing health issues while she cares for her elderly father. | He won't get proper healthcare. | I have not had it change regularly but do know that most jobs do not allow ypu to have a day off with in 90 days | We are poor, we work odd hrs, and struggle with transportation. All the stress of this unsureity is only causing more health problems. |
641 | As a college student who doesn't have support from her parents, Medicaid was the only way I could afford health insurance. | Healthcare is a human right that we should guarantee to all citizens. These changes are petty, stupid, and will kill people. Jesus didn't ask for proof of income before he healed the sick, they were sick so he healed them. | I have stable employment/income. | We can't. I work and so does my husband supporting our 2 kids. We hardly have any free time. |
642 | As a family practice & psych nurse, the need for Medicaid is great. The need for comprehensive healthcare is as well. Medicaid allows those in need to get care when needed. | Healthier citizens make for a healthier community, city, state, country! | I have to be self employed and never know when I will be paid, if my status changed, which I cannot anticipate, while I am not functional I would likely miss the deadline. | We do not have public transit where I live and I am unsure how I would be able to meet those needs with out reliable transportation. |
643 | As a farm worker whose farm closed I had to get Medicaid to cover us until another job was found. Now I work with foster children and they are on Medicaid I know how many of their family situations are and what you are doing will trickle down to affect them as well. How can you do that? | Help decrease the abuse of government benifits | I haven't been able to work in 10 years but I didn't want to be declared disabled because I knew I would stop trying to take care of myself somewhat. | We do not mind volunteering; in fact, we regularly foster for a dog rescue group and help at a local mission. Childcare woukd become an issue if we were required to do a steady 20 hours every week. Phasing it in would be more appropriate since finding places taking volunteers can sometimes be difficult. |
644 | As a health educator, I have seen community members better able to access care since they have gained Medicaid coverage. I know people who have had their first screening exams in years and who are getting their dental needs met. | Her therapy | I havnt been able to work for several months. All work requirements would be detrimental to my health. | We don't have the time. We don't meet the physical capabilities. I'm old. My joints hurt. Please just let me get them fixed without worsening them through this community engagement. |
645 | As a job creator with Medicaid as one of our payer source | Honestly, how is a parent working 30 hours supposed to do 20 hours of community service? If a person is laid off and has to sign up for medicaid for their families, asking them to pay premiums before services would likely mean they need to buy meds out of pocket and pay premiums. This won't impact us really but it's unrealistic for people already living in poverty and will only enforce the poverty cycle by heaping more stress and financial strain on families in crisis. Are y'all supplying childcare during community service hours?!!! | I know people on Medicaid whose employment status changes frequently, almost weekly. So one week or month they might earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and another month they would definitely qualify. Often they don't even know from day to day or week to week how many hours they will be working so their wages will definitely fluctuate. And this problem is compounded when they are working more than one part-time job. Constant reporting would drive them crazy and they'd just drop the insurance. | We have been doing these things without a requirement. As soon as our daughter was old enough and mature enough we began to work with her in volunteer jobs to enhance social skills and build resources in the community for the future. We value work, even if it is volunteer. I love this addition to the program. It would require lots of monitoring and follow through but I think it would be worth it. You need some good social workers and case managers, not just paper pushers. There is so much out there and you never know when a volunteer job may lead to more. Our daughter volunteered in preschools and is now working in a day care. Her medical needs prevent her from having the stamina for working full time, but she does still do some volunteer work on off days when she has the energy. I also think people who participate in Medicaid should be required to quit smoking, even if it involves participating in a free program to help. And they should have to get routine physical exams and preventative health tests. These are ways to make everyone accountable for benefits. |
646 | As a pastor, I have heard from many low income people who gained coverage that they did not have previous. They feel like valued members of society, and are thankful to be able to access care. | Hopefully, more would gain self respect for themselves and step up and out faster... | I know that is not possible for the majority of people I know | We pay for our coverage |
647 | As a result of being on this program I am an "able bodied" person that can work. Which helps me pay my bills and not have to rely on the welfare programs. | Hospital Emergency Rooms would fill up again, tax payors end up footing the bill, children would miss school and parents miss work if they don't have insurance or money. | I make different amounts every day, there is no way I can report income each 10 days | We work in excess of 40 hours/ week now |
648 | As a self employed Licensed Massage Therapist with a pre existing condition I was unable to afford healthcare coverage before the ACA. Because of the ACA I have been able to see a doctor when I had minor illnesses. This allowed me to miss less work in turn allowing me to earn more. I was also able to under go ACL surgery from an injury I had suffered 2 years before. This has improved my quality of life, helped me to return to the active lifestyle I had before and improved my over all health a great deal. | Hospitals that have to pay for indigent care pass those costs on to everyone else. When younger, more healthy individuals do not share the cost of health care, the price of my premiums are higher. | I personally don’t receive Medicaid, and will do everything humanly possible to not have to be enrolled in this program ( personal pride). I think reporting changes within 10 days is pretty reasonable.... maybe extend to two weeks. | We would not be able to meet this requirement |
649 | As a teacher, the majority of my students are on Medicaid and still struggle to get care. The answer is expansion, not cuts, reduced access, or stigma. | How are children, disabled, or the elderly going to work go God's sake? | I pick up different jobs when I can to earn extra money and 10 days may not be enough time. | We'll I can not work because of my medical issue |
650 | As an advocate for diabetes care and education I know the important impact of medical care. | I agree that some changes need to be made but I fear that the ones who truly need it, ones with a legitiment medical diagnosis, will lose coverage. | I planned for my life, therefor it is of no concern to me. | Well this is total crap because my husband and I both work full time and then some. My husband (who also receives Medicaid coverage) is our farm manager and he works about 70 hours a week so this requirement makes me feel like we are invisible. We do work, we work very hard and it's insulting to say that everyone on Medicaid needs to volunteer. |
651 | As an attorney, many of my clients get medical treatment they need after an injury because of their Medicaid coverage. | I agree that the system needs to be reformed, my concern is with the changes to the application process. The application/ appointment process is not exactly a fast or easy process all of the time. Some of the documentation required can be difficult to retrieve quickly which could delay families reviving vital care in a timely fashion. | I primarily am a temp worker and my schedule is subject to change day to day. | Well, what would I do if I didn't have transportation or day care to allow me to do fulfill the requirement? |
652 | As an occupational therapist, I have seen many children and adults who needed Medicaid coverage for services that impacted their health and ability to function. | I already work 50 hours a week, and I pick up trash in my neighborhood and I help the community, to be forced to document my work would lessen the time I actually spend helping others. Further, how am I to come up with 20 hours a week in addition to my day job to cover and annual cost of $300 for eye care? I already have to pay $250 for eye care as it is so the math does not add up. | I substitute teach. Some months I earn nothing. When I am called to work, it is an added stressor to be certain I have reported accurately within the deadline. Almost not worth the few dollars I make, but those few dollars make a difference in my household. | Well. I work 40 hours a week. So when do I have time to volunteer |
653 | As an RN and retired home health nurse, I have seen people's lives improved and even saved by medicaid. Changes which make it harder for people to obtain and keep medical care are bound to ultimately cost more -- both in money and in lives. | I already work hard, I just don't make a lot of money. The assumption that Medicaid recipients have extra free time to volunteer is a gross generalization and discriminates against poor people. | I think 10 days is a good choice | What a ridiculous thing for the state to have to track. |
654 | As I am a self-employed individual, I do not have health insurance through an employer and the Medicaid expansion has helped me greatly. I have been able to take advantage of preventative health care, and I would say that my health has improved as a result of this. | I am 69 years old. I live on SS and a small State pension (if you don't mess that up). I don't have a lot of savings. What if I have to end my days in a nursing home? My community benefits from all people having health care. It is cost effective AND it's the right and moral thing to do. | I think 30 days would be more appropriate. Most people wouldn't have income changes that often but if you provide 30 days that seem more realistic. | what about if you live in a area where there is no work to be found |
655 | As someone who has had a chronic illness since childhood, type 1 diabetes, Medicaid has greatly improved my quality of life. I worked two jobs in high school and worked full time all through college to make sure I could afford the insulin I depend on to stay alive, even though I was on my parent's insurance plan until I was 20. However, after that, my parents would no longer afford insurance, and I had to get my insulin from a free clinic that really didn't offer the kind of specialty care someone with type 1 diabetes needs. Because I had so much anxiety and insecurity about when and if I would get my next vials of insulin, I began to ration my insulin and my a1c began to climb. Now, with Medicaid, I have an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor, I no longer have to buy test strips from an industrial complex where the door was always locked and I had to call first to let them know it would be knocking, I see a specialist, and I have been able to successfully pay off all of my student loans because my health care is now affordable. Medicaid has truly been a dream come true for me. As a child, rather than dream about about what I wanted to be when I grew up and considering every single option, I tried to think about what job I could have that would allow me to have insurance with my preexisting condition. I am grateful every day for my Medicaid. | I am a Np and this would possibly reduce women getting their Pap smears and mammograms . I agree reform needs to happen. I do think having a $1-$2 copay for visits would be good . | I think changes should be required to be reported within 30 days. | What about mothers with young children? Will the state provide babysitting services? What about those on full disability? Too many problems with these proposals. |
656 | At present we have not had to use Medicaid | I am a pediatric nurse with a patient population that very heavily relies on Medicaid. Without Medicaid, these children will go without life saving preventative care. They will ultimately be who suffers most. | I think this would hold individual accountable. | WHAT ABOUT THE MANY WORKING POOR WHO HAVE TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS TO JUST KEEP BARELY AFLOAT ????? |
657 | Basic medical vaccinations | I am a pediatric nurse with a patient population that very heavily relies on Medicaid. Without Medicaid, these children will go without life saving preventative care. They will ultimately be who suffers most. | I was laid off work April 1, 2016, coinciding with my elderly mother's need for assistance. I have attended my mother since. | What about the old and infirmed? They can't do this. What about the disabled? Addicts of the opioid epidemic have to have some recovery before they are even capable of thinking about working, let alone holding down a job. And....we have an opioid epidemic in Kentucky... |
658 | Because healthcare is so very expensive, Medicaid assistance is vital in our low-income state & community. The old, the young, pregnant women, disabled people, the mentally ill, and those who work hard but just can't earn enough really need the safety net that Medicaid provides. | I am a pediatric nurse with a patient population that very heavily relies on Medicaid. Without Medicaid, these children will go without life saving preventative care. They will ultimately be who suffers most. | I work sporadically, at odd jobs. I would have to make changes weekly. | What if we're not physically able to meet this requirement? What about all of the taxes/contributions we made during our working lives to have this coverage when we're retired? I earned this coverage, it's not an entitlement!!!!! |
659 | Because of Medicaid, my daughter can play outside. Because of Medicaid, I am able to work. | I am a pediatric provider ~ while I do not receive this benefit, many of my patients do. I realize some of these changes would not impact the children of my practice ~ their parents would be. If not able to receive healthcare they cannot provide care for their children. It has a "trickle down" effrct | I work with client's whose income fluctuates based on the amount they're able to work - their cognitive deficits are such they don't always note the change or report it to me so I can help them report it to various agencies in a timely fashion. | what if you work and don't get 30 hrs a week and still are expected to work those 20 hrs? the time requirement for those 20 hours may not coincide with your work schedule. If you don't work, there should be no problem doing those 20 hrs. |
660 | Because people won't use the emergency room for primary care and will also get preventative care therefore driving medical costs for everyone down. Everyone American deserves health coverage and to be treated with dignity. | I am a single mother of a daughter with disabilities. Medicaid services are need for her to be covered through waiver services so she can work toward being as Independent as possible. The loss or changes in Medicaid would grossly affect my daughter's health and welfare. Medicaid waivers have allowed me to pay fair wages to people who are qualified to handle her complex needs. | I work with the elderly so my schedule depends on who's home and not in the hospital or nursing home. I would bring a copy of my schedule to the Family support office. | What if you're self-employed?? |
661 | Before The ACA my husband and I had no health care coverage and we both worked. Now we have healthcare coverage and it has helped us get the medical care we so desperately needed. Even with both of us working, we could not afford insurance before. | I am able to contribute more to our daily living because my kids are receiving Medicaid. I would have been paying monthly premiums out of my paycheck that would eat most of it up if I added them to my insurance through my employer. | I worked for the Affordable Care Act, this requirement was a headache. People lost coverage, charged high premiums when coverage was lost. It took about 2-3 months to fix if they were eligible and forgot to submit paperwork. I do not have steady work. I work when i can find jobs. So proving changes is difficult, so make the 10 day time frame longer. | What is the definition of "able-bodied?" What happens when someone isn't able to meet this requirement due to medical issues, even when acute? How does this decrease government bureaucracy when all of this will have to be documented? |
662 | Being able to get the health care we need to stay alive, pay for prescriptions. | I am afraid people would become very ill or even die by foregoing treatment, or be put in even more financially stressful positions. Once medical bills/debt is incurred, it is difficult to overcome that financially. It will ultimately keep people asking for government assistance longer than they might have otherwise. | I would be more in favor of a month | When a person has bipolar disorder, there are times of normalcy. To prohibit anyone with such a disability from working during these times would be a terrible waste. Such limitations marginalize people with mental illness. |
663 | being able to go the doctor | I am concerned about the fate of others. | I would not be able to do every 10 days as my work schedule changes weekly and some times daily. | When I first got on Medicaid, I was barely functional. I could not have managed even 5 hours a week. Likely I would have thought it impossible and myself undeserving and given up. Commit suicide or had a stroke and become incapacitated. I was able to make changes in my life and give back because Medicaid allowed me unfettered access to healthcare. This physical care helped mebecome functional. Thus able to giving back and better able to take care of my own life. |
664 | Being able to go to a Dr or clinic can find an illness in early stages and will cost less to treat. | I am concerned about the lock out. Wage earners who work various hours will have a difficult time keeping up with the change in income. I somewhat support the idea of having "skin in the game" and requiring volunteers, but 20 hours a week seems too much. Originally, that was only 5 hours a week. For students and those that are working, but underemployed and cannot afford insurance, this is a burden | I would not be able to keep up with the changes and the reporting requirements would be impossible for me to manage. | When we're talking about medicaid, we're talking about people who are poor or infirm. For the poor, particularly those in rural KY (I grew up in Appalachia), the cost of getting to town to accomplish stuff can be a once or twice a month activity. A requirement to go volunteer somewhere implies that they have transportation, access, and groups needing volunteer help, and it's aside also an implied assumption that these folks are just lazy and not working. So..if this is someone unemployed, wouldn't it be better to have them hunting for jobs than going to find some volunteer role? Also, forcing people to volunteer doesn't produce good volunteers, because they're literally being "Volun-told" to go do something. |
665 | Better care than before. | I am concerned my son might lose his coverage. Also although he might look like he can work 20 hours, he is not able to do so. | I'm a single, white, college-educated, and financially stable female. Due to privilege and background, I don't know what it's like to be poor, living paycheck to paycheck, and not have immediate access to food/medical assistance. And I can only imagine how addiction and mental illness complicate this issue. | When you say immediately, I want to know when Bevin last went job hunting. Finding a part time job takes time. I physically can't walk very far or stand very long. Finding a job would mean finding with convenient parking. However, a 20 hour a week, $9/he job might just throw me off benefits. Then I couldn't afford a car. Walking to, & standing at a bus stop is beyond my physical capability. Then how do I get to the required job? |
666 | Better care than before. | I am concerned that those in rural areas with no transportation can meet the guidelines. | I'm disabled | Where are all of these people going to work and/or volunteer? |
667 | Better care without the worry of having to pay something they cannot afford. | I am currently uninsured | I'm in commission-only sales. My income fluctuates from month to month. But I'm a responsible person, and if I was told I had to report that within 10 days, I don't think it would be a burden to do so. *I do not receive Medicaid. Nor does anyone in my family. | Where are people suppose to work or volunteer? |
668 | Better health and wellness, less stress and better able to work and support family | I am fine with work or volunteer requirements. But the 10 day window to report income change is too narrow, and no allowance for emergency coverage is unacceptable. Limit the period of emergency coverage to 60 days. There is a LOT of inefficiency in the management of Medicaid services by KY Medicaid offices and eligible recipients should not be penalized for the Commonwealth's mistakes. I myself ended up paying a bill which should have been covered by Medicaid because of this inefficiency. Luckily, in my case, it was very small, but I have known others whose issues were not resolved and who were held accountable for thousands of dollars simply due to bureaucratic error. | I'm not able to work (for pay) so it doesn't change. | Where do you find these hours, do the people have to find them, what if they do not have transportation? that is a huge problem with jobs and community volunteers |
669 | Better health because of coverage. | I am my son's legal guardian. I work full time as a preschool teacher in the KERA preschool program. The work load is heavy and my hours are long. As it is, the agency that is charged with my son's care when I am at work is constantly challenged to provide personnel to meet the need. Scheduling is a nightmare. I have to be at work before the center is open, so must depend on a CLS worker to come pick him up and work with him for a few hours before taking him to the center where I pick him up after work. Being a teacher, I don't just work an 8 hour day. There's a constant fuss about how to get him where he needs to be. I have worked with supported employment several times through the years - it's difficult to impossible to find jobs for our family members. In addition, there is the additional paperwork that will be required of me to report the income to the social security office (the income impacts his benefits). I am the one that will be required to do the additional scheduling, figuring out transportation (he doesn't drive), and doing any and all additional paperwork. I AM ALREADY OVERWHELMED WITH CARETAKING DUTIES AND WORKING FULL TIME AT A JOB FOR WHICH I AM PAID FOR 37 1/2 HOURS PER WEEK YET PUT IN CLOSER TO 60! If there were a job available (trust me, we've tried, there isn't) he would be happy to work. But the burden of getting him to and from would fall to me. The burden of the additional paperwork would fall to me. AND I SIMPLY CANNOT FIT ONE MORE THING INTO MY DAY. | I'm on a fixed income. | Where we only have our kids on the plan I'm not sure how it'll effect us. Change is always scary and I don't want to risk losing the coverage Ky children have. If we were required to volunteer to keep their coverage, so be it, but I'm afraid others wouldn't be in good spirits about volunteering. |
670 | Better quality of life for entire community | I am not able to work because of my numerous medical conditions. I f I don't have coverage it would be a death sentence. What I see in these proposed changes seem like what he wants is poor, elderly and disabled sick people dead and gone. | I'm retired and only receive social security. | Where we only have our kids on the plan I'm not sure how it'll effect us. Change is always scary and I don't want to risk losing the coverage Ky children have. If we were required to volunteer to keep their coverage, so be it, but I'm afraid others wouldn't be in good spirits about volunteering. |
671 | Both my adult children have full time jobs, however, because they do not have a college education their pay is minimal. They qualify for Medicaid and I am especially grateful this benefit was available for my daughter who has had some serious health issues this past year. I don't know what she would have done if it was not available. | I am not supporting any changes | I'm retired military along with my wife who is government retiree we are on retirement pensions And social security We ain't drawing much in the way of income we are on tight budget unless the Republican budget cutter Nazis try to take social security down and cut our retirement incomes But the folks in the House and Senate( state/ federal levels) always seem to come up with more money for their rich billionaire buddies PACS Campaign donors Koch Brothers | Where would they find this volunteer work? Could they afford transportation to and from the volunteer job? Would this requirement take away from time to search for a job? I think requiring they participate in a job training program is great, but not the volunteer program. |
672 | Both my husband and I have chronic health conditions. Before the Medicaid expansion, neither of us was receiving adequate medical care because we could not afford the copays for our (student) insurance plan. Since the expansion we have both been able to get the healthcare we need. This has been literally a life-saver for us. | I am not sure how my daughter would afford all her medicine. I would help but that would put me in a financial crisis. | I'm retired. | While it would not impact me, I would have to question who decides who is 'able bodied' enough to fulfill the requirement. |
673 | Both of my parents benefited greatly from assistance through Medicaid. Both parents worked and saved throughout their adult lives, and upon retirement were covered by Medicare and the best supplemental coverage they could find. My father developed a brain infection that, though hospitalized, was not correctly diagnosed until he lapsed into a coma. His brain was totally encased with what was believed to be a fungus. He was treated but never recovered. He spent the last 17 months of his life in the hospital and hospital extended care.... Medicare saved my Mother from financial ruin. My mother suffered from Alzheimer's my sister and I did the best we could to care for her and meet her needs. She spent her last 8 months in a nursing home....again, Medicare and Medicaid enabled us to ensure her care. | I am not sure that the changes listed above will impact us other than the amount of time that it will take us to comply. | I'm sure this change will be doled out to one of Gov. Bevins' friends or political connections, with the system intentionally designed to fail (and thereby kick people off of Medicaid). | While it's a great thought...I don't think it's realistic. I would be hesitant, especially know a significant amount of those on Medicaid are there for the purpose of being able to continue using drugs, and so do not have a job due to drug testing, and in knowing this, have them volunteer at any of my community programs. If the Commonwealth of Kentucky wants to add "valid" volunteering programs throughout the state that are monitored, and drug tested, then I would be for this wholeheartedly! |
674 | By not having to live with sickness all around me | I am not sure that the proposed changes would affect my adult children other than to make it more difficult for them to have health care. | I'm unable to work since I'm my mothers caregiver. My status doesn't really change so it wouldn't affect me. | While this seems like a great idea, there are many people who would still not be able to meet this requirement and not being able to work 60+ hours a week should not mean you aren't worthy of life. |
675 | By receiving access to basic healthcare, thus able to be a vital part of the community. Affordable, guaranteed healthcare is a basic human right and not a political weapon. | I am predominantly an actor, and will probably end up medicaid dependent, as will the majority of my friends. | I've been at my job 25yrs but that is not the case for most people. Someone who suffers from addiction or mental health problems will probably have trouble keeping steady job. | While this would not immediately impact me, this is a requirement that could be highly detrimental to people seeking access to healthcare. Many people on Medicaid are working or looking for work, or have issues such as mental health or substance abuse issues that make meeting this requirement challenging. People should not have to prove that they are "worthy" to access basic health services. |
676 | cancer coverage | I am self employed , micro business, with irregular hours - there does not seem any way of my proving how many hours I work in a week, when one week there might be 10, and the next 60 hrs work. I am not looking for work, I'm trying to build my business so it provides an income. I sure don't have an extra 20 hrs to fill a volunteer requirement also. Before I was laid off, I was working part time, all the hours the office was open - but some weeks that wouldn't fill the 20 hrs. Also, some part time workers don't know how many hours they will be able to work in a week, as the schedule changes day by day. | I've been on disability (not Medicaid) sence 2009 after working in management all my life.. I often take on part time jobs to supplement my income or to pay for my prescriptions, dental work, or winter bills. Reporting income that is less then $700 a month is a waste of my time, and the time of the government worker who has to see me each month. Working minimum wage jobs on a part time bases doesn't hurt anyone.. but could buy a child a new pare of shoes for school. Or a bike for Christmas. | Who decides who is able bodied? Who decides what type of work they can do? |
677 | Cancer screening and treatment, prenatal visits, children, elders, neighbors, disabled, all Kentuckians benefit from Medicaid coverage. | I am self employed so my income changes often. With my kids in transitions these delays in coverage or extra requirmeets would hurt our family in many ways. We report on time and stay active but when things are out of our control we shouldn't get penalized. | I’d be in trouble | why do this. most of the recipients work anyway. another unnecessary roadblock to medical care. |
678 | Cerebral palsy and Autism | I am working on a PhD, and I often find the paperwork for Medicaid overwhelming and confusing. I am most concerned about the six-month lockout, which tells me that if I make a mistake, or forget about something, I could be putting my or my husband's healthcare (and life) at risk. | I’ll go broke by the middle of the month for paying copays anyway from the way things are now. Regardless, there should be special reconsiderations for those who are unable to report those changes in a timely manner. | Will not impact me directly |
679 | Changes are needed expanded Medicaid is being widely abused | I am worried that any missed step on our part could mean lack of coverage, which could mean health problems when we need care. As for my community, I'm worried about the "slap on the wrist" nature of many of these requirements. We are talking about people not being able to go to the doctor for failing to sign up within a time frame. It's cruel and bad public health policy. | I’m 63 and retired | Without adequate transportation this could be an extreme hardship. |
680 | Children need medical coverage. The most vulnerable children would be the most adversely affected by these changes. | I barely afford to make ends meet, so I can't afford up front premiums, as a substitute my work fluctuates, and I don't work when school is closed so therefore am not paid. 10 days is too short a period. When you're trying to work and take care of your family, providing this information is not always the first thing on your mind. | I’m a nurse and work for the state. My income doesn’t change but yearly. I see young families who have multiple jobs. I think reporting timeframes are justified. | Won't affect me but I operated a nonprofit who collaborated with similar program and it takes a lot of resources to manage volunteers. I don't see this working. So many nonprofits stopped participating because they couldn't afford it. |
681 | Children of people under the poverty level benefit by being insured. As a child, I remember putting off dr visits because my mom couldn't afford it even though we were sick enough to need to go. | I believe better coverage can make us a proactive rather than a reactive medical community and improve wellbeing for our population. | I’m in food service, so my income fluctuates constantly. I also don’t have access to my pay stubs unless I request that my manager contact whoever does payroll for our company. I literally have no way of constantly providing documentation for my fluctuating work hours and income. | Working a part-time job and caring for family members is burdensome. Completing necessary tasks like laundry or grocery shopping are vital to one's life, not to mention rest. Asking those who need access to health care to essentially take on a second job to support their healthcare would burden those who need access to care. |
682 | Communities are stronger & more productive when all citizens are able to meet their health care needs and when people are not judged and penalized for not having money enough to buy expensive private insurance. | I believe healthcare is a right that all citizens should have access to. It is appalling that the state of affairs, both in Kentucky and elsewhere in the United States, is such that people do not get the care that they need because of the cost, fear of bankruptcy, and so on. Insurance should not be a business. If everyone had regular access to healthcare, I think the state and country would, in the long run, end up saving money because people would go to have preventative care instead of waiting until it's a life or death situation. Without access to healthcare, people die. | I’m just afraid I’d forget with the ten day requirement. | Would not |
683 | Community access to care across the spectrum has improved engagement, life, and the vitality of our everything from our neighborhoods to our state. | I believe if we want to pretend we are an advanced nation we should have universal healthcare like other advanced nations. Making it harder for people trying to get Medicare or already in Medicare is just taking steps in the opposite direction of that. | I’m not affected, but Many people can’t afford WiFi and don’t have access to it, as well as telephone, or cell phone service. | Would not affect me, but as a benefits specialist, I believe this is an overly complicated requirement and would be difficult to monitor and enforce, and likely lead to errors. |
684 | Community has received much needed substance abuse and mental health care | I believe it will affect my community greatly. More and more people (especially children) will Be without healthcare and will get sick or worse, die!! | I’m retired, so wouldn’t have changes to report. | Would not affect me, I work full time and put in at least 2-4 hours volunteer work into my community already, I'm also a full time student. I believe everyone that is capable should participate in community engagement |
685 | Community Health is improved when all citizens have healthcare and access to treatment | I believe that it would have a huge negative effect for nbthe quaity of life for many. | If a survivor flees, they may not be in a place to be able to report a change if they lost a job and had to flee their usual surroundings | Would not impact me |
686 | Community members with chronic life changing and life threatening illnesses have finally gotten to see health care providers. Men have been shut out of these benefits for years and to have the opportunity to seek health care is vital . Coverage for drug addiction and mental health benefits go straight to the heart of health problems we are drowning in. | I believe the "lock-out" from coverage is cruel and could potentially hurt folks who misunderstand the rules or make an error in reporting. I believe this rule places an undue burden on citizens who probably have enough hurdles and strugggles. | If I worked in construction, my imcome could increase/decrease weekly depending on the weather. I would be reporting a chamge every week! | Would not impact me |
687 | Concerned about the requirement to pay premiums up front for those enrolling | I believe these changes would affect people who maynot be familiar with the rules and time tables And there for lost coverage. They could cost the system more money by not seeking medical help, there for much more serious problems arise. They could not pay for their care and it would fall back on tax payers. | If I happen to get a waitress job I don’t have internet or a car together to internet to daily update my income | Would not impact me but I'm unsure there are community resources to document. |
688 | Consistent coverage relives worry of health issues and emergency care | I believe these changes would encourage to look for a way to make changes in the community. | if it did, it would be a big hassle | Would not impact me but many who receive Medicaid can't work because of their health issues or they are already working and attempting to raise children a well. |
689 | Cost of medical treatment and or prescriptions | I can not work because of severe chronic spinal pain. I will not be able to volunteer or work 20 hours a week. I can barely get around the house as it is. Even cooking a meal is a huge undertaking that is physically exhausting beacause of my pain levels. I was denied disability the first time I applied and in the process of applying again. Medicaid is the only way I can receive medical care and pain management and medication to help. If I cannot work or volunteer the 20 hrs and lose Medicaid because of it, I will probably just kill myself because the pain will be unbareable without medication. Please Governor Bevin, do not do this waiver program. | If it threatens coverage, it’s bad. | Would not impact me personally. However, I think requiring people to volunteer 20 hours per week, uncompensated, is punitive. |
690 | could not afford any medical bills without it & on limited income | I can probably meet all the new requirements, but I can see how a lot of folks would have a harder time. | If it’s required, so be it | Would. It impact me, but could impact parents of the children I work with who have other children and elderly parents at home that require their care which would impact ability to do 20 hrs /week |
691 | Could not afford insurance before Medicaid. Can now afford medications prescribed | I can see that the reporting requirement would be very confusing. I can tell you about my son's experience in getting thru to report or get info from the state has been horrendous. 30 days would be better. | If someone is inpatient in a hospital or treatment facility 10 days is too short. 30 days might be more appropriate | Wouldn't affect me now, but I'm 62 and retired. I can't predict the future. |
692 | Covered chronic medical issues during gap in income. | I can't afford premiums and I can't work. | In my community, this reporting burden will result in loss of medical care if penalties are imposed. | Wouldn't impact me directly. However, I can easily foresee a time when non-profits are going to be hounded unmercifully by both the state and the Medicaid population to "please come up with something for me to do." Could it be that the non-profit community finally decides not to allow ANY volunteers that need community service hours, including those assigned by the courts? This is a simplistic solution being implemented in a complex set of interlocking systems. It will fail. |
693 | Currently this is what my husband can afford. He IS working! Full time! But our income changed greatly a could of years ago. I am on Medicare. | I can't hold a job without my medication. I can't manage my psychiatric illnesses without counseling from my therapist and my psychiatrist . My chart reflects this. I'm unable to hold a job, maintain self care and relationships with others without insurance , I'm a danger to myself and others . | Income - yes; employment status - no. The 10 day requirement is close to impossible due to the amount of time involved in responding. | Yes because I'm still fighting for my disability and if I could volunteer 20 hours a week then I could get a job.. But since I can't then it makes me "not able to meet the requirements for insurance or I get locked out for 6 months." |
694 | Currently this is what my husband can afford. He IS working! Full time! But our income changed greatly a could of years ago. I am on Medicare. | I can't see that the changes would affect a disabled adult who receives SSI. | Income changes more regularly than employment and it would be difficult to continually report this. My family members would not be able to keep up with reporting as they struggle to keep an active internet connection due to poverty. | Yes it would. To have health care have to go though this for some it's not right. |
695 | Currently, a medically frail sister is a nursing facility resident and Medicaid recipent. | I cannot afford to supplement his care personally. Without Medicaid he could be a full-time patient at western state. | Income does not change. | You are already working but fall under the income guidelines and you have to put in 20 hours of community service as well just because you can not make enough in your minimum wage job. This is a unnecessary but Risen. |
696 | Daughter has a genetic its defect/disability and participates in the mIchelle p waiver program | I cannot hold a job, she requires all of my time. I would like to work but with her behavior changes I never know what I will be dealing with from one day to the next. | Income is not the same from month to month | you are asking people that CANNOT participate in 20 hours. Or do you expect people in wheelchairs to sweep the streets. |
697 | Daughter is diabetic and needed care and meds. She was working two jobs but no medical coverage. Medicaid helped while she went to school for better job. | I chose to be a stay at home mom when my third child was born after my husband's heart attack. I had worked full time up to that point but I realized all of my paycheck was going to pay for childcare. When I made this decision I didn't realize the implications it would have. My husband and I lost our health insurance. He was unable to work and I was unable to find another fulltime job to support us. I am so thankful that my parents were there to help us. These changes would affect the parents of children and stay at home moms more than anyone. Children need there parents especially children younger than 5 years of age. It is difficult to work 20 hours a week, pay for childcare and care for your children just so you can have insurance to stay healthy for your family. | Income shouldn’t be an issue for someone getting health coverage. We all deserve the basic human right to good health. Punishing those with less money who are actually working is unethical. It’s easy for those with money (the government) to sit there and tell someone less fortunate than them that their health care is getting denied because it’s not personal. Politics need to be more personal; you’re dealing with people and you’re supposed to be doing this to better. Others lives....this would not help. | im disablied |
698 | Daughter, single parent, 3 kids, college full time, works 30 hrs a week Son is multidisabled, has scl waiver and lives in a group home, attends a day program. If this were to be cut then all these people who came from instatutions will have no choice but to go back | I could not afford my medications or doctor visits. | Income would change once I complete my desired education and land a job. My mental and sensory disabilities have prevented my chances of landing a job at a Bachelor's level. | It’s a great theory in my Pinyan but is not at all practical. The administrative burden of keeping track will be challenging let alone finding an appropriate match for people and actually being excepted and trained by a nonprofit staff. There’s so much liability agencies are afraid to even have volunteers. Most the people who actually get to volunteer now are highly educated and go through a lot of red tape. Occasionally there’s inroads but so many agencies deal with children or disabled adults it isn’t practical to have volunteers that haven’t been thoroughly trained and have background checks and a passion for whatever mission the agency is workings toward. Deal with poverty head on by not hamstring public education and other programs that can actually improve outcomes. Do some real research and talk to community leaders in countries with better outcomes. |
699 | desperate people who paid into our system or whose families paid into the system have had the dignity of coverage. | I could not afford the testing materials need to control my blood sugar levels. | Individually N/A But, can be almost impossible for some individuals will little resources. Many have difficulty with just daily living issues let a lone the ability to report every 10 days and changes. | "If"the homeless community get a waiver they will be fine, but most will be unable to find a dr. who will fill it out and unwilling to even take that step to find a dr. |
700 | Don't know of any | I could not go to the dr or afford my meds | is not do able ... setting up people for failure | 80 hours a month is a lot when you are trying to take of kids, elderly, a house, food, recovery from chronic illness, living with mental illness, looking for a job, going to school, etc. It is a red herring to make people on Medicaid look "lazy" so the state can kick more people off and take away needed health care. |
701 | Eastern Kentucky has seen a huge surge in the number of people insured since the medicaid expansion and with so many people out of work it simply doesn't make sense to tie someone's ability to find meaningful employment to their coverage for medical needs-- when someone is working hard to find a job (or take care of their family), they do not need to be dealing with the threat of losing coverage | I could support these changes with more time allowed. For instance, the 10 days to report changes in income would be difficult for people with limited resources. 20 hours per week from the start may also be difficult for some. Please be considerate of those most in need. Give more leeway. | It wouldn't impact me. | 80 hours a month is a part time job. It could be a lot for those caring for children in their family or who have are not very mobile. |
702 | Elderly care. Do you understand that the average middle class household cannot afford even one month of a nursing home??? | I do not believe there are enough jobs, at least not here, to accommodate the increased workforce. I have no objection to a work requirement but believe child care needs attention. Young children should not be left on their own before or after school and daycare would be unaffordable for these parents. If there were jobs to be had, not everyone could get one within school hours . I feel the paperwork involved would be unmanageable and would cost far more than securing lasting employment for our citizens that provide accessible and affordable medical insurance. | It can create an extra burden on someone who is working full time or part time or is in transition between the 2. It can often trigger disenrollment from a person's health insurance due to delays or insufficient documentation (which is often difficult to satisfy the reporting requirements because of lack of transportation or no cooperation between former employer and applicant). | 80 hours is a lot . So many variables . How to get from point a to b first . No car no bus ? What about phone ? Who pays for the point of contact ? To do all this costs money . This point sounds like a free internship for wealthy clients |
703 | Everyone deserves health coverage and it is vital that our safety net is strengthened, not weakened as many of these changes propose. There is no excuse that can be made to justify turning away from our neighbors in need. | I do not have contact with her father. He is most likely unemployed since he had had a drug problem and lost custody rights. If he fails to report, I would lose health coverage and have to buy insurance for my daughter even though I am not receiving any type of support from him. | It can. I have no problem reporting such changes, but I have access to technology and transportation. There are others that do not. | 80 hours is excessive people with children this is difficult especially single mothers, people waiting to get their ssdi approved are not able to work or volunteer because of pending cases |
704 | Everyone needs healthcare. A healthier community means a healthier society. | I don't agree on the 6 month lock out due to the fact that there have been times I have reported changes correctly for my state benefit programs and have had the worker loose my info or not work my case in a timely manner causing me to go without food stamps, medical care, etc. We could be punished for something that is not our doing. Just this month I had to wait a week for my food stamps due to my case not being processed in time on the workers end, not mine. | It does change often and having to continuously report the change is trying because sometimes it takes weeks for the fax number where paperwork is sent to work | 80 hours is too much |
705 | Expanded access to services, access to services keeps families together and kids in their community. | I don't have money to pay for premiums and I also.dont have time to report changes or get locked out for months | It does not affect me because I do not change jobs often, but it does affect whether I would accept another job, due to lack of coverage while I wait for the new coverage to kick in. | 80 hrs / month is too demanding for our clients with Severe and Persistent Mental illness and homelessness. |
706 | Expanded benefits allowed me to have coverage in a very low paying job (that I can no longer physically do) when I couldn't get insurance otherwise. Now that I'm retired I have insurance because of the ACA! | I don't know that those changes would affect us. But I don't think they are fair. | It does not change regularly, but it would be extremely debilitating because our local Medicaid office is always flooded with people and is only open during hours that I work so I have to take off work any time I need to go to the office for any reason and sit for hours to report a single change. | 80hrs is a lot to mandate in my situation I'm a LPN just had a child last month and my husband is laid off from the union we live on unemployment until he leaves out of town again for work. we can't afford child care and no family is available to help due to a recent cancer diagnosis so I'm forced to stay home. I can't for see this to be necessary for anyone if the goal is to train people to work this is not the way as long as families can provide proof they are making an effort to give back or find school/ work 5-10 hrs a week should be all the state needs and effort comes in many different forms! Give options! |
707 | Expanded coverage saved my father's life. Shortly after he recieved benefits it was discovered that he had stage 4 cancer. | I don't know that those changes would affect us. But I don't think they are fair. | It does not change regularly, but it would be shortsighted to introduce a requirment based on this. | A good idea potentially, but would be difficult for smaller towns who might not have enough volunteer opportunity available for the amount of Medicaid applicants in the area. Plus, for the families who had small children, finding someone to watch the children so they could do the required work would be difficult for some. A good idea, but our communities (at this moment and time) are unsuitable for such stipulations. |
708 | Expanded Medicaid has greatly benefitted the citizens of Kentucky. Please do not take us backwards! | I don't mind doing community service to become a contributing member of society. Lock out periods, though, could happen when the community based workers make a mistake as well. We shouldn't be penalized for half a year for someone else's mistakes. Also, there are too few workers to effectively do the job of reporting changes in our community. There are not enough funds to hire more workers to keep up with increased demands of the program. | It does not change regularly. As a self-employed person mostly, income will naturally "change" month to month. Self-employed persons should not be changing or reporting other than yearly at the end of the year. | A lot of my clients will lose medical coverage b/c they don’t have the access to or the resources to complete these requirements |
709 | Expanding Medicaid allowed additional individuals to access care, but also adversely impacted premium cost, employer duties, and size of payments to rural/local providers. These changes may have inadvertently harmed local providers and reduced support for Medicaid amongst middle class voters and rural providers. It is vital to include provider and payor and employer perspectives in any discussion of or change to Medicaid. | I don't see how they would impact us. My wife is totally disabled. | It does not for me personally but the people who are on Medicaid are much more likely to have unstable jobs and home situations. This requirement almost seems designed knowing that it will lead more people to become ineligible. | A lot of the communities with the greatest need do not have adequate opportunities to fulfill this requirement. |
710 | Expansion under Obamacare has helped more folks receive mental health and substance abuse coverage. | I don't think it would affect my family but it could affect some in the community. | It does not, but people who have unstable income also might not have the resources to report those changes. | A new, large bureaucracy would put further strain on the State budget. Where would these jobs come from? |
711 | Factually self-evident that the entire state has benefitted mightily under the ACA Medicaid expansion and should not be toyed with by dim-witted ideologues. | I don't think making it harder for people that need Medicare will be helpful at all, and will make things even worse. | It doesn't change regularly. However, a requirement to submit requests isn't always feasible for everyone especially those without reliable transportation, without access to Internet, and no access to upload documents. | A public hearing county by county would give a clear answer to you most folks are retired elderly disabled medical issues poor try driving around Kentucky look at the poverty the unemployment poor education lack of industry jobs go take a look at Harlan county and most of Eastern Kentucky you think a computer survey is going to give you real picture of real people's lives? |
712 | Fellow low income workers have received better coverage than they have available through our employer's high deductible plan for which family coverage costs $650/mo. Employers rarely subsidize family coverage premiums | I don't think requiring the premiums up front is fair but the completed applications and documents is fair. | It doesn't currently, but it did last year. 10 days is a laughably short amount of time. It's not a long enough period to report. | Able to hire help. |
713 | Fewer incidents of family members avoiding VITAL medical care due to cost concerns. Less trips to the ER and better overall health. | I don't think they'll affect me directly in the near future but I want to be a part of a Commonwealth that continues to aid those who need it like I did. Our community is stronger when we take responsibility for each other and care for each other. Labeling those in need as lazy and fraudulent does nothing to make our Commonwealth healthier. | It doesn't, but I can see how that would be an unnecessary hurdle for those trying to acquire health services. | Absolutely |
714 | Fewer uninsured people entering emergency rooms or hospitals, leaving the public to pick up the cost; better job productivity due to better health; treatment of mental health before someone goes "postal" | I don't think you understand what it's like to be poor. Many people are working 40+ hours at multiple minimum wage jobs and still remain below the poverty level. These people DO NOT have an extra 20 hours per week to volunteer! For a governor who is supposed to believe in Jesus, you sure don't act like it. People. NEED. Healthcare. | It doesn't. I'm unable to work. | Adversely. |
715 | First time I have had health insurance, finally im on necessary medication I couldn't afford before | I dont believe people should have to work to have health care. What about adults who already have a job, and can't find time to volunteer twenty more hours per week. | It had changed at times even though I do apply or look for additional income. I am tired, stressed, and overwhelmed with how technical and complicated our lives have become. I do not think our founding fathers intended this to happen- after all, it was the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..... We struggle in a low income area, "dream jobs" that allow us satisfaction, fulfillment, as well as appropriate income seems to not be within reach. | Again i am my 96 year old mothers only caretaker. |
716 | First, I believe the government did a good job providing health care coverage for so many new people. Out of that new group, I think many were able to get assistance before their illness got worse. That saved money. I have to wonder how much money has the new program saved because people weren't showing up in ERs, having major surgery or ending up in a nursing home. It would be devastating to have health care ripped away from those people. On a personal note, my daughter who works for a little over minimum wage is a Type 1 diabetic. She is able to get all her medicine. | I expect these changes would put many without or lapsed coverage which may allow denial of coverage for our children, elderly, and disabled. | It has before, I change jobs regularly due to my struggles to keep up from my disability. The requirement to report changes would be detrimental because the lines are always busy and you can never get through to report changes. The times I have reported changes, they were never attentive enough and I would still be reporting changes 3 or 4 times after the initial report. | again there are several mentally changed or other health problems, drug substance abuse that would cause hardships on employers and not be able fulfill normal job duties and do you really want to put these individuals with other workers not knowing their mental capabilities could cause employers to have harassment lawsuits or these individuals could to be teased or bullied because of their inability to understand or do the work an torment these individuals further the system wasn't broke why not take it from programs that the state waste for political gain instead of the poor. employees making 7.25 and pay rent utilities water and have children are already way below poverty level or homeless. |
717 | First, it's the moral/ethical thing to do, that is make sure EVERYONE has medical care coverage. Secondly, if people who have no medical coverage become ill or injured, then they will either not seek treatment, or they will go to the ER, thus passing on the expense to the rest of us. It's simple really. Everyone needs insurance. Affordable and/or single payer coverage. | I fear my sister would lose her life savings, go bankrupt and die an early death. | it has recently, and the requirement would be an added stressor and improbability to be honest. | Again, I am not a Medicaid recipient, but I feel that those who learn to "play the system", are able-bodied and capable of holding a job but choose not to, should be ineligible to receive benefits. If you can work, work. If you work and your wage is not sufficient for you to provide health care and enough food to feed your family, by all means, I am happy to have my tax dollars help you. |
718 | folks are getting medical care they were never able to get before; it creates a more healthy state and allows for better workers, etc | I fear these changes will punish our most vulnerable populations for merely being vulnerable. These changes seem inhumane and do not fit with the values that our society should stand for. | It is extremely hard to report within 10 days if income changes a lot. I feel that is not enough time allowed for reporting. People get busy and sometimes people forget. Why should there be such an urgency? | Again, I am not in this position, but really, how much is it going to cost to create a system for this to happen?! God, the bloat and inefficiency, just to punish poor people. This right here is foolish and ridiculous. |
719 | Folks have access to preventative care, an get medical attention at doctor without waiting until it is emergency, have access to needed counseling and addiction services. Every person receiving care impacts the health and quality of our community. | I fear those who are uneducated or untrained will be unable to find work. On top of that they'd loose their health benefits? What about child care? You can't work if you don't have a place for your children | It is impossible to get off work at a new job to go report changes, and the website rarely works | Again, I'm not a Medicaid recipient so it would not affect me. I think this would have an outsized impact on rural people who don't have public transportation options and fewer community engagement opportunities. I think making job training and volunteer opportunities available is a good idea, but I don't think it should be required. |
720 | For the first time many parents have medical care, This is true for many males who were frequently denied coverage and for females who frequently received coverage during pregnancy only. | I feel like some of these requirements would be impossible for some "able-bodied" persons to meet. | It is often hard to change things that quickly. Especially when dealing with the changes of getting or losing a job. | Again, this is an expensive restriction for those who already have busy lives. And it is expensive for government and agencies to keep track of these sorts of things. Those I know on Medicaid -- including expanded Medicaid --- have busy, often difficult, lives, and this requirement will guarantee some will lose their coverage. For one thing, how many opportunities can there be in poor rural areas like mine? There is not proper transportation or meals to help people make these requirements in order to keep health insurance coverage. Imagine if we imposed such conditions on the governor's friends or family. The goal of all this appears to be the denigration of hard-working poor people and making them lose their health coverage -- causing them to be sick, causing early death and preventable illness. |
721 | Friends and family receiving coverage, including medical care and preventive medicine. No longer dependent on ER visits or waiting until they are so desperately ill. | I feel like the better the health care coverage is for all people, the better the health of the entire community. | It is unrealistic | Already have my hands full being a single father. It would become harder and I believe I would fail if you added more stipulations to my current life. |
722 | From Nursing Home coverage we were not financially able to provide and work. | I feel like the better the health care coverage is for all people, the better the health of the entire community. | It is very hard especially since mail is slower and it can take an hour or more to call or wait in the phone. | Already works 40 hours |
723 | Giving more citizens access to health insurance helps create healthier communities. If people are sick and have no access to treatment, their families suffer. | I feel like the better the health care coverage is for all people, the better the health of the entire community. | It should not be a requirement anyway. More administrative bull. | Although I am a single mother and therefore the primary caretaker, it would technically exempt me personally from work requirements, however because my income often fluctuates, I have had as many as 3 different healthcare policies - medicaid; marketplace; and employer - within a one year period. This is already difficult to maneuver without losing coverage, and with the added work requirements, would be significantly harder during the year and I am afraid I could lose coverage . |
724 | granddaughter had kidney transplant | I feel the restrictions are vague and would cause many with mental disabilities or preexisting conditions to not be Ble to be covered. I also fear those on small fixed incomes would have issues if they missed some paper work and ended up having extra cost they couldn't afford because of it. | It sometimes takes hours to access both SSI and the Medicaid offices. If you have a job, you cannot take "hours" to call in changes. What if you work a different schedule every month, or you are a temporary worker who may work one day one month and the whole month the next? I have called both SSI and Medicaid with changes only to find out a week or two later they have no record of me calling in for either my brother or son. If Medicaid or SSI can't get their records straight in that amount of time, how can handle frequent changes in income/employment status? | Although I don't have Medicaid, my Mother does. Neither of us would be able to leave our home for 80 hours/week. In fact, Mom may only leave the house for 6 hrs/month, & I average 15 hours/month. However, I believe there are many who can, & should. |
725 | Grandparents care | I have a cousin who is perfectly able to work but just does not want to and he gets free insurance. That kind of crap makes me angry. | It very easily could happen that hours could be cut to a couple shifts a week by the employer that would throw anyone into an immediate downward spiral of financial chaos with overwhelming fear causing immediate lack of resources such as lack of phone or even transportation to report changes. | although it would not impact me, it would impact neighbors who do not have transportation and/or cannot find a place to participate in our rural area. |
726 | Grandson born under Medicaid | I have a lot of pain and between myself and my son with dr. Appointments i am not able to work that much..we have one income and that barely pays the bills we can't afford insurance | It will not impact me. | Am disabled |
727 | Growing up poor, medicaid was yhe only way i had medical insurance as a kid. I've also been on Medicaid while in college, as I literally csnt afford health insurance. | I have a pre-existing condition that has been managed well by medication. However, now there's a dark cloud hanging over my head should I lose coverage and be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Is there no compassion with this administration???? | It would affect me greatly if I would get penelized for not reporting in time. | An 80 hour minimum is a bit extreme, and assumes an individual is in fairly good health - maybe 40 hours/month (no more) would be a more reasonable requirement with those with health/mobility limitations. |
728 | Has allowed contiguous treatment of conditions that are preexisting; has given access to treatment by many in low income jobs, who cobble together multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. | I have already been informed by my R & C worker that orthodontics will not be covered unless it is deemed medically necessary. This may in the future impact my daughter, as she soothes herself by sucking on two of her left-hand fingers, which in turn, could cause her teeth to buck. | It would affect me. I would have to add doing those changes to habitual actions. Making changing easy is the key. | Are you kidding me? I already work 65+ hours a week. I pay state and federal taxes. Is that not enough for the state to handle a health coverage plan? Do I really need to work an extra 20 hours a week for a total of 85+ hours a week to insure my medical health well being? Statistics overwhelmingly support that an idea like that will have damaging long term effects on social and mental health. No thanks. |
729 | Has gotten me the testing and treatment I needed to start healing and work towards being more independent. | I have an autoimmune disease and my son has social pragmatic communication disorder among other things. This would greatly affect both of our health and well being. Leading to a decline in health and opportunities for my son. | It would affect my patients being able to access care appropriately | As a community mental health provider, many client's symptoms does not allow them to work effectively around others when their symptoms are increased. |
730 | Has helped children and disabled to get needed health care.The problem will be ,even if a person works 40 hrs a wk at minimum wage ,their not eligible for Medicaid and can't afford health insurance! | I have close family members with chronic conditions who work and I work with cancer patients on a daily basis. While I understand the "gotcha" mentality is strong in this state with regards to people "skimming" the system, I feel that the unintended impacts will be harmful to those who are truly struggling to get by based on my work experience in the healthcare system. | It would be a hardship | As a full time medical student and caregiver, we would not be able to meet this requirement |
731 | Has provided coverage for mental health issues and medication with 2 of my grandchildren and my disabled oldest daughter who lives in an assisted living facility. | I have close family members with chronic conditions who work and I work with cancer patients on a daily basis. While I understand the "gotcha" mentality is strong in this state with regards to people "skimming" the system, I feel that the unintended impacts will be harmful to those who are truly struggling to get by based on my work experience in the healthcare system. | It would be a pain in the neck. The system is so clogged that it takes forever to get anything done. | As a pediatrician who cares for families in poverty in Louisville, I can not even imagine how parents/caregivers would make this work. I truly believe whoever designed this idea has never truly cared for families in poverty and do not appreciate the chaos in which they live, the insecurity they might not have a clean diaper to put on their baby, the fear that their former partner will find them and hurt them again. These families are fragile, scared, and struggle. Many parents/caregivers who I care for WANT to work. They dream of a great paying job and getting out of the chaos. However many do not have any support for childcare and can not pay the very high price of daycare. I am so worried that it will increase mothers needing to leave their children with folks who do are not safe to care for children, leading to increased physical abuse and sexual abuse. I saw a healthy chunky baby in our clinic who was living with his mother in poverty but thriving. I watched her snuggle him, sing to him, and love him. In order to make ends meet, she returned to work at a low paying hourly job. While at work she left him with her male friend, who severely abused the baby. The baby is now in the ICU with a broken arm, broken ribs, punctured bowel and now has a gastrostomy tube in his abdomen in order to receive feedings. He is forever devastated, as is his family. It can be DANGEROUS to children to ask parents to volunteer or work just to get healthcare. Many children in Kentucky have single mothers and those mothers already living in poverty will make grave decisions to leave their children with inappropriate but free childcare in order to meet the volunteer/work requirement. |
732 | has saved my life | I have close family members with chronic conditions who work and I work with cancer patients on a daily basis. While I understand the "gotcha" mentality is strong in this state with regards to people "skimming" the system, I feel that the unintended impacts will be harmful to those who are truly struggling to get by based on my work experience in the healthcare system. | It would be a practical impossibility to report the changes in an ongoing and timely manner. | As a person building a freelance business I have no idea how they would make a convenient way to report this. There are so many different reasons people may not be able to do this requirement. |
733 | Have friends who would be bankrupt without it. | I have close family members with chronic conditions who work and I work with cancer patients on a daily basis. While I understand the "gotcha" mentality is strong in this state with regards to people "skimming" the system, I feel that the unintended impacts will be harmful to those who are truly struggling to get by based on my work experience in the healthcare system. | It would be an ongoing headache for many. | As a person living with MS, it will be a challenge to make sure I am able to complete this requirement. Simple daily living skills are often a challenge for folks who have MS. I have lived with this disease for around 13 years, and many time plans that I make in advance are changed for not being able to make them work. Can be as simple as plans to wash my laundry. Its a real punch in the face when you can't do something as simple as that. |
734 | have intractible Epilepsy gastroparesis medications cost over 8 thousand dollars a month by having Medicaid I am alive and happy | I have experienced unstable employment, and thus unstable health coverage, for most of my adult life. I am now in graduate school; I have health coverage, and hopefully I will when I graduate and get a job. I worry about people in my community whose employment is not stable. | It would be confusing and a hassle. | As a taxpayer, it would make me have more respect and pride in my fellow Kentuckians, as well as increase the pride I would have in a cleaner community, because trash pick up along our rural roads should be a priority service that some Medicaid recipients could provide in order to receive benefits. |
735 | Having been a foster parent Medicaid was critical for the children we fostered. Having adopted out of foster care our children still have Medicaid because they had issues considered to be pre-existing that would have disqualified them from being enrolled on our work-provided insurance. Having on-going Medicaid coverage has been one less obstacle for our children to overcome. | I have family members who cannot afford to pay the astronomical medical bills required and would die without this care provided by Medicaid. | It would be difficult working temp jobs | As an employee of a non-profit agency, I do not support the mandated volunteer work. |
736 | Having insurance while I'm a full time student has been invaluable. I have aged off of my mothers insurance plan and I think it's important to have the ability to take care of my health needs so I can take care of my child. Seeing as my child's other parent has died early I need to make sure I am around for as long as possible. | I have many friends in the community who would probably not have health care. | It would be hard because I get paid monthly | As an employer in the public sector, I feel certain that some of the volunteers would be placed at this agency. It is a costly and time consuming burden to manage volunteer workers , especially those who are there only because they are being forced to be there. |
737 | Health insurance coverage and preventive care provided to numerous persons previously not covered, which benefits the entire community. | I have many loved ones, both family and in my community, who depend on Medicaid. These changes would eliminate their coverage and they will not receive the healthcare they need to live. Many of them will die without their regular medical care - dialysis, diabetes care, nursing home care just to name a few. | It would be hard to get this done while trying to juggle other responsibilities such as survival. | As pastor of a church, I understand I would be required to supervise these volunteers. We don't have resources to do so. |
738 | Healthier | I have seen how many children's overall health have improved since introduction of kchip. | It would be impossible and costly for those who do not have means to make the reports. | As pastor of a church, we would anticipate a large number of people needing to get those hours in by volunteering for us BUT that is not a very helpful way for us to manage. We don't have staff or time to manage untrained and sometimes unknown volunteers. It sounds good on paper, but our experience with other enforced volunteer programs (like court ordered community service) proves otherwise. |
739 | Healthier citizens make for a healthier community, city, state, country! | I have several close friends who work as Pharmacy Technicians and are able to see, on a day to day basis, the people in our communities who rely on Medicaid - people who have to choose between feeding their families or paying the $2/$4 co-pays for their medications. Even I sometimes struggle to afford the $2 co-pay for my albuterol inhaler, something that I *need*, a potentially lifesaving medication, and it's a measly $2. Enforcing premiums and higher co-pays on those who already live in poverty is awful. No one should have to choose between feeding their family and affording their lifesaving medications. A healthier community is a better community and limiting access to Medicaid, or enacting lock-out periods for an unpaid balance is despicable - why would we penalize anyone for being sick, especially those who live in poverty and already live hard enough lives? | It would be impossible to know unless it happens | As someone who already works 40 hours a week, it's unrealistic to think that there would be any time for me to complete 80 hours/month in anything outside of my job that pays my expenses. The work requirement of 80 hours/month is unrealistic to the point of impossible for people who don't have the time commitments, transportation, accessibility to resources, etc. people should not be penalized for not having resources. |
740 | healthy citizens make for a better, more efficient workforce and happy community in general; good, easy access to comprehensive health care is more cost efficient and more humane than relegating problems to the ER | I have to requalify every year as it is. What purpose does any of these changes serve other than making it harder for people to get and keep their insurance? | It would be impossible. | As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, it would be difficult and stressful for me to function properly. |
741 | Healthy workforce, children healthy and ready to learn, less costly "prevention" alternatives | I have two young children with no help i am unable to work at the moment | It would be nearly impossible to record and report. | As stated previously, I could not be successful in school with having this engagement requirement. 80 hours is a flat-out outrageous ask of me as a student, but more importantly the working poor who work multiple jobs at poverty wages that don’t provide benefits. Where on earth are they going to have 80 hours to complete this when they’re working 12 hour days, almost 7 days a week? Absolutely cruel. |
742 | Helped pay my kids medical bills when I couldn't afford them. | I haven't read the full changes but I feel betrayed by a State I have supported by working for 40 years and then my family gets left out over a petty $15 over the limit | It would be okay. | As stated previously, in small communities, there are no ways to manage this requirement, either the work is not available, limited volunteer opportunities and no transportation if it is available. Also, no distinction for someone who has applied for disability, but is in the more than 2 year waiting time for it to be approved. |
743 | Homeless youth who age out of foster care and are released to the streets have no one, little resources and quickly become victims. Taking away medical coverage or making it impossible to meet criteria is cruel and unchristian. Shame shame shame. | I just dont understand any of this. | It would be ridiculous. | Because I am in school and work part time, it is only the reporting requirement that would be a burden. |
744 | Hundreds of thousands of eligible Kentuckian have health care coverage, many for the first time. Having Medicaid allows them to take low-wage jobs without benefits, which insured that many will be able to work with security, and to have improved health for them and their families. | I know cancer survivors who would die without the treatment they get through Medicaid. | It would cause a hardship on my clients | because I work full time already and I have two children to tend to |
745 | I am 65 and I am wondering how this will affect me? | I know many people (quite a few are elders) who desperately need this coverage. In addition, our hospitals would again be adversely impacted, if people once again start showing up in the ER, in crisis, in lieu of regular care with a physician, catching conditions before the person comes in in bad shape. | It would cause me stress and worry. It would make me symptomatic. | Because of the severe social anxiety we deal with, a requirement to spend up to 80 hours a month in the general public would cause immense mental distress and a decrease in overall quality of living. |
746 | I am a disabled former teacher. Medicaid has benefitted me greatly. I am able to go to the doctor, purchase my prescriptions, and not worry about paying the rent, student loans, and various other expenses or having to pay medical. I wasn't able to afford my medical expenses before and had to often do without. Despite negative feedback, I have only been to the doctor three times since getting Medicaid. I plan on getting better and returning to teaching. If I do not have medical coverage, this will not be possible! My brother works and is enrolled in college. He will be graduating soon. He rarely goes to the doctor (only when he is very ill!) Howecer, it has been a blessing to have. His end goal is to graduate and land a job with medical coverage.' | I know people in the community who need medicaid for their children's insurance, and I can't imagine letting the children go without medical care if the parent cannot complete a certain amount of requirements | It would create a hardship for the consumers I serve, if they are unable to report changes within the required time and are locked out from their coverage. | can't do much with knees not working |
747 | I am a Family Resource Center Coordinator in a high poverty school. Medicaid allows children to receive immunizations, physicals, dental, and vision services. Making Medicaid more difficult to qualify for and keep puts poor children at an even bigger disadvantage than their higher income counterparts. The children I work with are able to be seen when sick, receive well visits, get glasses, and preventive dental care under Medicaid. This promotes healthy children who are able to attend school regularly. | I know some of my coworkers might be apprehensive about getting enough hours to avoid the need to volunteer. | It would leave people out of care. | can't say... i'm nearly sixty and i wonder what kind of work i could find |
748 | I am a graduate student studying speech pathology. I currently work 30 hours per week for no pay (only college credits) while I earn my degree. If it weren't for Medicaid, I would not be able to do this and pursue a career where I will ultimately be helping others. I have also suffered from lifelong anxiety and depression, and had it not been for Medicaid, I would not be able to participate in graduate school/practicum. I think having that support from Medicaid has helped shape me into a better person who will pay into the system in hopes that Medicaid will help others do the same. I will forever be grateful to Medicaid and I hope to pay it forward to society in some way. | I know that many people live in areas where there AREN"T places where they can do volunteer work. Making this a requirement will put the onus on public facilities to "create" volunteer jobs that will not be meaningful engagement for the participant nor the recipient of their "help". Many "able bodied" people do not have the necessary social skills to engage in many volunteer situations. There is nothing worse than having to "keep busy" when there is nothing to do. | It would make him a responsible adult using tax payer funded dollars appropriately. | can't say... i'm nearly sixty and i wonder what kind of work i could find |
749 | I am a Healthcare provider and 50% of my patients have Medicaid. | I know that the public policy discussions have been geared around "able bodied adults" but as a pediatric health care provider I have seen unacceptable changes to the care provided to disabled children, the most vulnerable citizens of this state, that should not be accepted by anyone. I suspect that is why the changes in determination are not being discussed in a public manner. I also recognize that living in a community where people have access to general health care including mental health and drug treatment is important. It's better for the children I serve to have healthy parents, it's better for our criminal justice system, it's better for our health system to not overwhelm the ER with health issues that could be prevented with general medical care. We live here together so the overall health on our community impacts everyone. | It would not affect me | Can't. I'm on SSID |
750 | I am a medical professional, working in occupational therapy community and many clients have this coverage. | I left my job to be a caregiver for my grandfather. He passed away in May and I am now job hunting. I am considered able bodied but having to take 20 hours out of my week to volunteer would be a huge burden on my ability to seek work during the weekdays. I would have to give up healthcare in order to use my full time job hunting, and that's not right. | It would not affect me because a change is easily reported. | Child care would become impossible for many people with families. |
751 | I am a pancreatic cancer survivor. I have 2 plates and 8 screws in my right leg after a traumatic injury. I am currently under treatment for a torn rotator cuff with frozen shoulder in my left arm. I am 50 years old. I do NOT qua life for Social Security. I do NOT qualify for disability. I can NOT pass a basic physical where I need to lift 50 pounds. I was kicked off of employer based insurance when it took more than 12 weeks of FMLA to diagnose, treat, and recover from the pancreatic cancer surgery. I had to quit my job due to subsequent complications and follow up appointments that my employer couldn't afford to continue to cover without forcing me into a different position that I wasn't certified to take. What would you have me do? Everyone can't be placed in a one size fits all plan as described. I probably qualify for food stamps and haven't even asked! My 13 yr old son and I survive on the kindness of others. All I've asked for and receive is medical coverage for the 2 of us. I've tried finding a job that I can do from home due to my limitations and necessary appointments that no employer can guarantee they will work around. I have a BS, 2 minors, an MA. Do you really think I want to be in this position? | I may not be able to have health care with these changes. | It would not affect me but I'm sure it would affect others | Cleaner parks and showing people that they need to work for benefits like other working families. |
752 | I am a pediatric oncology social worker. I also assist with caring for young adults with cancer. Blanket policy chamges that limit an eligible individual's access to a program that is intended to help them have access to medical care because they limited financial resources seems unfair. | I myself would be sicker because of not being able to afford proper treatment without medical coverage | It would not affect me personally but there are a lot of Medicaid recipients who bounce around from one low-end job to another. Medicaid members are more likely than the average population to have lower educations as well - it will be hard for some to fill out forms to meet this requirement. This just creates more paperwork and solves nothing - it's sole purpose seems to be a way to make people lose Medicaid eligibility. That seems petty and evil. | Community engagement is always a most healthy part of any citizen's life. The ? is why is it not already a part of needy people's lives? What keeps certain people isolated from the love and care of their communities? How can politics bridge that??? |
753 | I am a physician (oncologist) and I work in Southeastern KY. Without Medicaid, so many of my patients would suffer. It would be easy for them to "fall through the cracks" with the addition of these rules. Please don't do this to our people. | I personally am concerned with the work requirements as I have not been declared disabled yet. I am not capable of working due to illness. Concerned with how they would evaluate people like me to require this. Volunteering would take away the precious couple hours I get a week to go to Drs or get testing/treatment. | It would not affect me. | Could be a definite problem as I age or become incapacitated |
754 | I am a retired home health RN. I have seen how Medicaid works and the changes made. Yes there should be accountability and responsibility . Will there be job training programs, incentives for businesses to hire. Many of these people would work if they had opportunityLosing their coverage for some would be detrimental to their health and the health of family . Will there be education programs to inform people of these changes if they are made. | I plan to make a change in employment and being penalized for not reporting it is something that I personally don't need due to medical issues | It would not affect me. | Currently responsible for taking mother to hearing, kidney, and cancer doctor care. |
755 | I am a retired school teacher who worked with special needs children and their families. I know the services and supports that these youngsters and their families received from Medicaid coverage and how critically important it was for them to have access to health care. I also know how many Kentuckians have benefited from the Medicaid expansion. We need to keep it! | I really don't know. | It would not be a problem reporting these changes. I would think this should be a requirement for the sake of ANY system to work properly. | DA |
756 | I am a single full time non-traditional student, full time mother and I work 15+ hours a week. Between my child and my studies that is no time to work more hours a week. I cannot afford insurance. I have pre-existing conditions and both my child and I have mental disorders. Medicaid is the only way we can afford our doctor's appointments and our medications. | I reside in an economically oppressed community where head start programs are full. These families often have children with disabilities or developmental delays, and there are many elderly people in my community who would not have access to doctors or medicines without Medicaid. | It would not but people on Medicaid who have PO boxes and only get to the post office once or twice a month because of no transportation it would affect tremendously. They will miss this timeline. It should be at least 45 days. | Depending on health issues that are better at times and worse at others, that could prevent my son from being able to comply. |
757 | I am a single Mom of 3 daughters (receiving no child support - my husband is in prison for child abuse) with a Master's degree in Adult Education. I work 2 jobs and earn in total $40,000 per year. My primary, full-time job is as a literacy and high school equivalency teacher in Simpson County, KY. If not for Medicaid, I would be forced to leave my current position and accept a job outside my field and outside my area of passion and expertise in order to pay high premiums for healthcare for my family. My personal coverage is through the ACA. My children receive Medicaid. I would gladly participate in workplace healthcare options if they were available, but my private, non-profit employer has only 4 employees and can not afford to offer healthcare. I do not receive any other form of government assistance, but healthcare costs are simply way out of reach for my family. | I see most of the proposed changes as ways to deny people Medicaid based on technicalities. People need health insurance. Having health insurance enables people to get care when they need it. | it would not effect me. | Depending on if the person is working a part time minimum wage job already. It would be best to assist them in finding part time jobs or in a training program that could lead to a full time job that could get them their own insurance. |
758 | I am a single mother who works but don't make enough to pay for medical expenses. | I see so many customers in my line of business that rely heavily on Medicare and Medicaid and would be devastatingly destitute if access to those was restricted. Many of them wouldn't be able to afford it and would most likely die as a result. | It would not for me, but for many Medicaid numbers they do not own computers , Smart phones,or transportation. So it’s harder for them . | Depends on the volunteer requirements. |
759 | I am a social worker and work with some of the most vulnerable people in the commonwealth. So many people have benefitted from Medicad expansion. Without Medicaid, so many people with mental illness and any illnesses will go without care and die or seek treatment at emergency rooms costing so much more. | I see vulnerable people having gaps in coverage and medical care. Taking away people's health care as a penalty or punishment for paperwork issues is a poor way to do things. Under KYnect, there were field workers that did a great job helping people with applications and paperwork. I saw them working out of our public library. The proposed system seems to be looking for ways to make it more difficult. | It wouldn't affect me ,but Friends & Family would be affect some ppl don't read or have access to T.V.or newspapers or know that changes occurred, poor ppl need Help ,this is helping alot of ppl that wouldn't have HEALTH Care If wasn't for Medical Care ; | Depends. Am I responsible for child care or the care of an old or disabled person? Who's going to pay for that while I volunteer or work or go to school? For that matter, who's going to pay for job training? I did not have the time or the money to go back to school or get some other kind of job training, because I was the only one with any kind of job at the time, and my very small income was somewhat better than nothing at all. I finally got a half-time job in my field and a half-time job in another field that provided on-the-job training, and my husband (who has two master's degrees) got a job slightly above minimum wage for eight months before finding something better. |
760 | I am a stay at home mom with a one year old. My husband is a full time student. All three of us are covered by Medicaid. We are not able to earn an income during this time and are grateful for Medicaid | I seriously worry about the impact to our community. As a state we have ALWAYS had such poor health outcomes and over the past handful of years were finally making meaningful improvements that will last generations. Not only do we no longer have the safetynet programs that would have covered the uninsured we are making things even more complicated for no good reason. This is politics over the health and welfare of our state. | It wouldn't right now, but who knows what could happen in my life? Putting a burden on people and making them jump through bureaucratic hoops serves nothing but to bog down the system. People who are hurting do not need to be kicked when they are down, plus, it will make the system inefficient and pointless. How is this helpful? Just to make sure that a handful of people don't cheat the system? This line of thinking is the bane of a civil society. It will cost more to run an inefficient system than writing off a small number of cheaters. | Disabled, but daughter cannot meet those requirements |
761 | I am a teacher in a rural somewhat impoverished area. Sick students and students who have to stay home with sick family members affect their education and also spread colds, flu, and other contagious diseases. Medicaid offers health care for their treatment thus reducing the amount of time they would be out of the classroom or spreading whatever they have. | I serve a low income community who often do not have access to this info or know how to report. Also requiring full time students to do 20 hrs is ridiculous. Being a student is hard enough. Also community service isnt as useful as you would think some places ont have room for more volunteers or give these people repetitive tasks. | It wouldn’t necessarily effect my enrollment or current status. However- people between jobs or laid off would still need to be covered for a minimum time frame of 6 months before going to a review board. Nobody should lose insurance if they can’t pay!now, if someone can not pay after a certain time then we need to implement a system of review so we know where to place these people. | Do companies who receive "free money" aka subsidies and tax breaks have the same type of requirements to receive or retain that money? |
762 | I am a therapist &;70%+ are medicaid clients who are now able to get mental health assistance | I serve a low income community who often do not have access to this info or know how to report. Also requiring full time students to do 20 hrs is ridiculous. Being a student is hard enough. Also community service isnt as useful as you would think some places ont have room for more volunteers or give these people repetitive tasks. | It wouldn’t. 10 buisness says should be plenty of time | Do you really want people on Medicaid who have substance or mental health issues volunteering? |
763 | I am a type 1 diabetic and work 60 hours a week but cannot afford healthcare coverage and am not offered it by either of my employers. I also have a college degree. The idea that people who benefit from Medicaid are lazy, uneducated or unemployed is simply wrong. | I serve a low income community who often do not have access to this info or know how to report. Also requiring full time students to do 20 hrs is ridiculous. Being a student is hard enough. Also community service isnt as useful as you would think some places ont have room for more volunteers or give these people repetitive tasks. | It's impossible for a server or waitress or anyone who lives off of tips to have reliable income. 10 days is way too short. | Does caregiver for parents count? |
764 | I am a type one diabetic and after loosing my job I lost my insurance. Medicaid has made my diabetic supplies such as insulin, and test strips, which are needed to live affordable and available to me. | I serve a low income community who often do not have access to this info or know how to report. Also requiring full time students to do 20 hrs is ridiculous. Being a student is hard enough. Also community service isnt as useful as you would think some places ont have room for more volunteers or give these people repetitive tasks. | It’s impossible. There’s enough paperwork required in this life. | Does not apply to me, but this is a ridiculous requirement for my friend and family member who are unable to do either! |
765 | I am able to get my gallbladder removed, have access to mental and dental care. My family has access to health, mental, and dental care. People in my community are able to go to the doctor instead of using the emergency room, which is more expensive and burdensome to the wider community. | I serve a low income community who often do not have access to this info or know how to report. Also requiring full time students to do 20 hrs is ridiculous. Being a student is hard enough. Also community service isnt as useful as you would think some places ont have room for more volunteers or give these people repetitive tasks. | Keep on reporting for most of the community members will be hard because it means to miss a day at work to go to the office while they are still new on that job. | Does not impact me personally as I do not have Medicaid. However, I do believe that able-bodies people should contribute to society. this can improve their psychological and physical well-being. |
766 | I am able to get treated for my diabetes and other health issues. Without Medicaid I would be in dire straights physically and financially. | I spend at least 10 hours a week working on Medicaid related issues. Many times these issues could be quickly resolved if the process were more streamlined. Adding more requirements and lock out periods will not help people who need access to medical coverage. It will in fact create a more bureaucratic system. | Majority of our clients do not have access to Wi-Fi or computer, know how to use a computer or smartphone to easily report these changes within 10 days. And the case managers are already overloaded with the number of clients they are responsible for to support. | Does not impact me. I am fortunate to have a good retirement health plan (at least for the moment!) and Medicare coverage. |
767 | I am able to have health insurance to get the medications I need for my allergy. Without Medicaid, I would not be able to afford health insurance due to being a full time student. | I strongly feel that both grandsons can contribute by some type of employment. | Many are confused what constitutes changes and who to turn it in to. Add to that frequent health and memory issues. | Doesn't. But if I were a care giver living in poverty without help, without a car or bus available, in poor health, I would find this a terrible burden. |
768 | I am able to have Medical coverage where I otherwise would not and my son who is disabled is able to keep medical coverage. | I think a ten day period for reporting income is not long enough. Most people need 30 days at least. In working in this field, there are many factors. First of all, I've had many of my clients call me and ask me to help them because they can't get through to the State Cabinet with hours on hold. I had one case of a young man who actually had a job, and they wanted him to stay on hold for hours jeopardizing his job. If they can be more effecient, then yes. But, right now, with hours on hold to make a change, it is not fair to ask for 10 days. Also, I think a six month lockout is too long. Three months would be plenty with regard to penalty. We need to remember while we certainly need to deter from abuse of the system, they are still human beings, and need medical care. | many Medicaid clients do not have computers and reporting changes are not necessarily at the top of the list if you have no where to live or have a mental or substance history | Drastically..as I take care of my son who has schizophrenia! Not good! |
769 | I am an actor, musician, and artist. In some cultures I would be considered the best of what our society has to offer. Without AHCA I would have nothing. | I think it could cause more financial burdens on us at this time | Many of my patients do not have regular access to phones. Many of those who do, use prepaid minutes and are frequently out of money to purchase more. Long hold times on government lines, which are merely an irritation to some of us, are wasted money to my patients, and they don't have extra to waste. | Due to age it would not affect me. I do volunteer because that is who I am. |
770 | I am an assistant county attorney in family court, prosecuting child dependency, neglect, and abuse cases. The goal of our dockets is to maintain or reunify families. The majority of our cases involve parents with mental health issues and addiction and most of the families we encounter are low income and on Medicaid. In order for us to protect these children and keep families intact we rely on mental health and substance abuse treatment that many of these families cannot access without Medicaid. | I think it would get some off medicaid that are able bodied, that can work, and some on that need it and aren't able to work. | MANY of my patients have exceedingly volatile income and employment. It can easily change month to month or even week to week. Furthermore, forms of communication for these patients can be unreliable. For many of my patients, this 10 day requirement is highly unrealistic, and this is not due to laziness or irresponsibility. This is as a result of poverty, family, mental health, substance use, and other issues. | Due to traumatic Brain Injury, I am unable to work |
771 | I am an entry level occupational therapist. One of our primary reimbursement providers is Medicaid. Because I am a practitioner, I am able to see firsthand people receiving Medicaid services, and how they have improved their quality of life. I also spent time working on the Michele P Waiver, which is medicaid funded, as a direct support professional. Without that waiver paying employees such as myself, many individuals would not be able to receive assistance with basic things such as grocery shopping, transportation, or going to doctor's office visits. The public transportation options for individuals with disabilities in the bluegrass area is virtually non existent, with most cities having little to no public transport and cities that do, such as Lexington, having miles between some stops, which is not accessible for anyone with a physical disability. Without waiver services to assist these individuals, some would be homebound, and become more sick, and depressed. On a personal level, I have a brother with severe autism. He receives the Michele P Waiver as well, which allows my family to hire individuals to assist him. My parents cannot afford to stay home from work to care for him, nor can they afford to pay out of pocket for a caregiver, and he can not be left alone for more than a few minutes due to safety concerns. If Medicaid is reduced or made more difficult to get, wonderful people like my brother will be left home, alone, locked away from society as if they are unworthy of assistance. | I think most of these changes are to cheat people out of coverage, due to budgeting shortfalls by the GOP in our state. Our governor continues to come up with the most absurd means to fix the issues he has helped to cause, and threatens the poor and vulnerable citizens of Kentucky by proposing this kind of garbage. | Mine do not change frequently | Dying is a full time job. |
772 | I am currently between jobs, which is common in today's job market, even for those with advanced degrees like myself. Medicaid has provided an invaluable lifeline for myself and others in my position. | I think the new changes allow for more accountability for the Medicaid participant. | Mine does not | Eighty hours is unreasonable for most people. We have family, community [as well as personal] responsibilities to attend to. 20-3p may be manageable for those with transportation. Those without it should not be expected to participate. |
773 | I am diabetic and have a nuro muscle disorder, my actual life depends one my insurance for my meds or I would be either very sick or dead.. | I think these are horrible proposals which will essentially punish people for being on Medicaid. I did not choose to be on Medicaid. I was actually told that I must enrol because after allowable expenses, my income was below the threshold Furthermore, I was told that if I refused Medicaid, I would lose any advanced tax credits through the ACA. These proposals would be very harmful to me, and completely miss the point of healthcare reform. | Mine does not but a family member’s does and 10 days is not enough time to get all required information together; thus, they would lose coverage. | Even people working are losing their medicaid in October! And many people that are physically able to work still may not mentally be capable of working and volunteering like my family members with autism. |
774 | I am disabled and Medicaid pays my Medicare premium and it of pocket medical costs once I reach a certain amount. | I think they would not be affected, since they are disabled. However, during a time when my partner was able to teach, the college where she worked had an unusual pay schedule, and she was paid more than she was allowed during one month. For this, she was fined $30,000 dollars. | mine does not but it would be virtually impossible for most of my clients. | Every patient of mine meets criteria for medical frailty, so they are exempted from the work requirement. However, many Medicaid recipients do not have the child care resources, transportation access, extra funds, or physical wellness to enable them to work or volunteer on a regular basis. |
775 | I am disbled and unable to work. | I think volunteering in an area where my older sister would be able to sit would be good for her. | Mine does not change | Everyone is different , some people cannot do any of this |
776 | I am employed by one of the MCO's as a Community Engagement Rep so I've been able to see first hand how having access to coverage and actually using it has been of great benefit to my community. I've seen those who are fighting addiction able to get into treatment. I've seen more than a few homeless individuals utilize a PCP and preventative medicine. The list could go on and on. | I will die. | Mine does not change but often times consumers of Medicaid are not able to keep up with the requirements of reporting, as they currently stand. | Extreme inconvenience. I'm basically on call through the week in my job even though I only work 11-13 hours/week. So if I committed to some volunteer engagement and then was asked to work on a day that conflicted, how could I make this up? I WANT 40 hours/week work but in my chosen field, accounting. As i'm over 50 it's much harder for me to find this because most employers do not want to pay health insurance for workers over 50 . Hence one key reason Obamacare & the Medicaid extension were critical to me! |
777 | I am fortunate to be employed and to have employer-sponsored health insurance. However, you don't have to look very far in Jackson Co. where I live to see that many are nott so fortunate. My wife (now retired) worked for a small rural health clinic, and saw how close to the edge of disaster many people find themselves. The Medicaid coverage for children was the only way most folks could receive health care at all for their children. I am all for personal responsibility, and I know there are people who game the system, but the proposed changes are more punitive than empowering, imposing burdens beyond the many that poverty-stricken people face. | I will likely lose my job as an MCO case manager due to people being unable to pay premiums . There are lots of sick sick people at risk of losing insurance. I've seen the difference the Medicaid expansion has made on the health of people across the state. We live in a poor state and now healthcare is at stake again because a lot of folks won't be able to pay premiums. It's makes me sad | Mine does not change regularly, but it does for many of the families that I work with. Many people who do contract or temp work often have fluctuations in their income. | Family members work but I know of others who are full-time caregivers to handicapped individuals who would find this difficult. |
778 | I am pregnant and my youngest daughter has several medical conditions and sees multiple specialists. We wouldn't be able to afford her healthcare without Medicaid. | I work 5-15 hours a week, I also volunteer for many cancer organizations but I could never work or volunteer 20 hours a week every week. I can barely work the hours I already work due to my health issues. | mine does not change. | Few jobs in Eastern ky |
779 | I am self-employed and medicaid allows me to pursue my career without employer-provided healthcare | I work about 20 hours a week and am a full time college student AND single parent. This healthcare is truly imperitave for us until I can graduate and get a better job. | Mine does not change/I do not receive Medicaid. But for others 10 days is really not a lot of time, I believe it should be at least 30 days. | fewer patients i could see that need mental health therapy |
780 | I am self-employed dry stone mason. My work or lack of work depends greatly on the economy. I am 40 years old and these past 3 years are the 1st I have had access to a doctor. Due to the strenuous type of work I do it has effected my joints & very much back pain. I am able to get steroid injections periodically that I would be unable to get if it wasn't for Medicaid. I gets these injections about every 4 months. I do not take pain medication. | I work already, I'm just below poverty line, I wouldn't have time to volunteer. | Mine does not-but many people I know have constant varying schedules through no fault of their own. The service industry is fickle and unpredictable. | First in my community there is no jobs or training or volunteer places to accommodate all of us receiving Medicaid. No where to meet these requirements. Second we can't afford to drive multiple miles to try to meet these requirements. Third, I am medically unable to stand for more that a little while due to my extreme knee pain. I am not on disability but I feel I wouldn't be able to do this work requirement |
781 | I am tired of "able" bodied adults using th AT for non emergencies and Medicaid paying for it! | I work in a safety net program. Just about all of our consumers benefit from medicaid. These people will never be well enough to support themselves. You'll see an explosion of people with mental illness going without treatment or housing. This is a terrible idea. | Mine does not, but 10 days is a very short time period. I believe most private insurances request certain changes be reported within 30 days. | First of all, because I do not do well with new people and new situations, when I think about it I become very anxious. Last time this was threatened, I became traumatized and was unable to leave my home for four days. When fear and dread are overwhelming, I cannot sleep, so while I might be able to appear at 9 am Monday morning for some training class or another by staying awake on anxiety until it was time to leave, I would certainly not be able to sustain that, and would crash and fail to fatigue at some point. Furthermore, I DO look for appropriate work for myself, and any state-imposed requirement would take time away from that. I would suggest,that if you want to build in an incentive to do such things that you offer a $10/hour cash payout (as if for day labor) for people showing up, attired in workclothes suitable to the job they seek. People on Medicaid have SUCH low incomes that we are NOT staying home having fun. |
782 | I believe better care for all is essential for quality of life. | I work in a school and working families receive medicaid to help make sure there children are healthy and get the appropriate preventive care. It is still a struggle for these families because they are already working or are hindered by poor public transportation. | Mine does not, but family members are affected. | First, the work opportunity has to exist where I live. Second, a volunteer opportunity has to exist in my area. Do I participate in job training above my mental or physical capabilities? What if I get locked out because the opportunities do not exist so that I can do 80 hours of something in one month? What if I find a volunteer opportunity but the opportunity is not in the system? How do I get my new volunteer opportunity entered into the system so I can report my volunteer hours? What if the volunteer opportunity is not entered into the system in time for me to report my hours and I am erroneously locked out? |
783 | I believe that every American should have healthcare coverage. A healthy populace positively affects the entire nation. A rising tide lifts all ships, etc. | I work in healthcare, and see a lot of individuals with Medicaid coverage. A lot have coverage and try to not advance themselves professionally in order to keep Medicaid services. Having the requirements of volunteer or work activities would help people be more involved and take responsibility of themselves. Which is needed and not encouraged with current Medicaid. | Mine does not, but I could imagine this being a burden for some. | First, with schizophrenia, my son is totally unable to do this.Second, me, his mom(60) , having to do these requirements, would totally affect his mental status as I care for him full time! It would be devastating! Having me here keeps the anxiety and paranoia in some sphere of reality. I bring him to his docs and therapists, I keep an eye on his meds and make sure he takes them. I do his grocery shopping etc, . it would totally stress me out too if I had to do the requirements ..I think I would have to go on anti anxiety meds and therapy too..not to mention my blood pressure! I am his caregiver, but according to States definitions, I am not! |
784 | I benefited from medicaid coverage when I was unemployed, and then under-employed, for nearly 9 months. My brother has special needs, currently receives permanent disability and medicaid coverage; I am concerned about how medicaid cuts will affect him. More broadly, I am concerned about people in my community; small-scale farmers, artists, and people who are most vulnerable to these changes : people who cannot work because of mental health issues, people who are experiencing homelessness, people struggling with substance abuse. | I work with a homeless ministry and I know how valuable insurance and access to doctors keeps people out of the emergency room and in better health. | Mine does not, but many people who are disadvantaged do have regularly changing statuses. This regular change of status is due to systemic issues that are beyond the control of the individual. | For a person with mood and thought disorders, this is challenging. They are more successful with work and education when they have choice about when and how they participate. Mandating it will exacerbate their symptoms of depression, anxiety, and paranoia. Availability and cost of transportation are also problematic. |
785 | I briefly had Medicaid and it was the best healthcare I've ever had. I was able to see great doctors and for the first time feel secure that my medical issues, unexpected or not, wouldn't bankrupt me. My partner has Medicaid and it helps him greatly because he is partly self employed and employed part time outside of our home but couldn't afford health insurance if not for Medicaid. I work with adults with developmental disabilities who all benefit from Medicaid - their Medicaid allows them to participate more fully in society, allows good programs like ours to stay afloat, and allows people with disabilities to spend their time in meaningful ways that encourage greater integration with our community. | I worry about the impact upon individuals who are having to care for elderly members of their families who require assistance. I'm concerned about the impact upon nursing home care, children and the elderly. | Mine does not, but this would be a nightmare for seasonal workers, restaurant workers, and retail workers, among others. | For many of the clients I work with it would result in their losing health care. Work is a good thing but it is not easily achievable for most of my clients and requires a lot of support and assistance that is not available through an on-line program. |
786 | I can't work and i cant do any type of work because of a injury from where a inmate hurt me at my job and I can't get disablity | I worry that people who need urgent treatment would get sicker or die while waiting for coverage. Sick people can't work. Kentucky should be a place where everyone has a chance to get good healthcare when they need it. | Mine does not; and I am not on Medicaid; however, it would negatively affect the young people with whom I work; their employment status/wages change frequently. | For many participants of Medicare that is an absolutely retarded idea (I expect no less from heartless cost conscious Republicans)TAKE NOTE:many are wheelchair bound in hospice nursing homes house bound many suffer from debilitating diseases many are in need of transportation constant at home care by care providers what the hell do you idiots think medicare folks are doing? sitting around the pool at the Ritz Carlton collecting checks and "living it up"? most of the money is spent before they see it ..on Doctor visits nursing home expenses hospital stay bills copays especially prescription drug costs have any of you been to a pharmacy lately?? For most on Medicare Medicaid those checks are all they have to supplement costs for most it's all they HAVE Now you want them to work for what most who retired earned and are not physically capable because of ongoing medical health issues or advanced age..to do work anymore??? TAKE NOTE: You need to go in for a mental evaluation because your "Community Engagement" proposal.. brings out the stupid in you. |
787 | I cannot afford insurance through my employer. So I turned to Medicaid after being removed from my parents insurance. I am able to go to the doctor when I am sick, go to the emergency room if needed with some of my medical conditions, and see specialist for my medical conditions. | I worry that some honest, trustworthy people who truly need the benefits will suffer because they can't work and need the support. Then others who are misusing benefits won't be affected by the changes because they can secretly work on the side and still pocket cash from their employers and they'll be fine with the changes. | Mine does not. | For my family, we would easily meet the required number of engagement hrs, but would still be inconvenienced by the constant need to report. I’m afraid that the more vulnerable people in our community would be harmed by this requirement without it serving as any sort of benefit to the program. |
788 | I cannot stand for long without triggering internal bleeding. So I am able to see the doctor for regular cancer follow ups and not make my situation more acute by having to work. | I worry what would happen to the Kentuckians who exist in a perpetual state of financial uncertainty. They deserve to be healthy and receive quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay. | Mine does not. | For my sister, it would be impossible. Even if she could manage 20 hours a week of volunteering, she could not keep up with the reporting requirements. I really cannot imagine what kind of volunteer work she could even do. |
789 | I continue to have a job due to the Medicaid expansion. | I would be ashamed to be a member of a community that has so little regard for "the least of these." | Mine does not. The more frequent disqualification will decrease number of providers willing to accept Medicaid as there will be a several day lag before I am aware my client no longer has coverage. After several occasions of not getting paid, providers will be unwilling to accept Medicaid and this leaves persons without access to services. | For now at least, it wouldn't since I've been told I'm exempt but they check this status each year and so in the event I lost the exemption I would lose coverage because I am unable to work but my disabilities are hard to prove to state and federal authorities and so I am usually subject to work requirements for programs like SNAP. |
790 | I couldn't afford my inhalers or medication to treat my copd without my coverage I wouldn't be able to have oxygen in my home to help me breathe | I would be dead without Medicaid coverage. | Mine does not. BUT if a person works in retail or food service, their schedule might change every week. People might be reporting every 10 days. Who would track that?? How is that a good use of taxpayer money? | For single working parents like myself I'm wondering how am I going to find child care for my kids while I'm volunteering? How am I suppose to make up money lost from not working while I'm volunteering? This would be tough to do for alot of families like mine. |
791 | I couldn't walk right now if it weren't for Medicaid that covered two back surgeries when I couldn't work. My parents both have chronic illness, my mother has A LOT of medical issues and having medicaid has kept us alive. If it weren't for medicaid coverage for our various health issues we wouldn't have money for basic necessities like food and living expenses. People I know can go to the doctor after YEARS of not being insured. From young to old, I've not been able to go for a cold, then got bronchitis from it because I couldn't afford to go to a doctor, this was extremely common before. | I would be unable to work. | Mine does not. Reporting changes in 10 days seems a little fast. I would support 30 days and it would be important to ensure that the way changes have to be reported is accessible and working properly when people go to make a report. | For those who are physically, mentally unable to meet this requirement, it puts an undue burden on access to healthcare. |
792 | I couldnt go ti the doctor or get the medication I need. My children wouldnt be able to as well.It would be devestating to my family. | I would be without health insurance and if anything happened to me, it would financially sink my family. | Mine doesn't change often, but penalizing people for not reporting in 10 days is absurd. | Gas is very expensive and there really aren’t any good paying jobs in Carter county. |
793 | I didn't have coverage before when I was working and couldn't afford a Dr visit or medicines ,and now I am unable to work and I have coverage so when I do get sick I can now go to a Dr. | I would become very ill very quickly and die within a few weeks. | Mine doesn't change. | hard to do with my back pain and I have no money for transportation. |
794 | I do not have family on Medicaid. | I would expect that many of my patients would not be able to access the outpatient care they need in order to prevent further hospitalization. | Mine has not but that is not the case for others. | Hardship on my mentally/physically challenged son |
795 | I do not have Medicaid myself, but have many friends who do. Also more children have healthcare coverage as a result keeping the overflow of emergency rooms down, which in turn benefits the communities. | I would find it very difficult to continue as a business owner/freelance web and graphic designer. There are no health insurance benefits for substitute teachers. I would need to pursue another type of employment. There is already a severe shortage of substitute teachers! This would negatively impact my community. | Mine is stable, but I worry for others since I believe there is no current mechanism to report via phone or internet. Parishioners of mine would be unable to drive to an office, sit all day to report, and drive home without missing work. This is not well thought out, unless your goal is to deprive these folks of health care. | Have problems with anxiety doing counter hours |
796 | I fell seriously and unexpectedly ill about three years ago now, right after switching jobs. I was less than two weeks away from full benefits and had great workplace reviews days before I became extremely ill. I had ACA previously as a second insurance source since my hours at my previous job weren't steady enough to keep/guarantee the part time insurance offered. I have since had to file for disability, as two years in the doctors kept dismissing me and not figuring out what was wrong. I finally pushed and found a good doctor and some of the right testing so I have a partial diagnosis, but before that happened I also suffered medical injuries on two separate occasions, further complicating my health. I've had little issue with ACA, and I feel the government is missing the trees for the forest in this instance, as there are multiple obvious issues with medical school, pharmaceutical companies, Insurance companies, and "symptom control" versus prevention and healing practices. Not to mention proof that lifestyle and environmental factors can and do heavily impact health. So to lower overall health costs, It would be most prudent to focus on a results based system, and actually aim to get people back to being healthy and productive. Functional and integrated medicine with health coaches seems to be a very valid model to try, as they focus on root causes and prevention. This would mean more people working, therefore more people purchasing and fueling the Economy and more tax income available to pay for Single-Payer, and other expenses. | I would have disease progression unimpeded if I lose my insurance. | Mine is stable, however my son's situation is in constant flux, like many other low wage workers, or those struggling with health issues... | Have you ever had to work with "volunteers" who are unable to work for pay? You get what you pay for. The assumption of this rule is that everyone on Medicaid are slackers. Shame. |
797 | I finally have access for treatment for an incurable, chronic disease | I would have to go back to coming to work sick or with extreme tooth pain instead of seeking treatment. I would be less productive and if the situation got bad enough, I would have to use the emergency room even if it is not necessarily an emergency. Unfortunately, sometimes that's the only way to get antibiotics when you're not insured (unless your insured friends share their medications or you buy fish antibiotics from the pet store...I know people who were that desperate in their attempts to treat infections without incurring medical debt). | misperception of intentional fraud | He already works |
798 | I get insurance through passport health. It works. It is great. | I would have to pay for their insurance and pricate insurance does not always cover some of the mental health and occupational health issues my daughters have. | More time spent on record finding and reporting, less time to work. | He already works but he travels and he could easily miss a deadline due to wifi access or too busy to remember the day |
799 | I get insurance through work now, but haven't always. The expansion allowed me to get insurance for a while...and yes, I was WORKING. I could go to the doctor when I was sick, instead of 'hoping it passes'. I could get treatment for a chronic condition. And I'm not the only one out there. Healthier people make for a better Kentucky, and wellness makes for better people. | I would have to use my money for food and clothes for medical treatment. | Most of my clients have not been able to work, those who have do generally work part time and do not make a wage that will afford them health benefits. | He has autism, but he does volunteer. |
800 | I got physical and mental healthcare I've never been able to access before, and people I know have been. I have a better understanding of my health and how to manage it because Medicaid was extended. Free clinics closed down because people could go to the hospital without declaring bankruptcy. | I would not be able to afford my meds and would likely lose my job (and my home) because of sick days. | Most of my community members work temporary jobs and they move from job to job in order make ends meet and I font know I know it was already difficulty because you report today but next day staffing agencies will they you stay home until we call you again so you have to look another job. so reporting is not easy | he is planning to volunteer once his health status is improved |
801 | I got surgery for the double vision I've had my entire life and I can drive again. I have never had insurance in my life and when we got on expanded Medicaid I had 9 surgeries I should have had years ago and I'm a new person. I even have a job now for the first time in years. My life is great now that I can be healthy. | I would not be able to control my diabetes which would put me at risk for complications. | Most of the clientele that I work with have memory issues and could not keep up with that. It would cause a lot more work for Service Coordinators/Social workers to continually try to get their benefits back. There again, these changes cannot work across the board from well-bodied young people to the disabled and frail elderly. | He would actually benefit from some useful job training |
802 | I grew up with my single mother and neither of us were insured. We lived in fear of anything that would require us to go to the doctor - she made 10k a year and there were absolutely no corners we could cut, nothing we could spare to make a medical bill affordable in any sense. As a result, both of us had to neglect our health. Even now as I type this, I have a torn muscle in my leg that reopened just yesterday - an injury originating in middle school that I was never able to have properly healed. I was finally able to get health insurance through Medicaid and it feels like a whole new world. I no longer have to be full of stress over impending sicknesses or injuries or even cavities - I know that my health will not be put on the backburner (and my lifespan shortened) from lack of funds. I am so grateful that I don't feel as weighed down from the burden of what not having Medicaid means. I don't have to feel that overwhelming stress, I don't have to suffer through injury and sickness that would be better off treated, I don't have to feel like a second-class citizen. | I would not be able to go to the doctor. | Most people aren't able to keep a job for numerous of reasons. Then most don't have the capability or time to always submit changes in income. In our community, when you submit anything at the local DCBS office it automatically take you more than a hour to drop anything off or keep reporting. That take time away from their job. New or old. | Healthcare is a human right. Forcing people who are already struggling to work just for the right to stay alive is basically feudalism. Civilized countries can handle taking care of its citizens. Especially the ones most vulnerable. |
803 | I had an adult child on Medicaid last year due to ACA and expanded coverage. For one year he was covered in case he needed health insurance. He is a healthy mid 20 year old. He is young and due to the complexities of insurance and the changes that occurred when the administration changed he did not have his insurance renewed this year. He recently fell and cut his eye open and when he went to immediate care he was told he didn't have insurance and that they estimated he would have to pay $600.00 for stitches. They said they wanted his to go to an ER to be treated and have testing (Xray etc.). He left the immediate care with no treatment. A friend cleaned his injury and used a butterfly bandage to hold the injury together because he did not have insurance or money to pay for care. He was threatened by a knife welding man while walking and once I recovered from the realization he could of been fatally injured all I could think was he would be financially ruined in his mid twenties if he was stabbed and treated at a hospital because he does not have insurance anymore and cannot afford insurance. America is a sad embarrassing country. My mother is in an assisted living facility costing $5000.00 per month waiting to be approved for MA. We had to hire a lawyer to assist us in the process because it is so complicated. Her last financial course of action is to sell her small home and hope the $75K will get her to being covered before she needs full time nursing care, otherwise the facility said they would be forced to evict her. | I wouldn't be able to get my medical care thati worked for many years to get | Most people I know affected by this change are trying to live on a fixed income of 1230.00$ a month or less. This segment of the population are already making decisions each month on eating or keeping the lights or water on. If it were not for community outreach (churches food pantry) many of these folks would not have enough food to eat. | Help members to get employed |
804 | I had Medicaid as a child because my parents didn't have stable jobs and they couldn't afford medical coverage for my siblings and I. My mother, who was disabled before her death in May 2017, had Medicaid because she wasn't able to afford all the medications and doctor/hospital visits she needed without it. | I'm 63 yrs old. I already work more than full time to survive. I need Medicaid for a life threatening illness until eligible for Medicare. I don't make enough to afford insurance. Rent, food and medications are my primary concerns. | Most service jobs such as hotels and restaurants don't offer medical insurance and with so much documents changes will not be implemented | Her work schedule is totally variable. She could work in one month and not in another one! |
805 | I had Medicaid coverage prior to my current insurance. I would not have had access to healthcare without Medicaid. | I'm a volunteer coordinator. We will have WAY too many people wanting to volunteer if the 20 hr requirement passes. That is going to cause an un-necessary backlog in our office. There aren't enough volunteer positions to go around for everyone who'll need one. | My brain injury and developmentally disabled clients have severe memory and executive functioning problems, they can not be expected to follow this rule as it takes a higher level of cognition than my clients on waivers have. Also, i encourage my disabled clients to work, and help this happen, i am afraid this would hamper my efforts. | His schedule could lead to more mental issues including stress. |
806 | I had Medicaid throughout my pregnancy, the money I saved I was able to continue to feed my family healthy food, afford childcare, and other expenses | I'm also a teacher, so beyond the detrimental effects this could have on my own family, I can see lots of tragic consequences for Kentucky's children. Each year I have multiple students that rely on Medicaid/K-Chip, etc. to receive necessary medical treatment. Many of my students' parents aren't able to pay for medical care, and several struggle to provide food. Asking these folks (who mostly already work at menial low-wage jobs) to do volunteer work for healthcare is an outright, crying shame. People should be outraged, as I am. Most of us are one medical emergency from being impoverished ourselves. | My brother is on the road across the country to cater. It would be easy for him to miss a deadline | Hopefully it would cut down on the cost of goods and services due to volunteers working to gain their "entitlements" and save employers some money to pass on to the public. |
807 | I had to have gallbladder surgery two years ago. I would not have been able to have it without Medicaid. My daughter has to have therapy and the insurance covers everything. I am a single working mom and money is stretched thin at our house. | I'm concerned that individuals who need it to be able to stay home with children with special needs could be impacted. | My brothers are unemployed and very disorganized in their thinking much of the time. They do not recognize they have a mental illness and need support. They don't keep up with requirements or really "care" about them. Sometimes it's a full time job just dealing with their thoughts. | Horrible. The family member already works 3 jobs. |
808 | I have 2 children...a degree...a full time job..and STILL struggle to pay bills. Medicaid is the only thing my children get. | I'm for common sense measures, but blanket policies are harmful and unfair in extenuating circumstances. | My clients receive little change to their incomes because they are on a fixed income. 10 days is not enough time to report changes. It should remain 30. | How am I supposed to work AND find time for this? A single person has a hard enough time affording necessities as it is! |
809 | I have 3boys with autism who take meds and need therapy daily.. no way could i afford these necessary they need. I was dx with MS 4yrs ago meds are over 9000.00 a month no way in the world would I b able too pay for it. | I'm not sure. Maybe how people forget report something and there they are, stuck without insurance. For me, I have short term memory loss, brain fog. Neither will kill me, but they could be the culprit that causes me to forget to report a change Wynn within 10 days...so then I lose my insurance.. | My clients struggle to navigate the systems as they exist now even with paid support of therapists and case managers. If there were added short time frames- clients are very likely to face penalties and suspensions and again- likely resulting in a need for more expensive and intensive services. | How can I work and generate income for me and my family if I'm volunteering? That would reduce the amount of time and resources I have to put toward my job and force me to make low wages. In short, I couldn't do it! |
810 | I have 5 kids and a heart Condition, my Kids are all On Meds and see Dr.s Regularly as do myself and my Husband, He was in a Serious accident.and with out Medicaid we wouldnt have the Money for medicine. | I'm not sure. Our sons eligibility isn't based on income but disability. | My daughter is a waitress and going to school part time. She will be going to school full time in fall. All of these report changes could fall through the cracks, like they want them to. | How do the self employed get credit for this? I'm not against the totally, but it must be implemented with intelligence. |
811 | I have a brother who is a veteran living in a nursing home. He is 62. Medicaid helps with his medical expenses. Medicaid helps people who qualify to get health insurance. This increases access to medical care which improves the overall health of our citizens. | I'm unable to work or volunteer because of my chronic condition and would therefore lose my coverage. | My daughter receives Medicaid. This requirement would affect her mental state. | how no day care or transportation provided.... |
812 | I have a child with autism who received KY's Michelle P. Waiver. Because of that waiver, it's why he receives the therapy he does and why he's progressing beautifully. | I'm very concerned about what will happen to women completing treatment for drug addiction who struggle to find work and who have to have daycare to work. | My daughter's husband has refused to take an increase in pay for several years now, because a raise would place them in a higher tax bracket and they would actually be bringing home less each year instead of more. So reporting changes isn't an issue. | How to you get to work with no transportation? No gas money? How can I guarantee my hours will always meet 80 hours? Only your employer decides your hours. |
813 | I have a chronic illness and the copays for specialists, labs, and meds were more than we could pay. We have medical debt from before. I am struggling now with income as a small business owner, but my health is stable and my conditions are under control finally because I can get the meds and care I need to be productive. | If Gov. Bevin is as heartless as he appears to be with these cuts - he is essentially sentencing some people to death. Others would not be able carry on their lives and freedoms guaranteed in the constitution of the United States. | My doesn't. However, I feel a 10 day is much too short. Also, the cost to implement and sustain this reporting requirement will likely be greater than an savings gained. | Husband does work but is not physically able to complete the extra hours required. He is 63 years old |
814 | I have a Dau in Law with Type I diabetes. If not for Medicaid, she would not be able to afford her diabetic supplies. I have a Son that works, but barely gets by working as a food service employee, and two children. If not for Medicaid, this family would suffer. | If he doesn't get his medication and counseling he would likely try self medication/drug abuse as his only option to feel better. If the process to reinstate or get setup is too difficult or has too many steps he will have to have guidance/support to get it done. That means someone from government office tracking his progress and encouraging/helping rTher than threatening. | my employment status does not change regularly but if it did it would be difficult to remember to report changes every time it occurred. | I already do most of these things. It would be an added burden to keep track of and report these hours. |
815 | I have a disabled adult son on Medicaid. Also my husband was disgnosed with ALS and ended up in long term care which Medicaid covered. There is no way we could have paid those bills at an aver average of $40,000 a month. | If he loses medicaid we would have to consider a nursing home as he could not thrive in group home setting, he requires 24 hour supervision & assistance. | My employment is pretty steady, but because I work a tip-based job (restaurant server) my income can vary wildly. | I already do volunteer work in our community as I can, but not with any degree of predictability due to chronic back issues which sometimes compromise my mobility and movement. If I could predictably work 80 hours a month I would probably seek a paid job to supplement my social security, but this isn't feasible. |
816 | I have a disabled child who would have died without Medicaid. Insurance companies would not cover him and he requires full time care. | If his coverage changes he will not be able to receive the care he deserves. | My employment status changes from semester-to=semester. I would need to remind myself to report changes frequently, and with an 80-hour per week schedule between school and work, this requirement could be easily overlooked at no fault of my own. A more realistic requirement is 30 days! | I already do work 80 hours per month. |
817 | I have a family member with mental illness. Without Medicaid he couldn't afford treatment nor meds. | If I did not have Medicaid, and if I do not get insurance from my employment, I will not be able to afford to see my cardiologist anymore. My parents, who both have several medical issues, would also not be able to afford doctors visits and medicine anymore. | My employment status does not change frequently. Anyone filling out a W-4 to start new employment should be able to fill out a state form notifying the state of changes. | I already volunteer my time; I do so willingly (hint: that's why it's called "volunteer" work). Eighty hours a week would be impossible, though. I'd have to cut back on my work hours (possibly at the expense of my job). I have an MA, but it is still difficult to find a job with livable wages. I'd have to cut back my work hours, which would mean even less. |
818 | I have a friend who now can read (catracts), hold the book (carpal tunnel and shoulder) and who had a long-overdue hysterectomy and bladder lift. Without the medicaid expansion, this would not have happened. | If I get too ill to sign up by precise date I think coverage should start from that point forward, why be penalized for 6 more months if I wasn't physically able to get signed up? | My employment status does not change regularly | I already work |
819 | I have a friend who works full-time at JCTC for poverty wages. The only way she can afford to do the work she does to help students is by getting Medicaid, Obamacare, and food stamps. I also know many women recovering from addiction who struggle to get hired after they complete treatment. | If I had to volunteer while I'd was working in order to meet the requirement, I would not be able to due to the time commitments at work. | My employment status does not change regularly | I already work 75 hrs a week |
820 | I have a heart problem and Medicaid helped when I had to go to the hospital. | If I had to work right now , Having to go todaycare and working , with my back would hurt. | My employment status will change after I give birth. Being required to report that immediately could be difficult since I'm in the hospital. A month seems more reasonable. | I already work about 50 hours a week |
821 | I have a niece right now preparing for surgery under medicaid. | If I lose coverage I would have no way to pay for medical care. | My family member on Medicaid does have fluctuating hours in her job as a companion for an elderly person with dementia - all depending on the family's needs each week. | I already work and volunteer 80 hours a month, like most folks on medicaid, so it wouldn't actually affect me other than having to log onto the kynect crappy website and log it all every week/month. HOWEVER it would harm some people who cannot work and dont fit into the rigid "dis-abled" box that Bevin considers to be eligible for Medicaid, and so it's not okay whatsoever to have work requirements. |
822 | I have a siblings and a niece that currently benefit from Medicaid. My sibling worked for more than 25 years. Unfortunately, he became unable to work and fully disabled. Medicaid helps pay for his medical needs including treatment for cancer. My niece is a young adult and suffers from severe seizures. She cannot work or drive. Medicaid helps pay for her prescriptions and other health needs. | If I lose Medicaid, under any change, I'd only have Medicare & would have to pay the premium. If I pay that & rent I couldn't pay utilities, car insurance, gas, or get groceries. If I get life's necessities I lose Medicare.If I want to get it back later the premium would be out of reach. I would be left with no insurance at all. | My friend who is on Medicaid, has trouble keeping even part time work due to her type 1 diabetes. This would make it extremely hard for her to keep up with all this reporting. Medicaid already requires her to report once a year. | I already work full time |
823 | I have a special need son that receives medicaid. it has helped offset medical bills, copays, deductibles. | If I lose my Healthcare I can't work. I have a son with disabilities and I would not be able to care for myself much less him. | My hrs at work are not set in stone they fluctuate so having to report changes in 10 i would be reporting changes every week | I already work full time, so it wouldn't. But the Kentucky HEALTH program is not a one size fits all requirement and everyone would have their own PATH. |
824 | I have a very low income and would not be able to get medical care if it changed. I take 13 medication and have had numerous operations including hystetectomy, another growth in female parts, gall bladder, nerve cut to stop the pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia, etc. Please leave Medicare alone. You have no right to mess with low income programs unless you have been poor. I thought Medicaid was wrong until I became disabled and poor. You would change your mind too if you tried to live off what I do. I was a case manager and made good money until the doctor said I couldn't work. | If I lose my insurance on a technicality and the cancer returns and I am unaware... | My husband and I both receive social security only so our income is predictable. I can't imagine the stress on a worker who is patching together multiple low paying jobs to make ends meet or a worker who has a job with irregular hours or is dependent on good weather. It would be inhumane to add to their stress by imposing a complicated reporting mechanisms and a layer of bureaucracy that most likely be a nightmare. (remember the chaos that resulted in the yo-yo with "now you don't have dental or vision coverage" ) | I already work that much. |
825 | I have adopted out of the state foster care system. My daughter receives Medicaid benefits. It is too expensive to add her onto my medical coverage through my employer, as it raises the monthly premiums to more than I can afford. That is why I support keeping coverage for any child within and coming out of the foster care system, whether state run or private. | If im forced to take anymore time away from them, my children will be neglected. I am living to work, to pay the government, to live. I'm tired. | My husband is a musician whose income is somewhat unpredictable. He also has a part-time seasonal job in the summer. I guess we would have to visit the medicaid office every few days to report every check he gets just to be on the safe side, should he become eligible again. That is mind boggling. The time we would have to spend making these reports could be used much more productively working or taking care of our family. | I am 66 and too old to do a lot of work |
826 | I have an adult family member who is developmentally delayed, and has numerous health problems that are covered by Medicaid. | If it weren't for Medicaid, I would likely be a college dropout who could not afford medication to control my obsessive compulsive disorder and possibly someone who would be suicidal. I hope that Medicaid continues to give others hope through the healthcare they receive for many many years in the future. | My husband is disabled, it is hard to go anywhere! | I am a caregiver for my elderly mother who must have someone with her. We cannot afford to pay for assistance. |
827 | I have been able to get medical treatment that I otherwise would not have been able to get. | If Medicaid is cut back, some people will die. | My husband is self employed. His income changes from month to month, depending on how much work he can find. Our daughter is disabled, requiring his schedule to be super flexible. I'm not sure a ten day requirement would be possible, as often as our income changes. | I am a full time babysitter for my grandchildren. I am not sure whether this qualifies in any of the work categories or not. Without my help my son and his wife would not be able to work |
828 | I have been able to get medical treatment that I otherwise would not have been able to get. | If my son loses benefits, he may be on Medicaid long term vs the short term plan. By intensifying services for families who see gains, this truly prepares them for self sufficiency. I think that is one of the goals that should not be ignored. | My income and employment status are stable. | I am a full time student in addition to seeking employment. I am already well trained. I have a master’s degree. However, I don’t know if it counts as 80 hours. Again, the rules are confusing. |
829 | I have been able to get much needed medical care. | If people do not have health are coverage they will not see a doctor and end up in an emergency room to treat something which could have been prevented. This is very shortsighted. | My income and employment status does not regularly change. | I am a single mother and no family to help with child care. I could not pay for child care to be able to do this ..... this is setting people up for failure |
830 | I have been able to have a heart procedure and am currently pregnant and have been able to regularly see an OB GYN with the help of Medicaid | If required to work 20 hours a week I simply can't do that physically. I can't stand or walk over 10-15 minutes and can't sit down for longer than 20-30 minutes on a good day. If I lost Coverage for 6 months I would pass away because I can't afford medication or my doctor much less the ER. Medicaid Expansion literally saved and continues to save my life. If I was able to work I would have been working. It's not enjoyable to live on a extremely limited income year after year. It's a constant struggle and worry. We get no vacation no luxuries no retirement fund etc... Basically we are getting by on little income. I'm greatful to receive the first and only entitlement I've ever gotten from my state and federal government. We do not ask for food stamps or housing assistance or even the free cell phone that my husband could get because we provide ourselves with phones. I genuinely appreciate this coverage as without it I parish. | My income changes annually. But for those whose income changes often, a 10 calendar day reporting requirement is ludicrous and unfair, to say the least. | I am a volunteer coordinator. I do not see any way that non-profits can effectively monitor and report this number of volunteer hours without significantly increasing costs to the non-profits. |
831 | I have been able to seek medical attention before an illness got "so bad I have to go to the doctor" Dental care and vision in some ways have been the biggest benefit for me (in my 40s) and husband in his 50s. We were squinting and hurting until we had the money "to do something about it." | If she and my grand babies lose coverage, even the dental, what happens? Go sit in an ER for hours because that's the only health care option available? | My income changes daily. If it would help reform Medicaid I would gladly report those changes. | I am already engaged in higher education full time and I work on campus part time. Adding anything additional to that would cause my studies to suffer |
832 | I have been laid off and immediately accessed Medicaid. Having MS, this coverage is essential to managing my condition. | If someone forgets to report a change then they loose their medical coverage. This could be life threatening. | My income changes weekly. I reported changes and lost coverage. It's too much hassle to keep reapplying as my income changes. I just do without it. | I am concerned about the fact that most "able-bodied" medicaid recipients are already working. I believe this is unnecessary. But I am also concerned about access to healthcare for those that have significant barriers to employment such as a felony records or limited access to childcare. I am also very concerned about the volunteer requirement. Where exactly would these volunteer hours be done and who will train and supervise the volunteers? Most non-profit agencies in Kentucky are overwhelmed and understaffed. Experienced, trained volunteers would be a great help but having the additional responsibility to train and supervise new volunteers would not be. |
833 | I have been on medicaid for 4 years, I was diagnosed w/ breast cancer in 2011, had good insurance at the time, but had to stop working during chemo and couldn't work again for almost 2 years, now I can only work part time so I in order to have any insurance, I must use medicaid, I cannot afford insurance otherwise. | If someone messed up our paperwork my daughter would be without medical coverage for 6 months | My income changes when classes are not in session. I work more often when I am not in classes. I am not focused on stupid rules implemented by my insurance company specifically to cause issues so that I am dropped. Instead I am focused on the negative number in my bank account. :) | I am currently already working part time. |
834 | I have been paralyzed since 17 and need medicaid for my care | If the expanded Medicaid is rescinded, many health care providers will suffer and will be forced to write off a lot of charity care. | My income continually changes as i am self employed and it would be confusing for me | I am currently disabled. |
835 | I have benefited from this coverage, as well as my children when we I could not afford insurance. It ensures that children are covered for medical services that they may need. | If these changes are made people with problems similar to what I had will be left without coverage and have to go through so much more than a simple phone call to have their insurance. People on Medicaid don't have stable homes and incomes and lots of factors make it to where it isn't easy for us to always make it out to the medicaid office when we need to immediately do more paper work. These changes will just kill more Kentuckians, leave thousands uninsured, and with endless hospital bills to pay. | My income does fluctuate. Particularly since I'm in the expanded Medicaid group. Anyone who does not have a full-time traditional well-paying job who offers benefits, including myself, would only have to jump through more hoops and 10 days is simply not enough time to report fluctuations in our busy lives. A 10 day period would only cause more people who need Medicaid to lose coverage. | I am currently in a recovery center and cannot work or volunteer. This might cause me to loose my coverage under the new guidelines. |
836 | I have cancer, and I cannot work. My income is very limited & I cannot afford a policy of my own anymore. Without Medicaid, my son and I would be without insurance, and I could die. I've never been in Medicaid before, and it's not something that I take pride in, but having one less thing to worry about while I'm fighting for my life is helpful. Stress plays a huge role in recovery as well as good health. Human beings should not have to worry about how to afford medical care. As Christians, we should want our brothers and sisters to live and be healthy. Anyone who doesn't care about other people cannot claim to be a Christian. | If these changes do not affect children, I do not see that it should directly impact the services being provided in the schools. | My income does not change | I am currently working. Some individuals are not physically capable of completing the community engagement requirement. |
837 | I have Chrons disease and unable to afford medical costs on a private insurance plan due to high costs of medicines, doctor visits , and the occasional hospital/emergency room visit. I was able to sign up for Medicaid and it saved my life. | If these changes take place there may be many of the medically frail who end up without coverage for 6 months and may find it more challenging to regain coverage. If that happens, they will lose access to life saving medications. These folks will end up in the hospital, unable to pay for their services there and further drive healthcare costs up. This really could be disastrous in the long run for many folks and impact the community negatively. | My income does not change but my family members does. They are unable to get to our local DCBS office within 10 days due to work. If they request off from work, then their income would change again negatively. | I am disabled and can't work. |
838 | I have clients who are covered by Medicaid. If they lose their coverage my income could decrease dramatically. | If they are working/volunteering 20 hours a week, it gives them less time to steal from their neighbors to supplement their income. | My income does not change regularly but as a person with a master's degree I would consider reporting things such as this an inconvenience and easily forgettable. I would think, in general, people would forget to do something like this. | I am disabled and unable to work. |
839 | I have family who is covered by Medicaid. There is no way the could get the medical help the need without this coverage. | If we don't take care of the sick by providing them access to medical care, their problems will get worse until the community is burdened with people who are even needier. It's best to nip problems in the bud, when they're small and before they grow to be too big, that's what medical care should do, to save us all money in the long run. | My income does not change regularly, but my daughter and her friends do. Especially those who work in food service or in part time positions where they do not work the same number of hours consistently. Who on earth is going to remember 10 day deadlines? Reporting each month on the same day of the month might work, but you would have to be sure to have computer access on that day. | I am disabled but the state does not recognize this. I am struggling to prove medically frail. I cannot work 80 hours per month. I do not need job training. I have two master’s degrees. If I could work, I would go back to teaching. There are gray areas, the state does not see. |
840 | I have friends and family members that are able to see doctors and be treated for the first time in 10+ years. No one should have to decide between rent and seeing a doctor because they are sick. It is absurd that we have not joined the rest of the free world and have universal health care already, but anything is better than nothing. | If we lose our insurance we will not be able to see a Dr for anything preventative and anything emergent would financially cripple us. | My income does not change regularly. | I am disabled so I believe I would be exempt. My husband is enrolled in school full time so I believe he would be exempt too. |
841 | I have friends that really needed it | If we pull 20%of people off of Medicaid due to waiver rules we have to find jobs for 20% more people. These 20% would be in competition with the able--bodied people currently on Medicaid. | My income does not change that rapidly, but if I did contract work, odd jobs, etc,. it would | I am employed. |
842 | I have had back surgery etc. and since have been unable to work thankfully my husband daughter and me all were able to obtain Medicaid. My husband is self employed and has no ability to even obtain insurance. | If we were required to have 20 hrs of work or volunteer hours a week, I'd be afraid my kids would lose coverage. My husband is the primary source of income and I'm a satm to care for my young toddlers. We need to keep Medicaid for at least one more year until our middle child goes to kindergarten and I can look for work again. | My income does not change. I am disabled | I am fortunate to have Medicare coverage. |
843 | I have had family members who became teen mothers. Also during the re session we had members who were covered. | If we were required to have 20 hrs of work or volunteer hours a week, I'd be afraid my kids would lose coverage. My husband is the primary source of income and I'm a satm to care for my young toddlers. We need to keep Medicaid for at least one more year until our middle child goes to kindergarten and I can look for work again. | My income does not fluctuate significantly but I can only imagine the reporting nightmare that would be. | I am in bad health |
844 | I have medical coverage that I couldn't have before. I can get medication for my diabetes that I can't afford out of pocket. | If we would lose our medicaid waiver, we would not be able to afford our daughter's copays. She has a degenerative disorder so her medical bills are even more expensive then before. I also would not be able to work outside the home because of the amount of her daily medical care. She is the homebound program through the school district. | My income does not fluctuate; retired teacher. | I am not a participant in Medicaid, just a concerned citizen |
845 | I have medical needs child, and without Medicaid as a secondary insurance our family would be homeless or our child dead | If were were locked out then my health condition would decline rapidly and we would have to resort to ER visits rather than the care I get now. My meds take 4-6 months to work, so being locked out would mean starting all over again from scratch and places me at high risk for more problems. My condition is best controlled by early agressive treatment to slow down the progression towards becoming permanently crippled. My income is unpredictable still qnd i do not believe my health should be punished in this way if we have financial difficulty. Health care is a human right not a luxury fir the wealthy. I did not choose this condition- it has been in my family for 4 generations. | My income does not. However, the requirement to report in 10 days will not be adhered to by many, for several reasons. The most vulnerable of populations (those with SMIs, substance use, intellectual disabilities, homeless, etc.) may not have the mental capacity to organize and follow through with these requirements. Issues such as a lack of computer skills, lack of any income and difficulty understanding are all factors that would contribute to noncompliance with this requirement. When basic needs are not being met, individuals are not able to focus on other tasks (such as requirements to report). | I am not a recipient; however, if these requirements are imposed I strongly believe that program recipients deserve case management and transportation services in order to comply. |
846 | I have never had benefits from Ky medicaid, but I am concerned about the people who have life threatening medical conditions that would go without care. I am also concerned how these changes would effect the children in these households as I do not believe the children should go without medical care. | If you are disabled you cannot work. Furthermore most low income people are already working 40hours per week. Where are they going to find the time and Or child care to be able to work just for Medicaid. | My income doesn't change | I am not able to be on my feet for hours a day, every day. Only a few days each month am I able to do so. It would possibly put me back in the hospital to stress myself in this manner. |
847 | I have not specifically, but if anyone has been helped by Medicaid, children, disabled persons, elderly, then it is vital for the continuation, if not more money poured in to help as many people as possible. We can always do more to help people who need it. That's moral. Greed is not. | In a county that already has been nationally recognized for high cancer and Hep C diagnoses, it is utterly ridiculous to think that less coverage benefits anyone. | My income doesn't change regularly. | I am not against job training, or volunteering. However, I work 40 plus hours a week. I just do not make enough money to provide coverage. When someone works full time, and has a family, when would this 80 hours be completed? |
848 | I have not used Medicaid, but giving poor people health care makes it less likely that we will have the spread of infectious diseases. More than that, for a so - called "Christian" nation, it is abhorrent to ignore Christ's instructions to heal the sick, feed the poor, and so forth. | In my case, I was working 40 hours per week and in school full-time. I would not have been able to do the 20-hour per week community service requirement. I would not have had health coverage if the proposal had been in affect. | My income has changed a lot in the past several years. In my current position, my pay is based on units completed per week, which makes my income fluctuate. It would be VERY difficult and burdensome to submit forms throughout the year. | I am not on Medicaid, but my sister rides a fine line between able-bodied and not. She has completed service and occupational therapy at her school, but is not independent and could not realistically do any kind of consistent work. She likely would not be required to, but stranger things have happened with her. For example, despite displaying classic signs of autism all her life, it took my mother years to get an official diagnosis for my sister, who has since benefitted infinitely from proper instructional methods and therapies. If it weren't for my very persistent mother, my sister would still not be considered autistic. It is easy to imagine other medicaid recipients being incorrectly evaluated or classified without such a strong advocate to correct those mistakes, and therefore be restricted from access to care. |
849 | I HAVE NOT, HOWEVER MY FAMILY MEMBER IS A SINGLE MOM AND WORKS OUT SIDE OF THE HOME, AND THE EMPLOYER DOESN'T OFFER HEALTH INS. | In my community and across the state, the general health of those who will no longer have coverage will decline. This affects all of us in the state. | My income has changed pretty regularly, due to having changed jobs 3 times over the last 4 years. What a chore it would be to have to report changes in employment and wages to ensure I can retain my healthcare coverage without penalty, on top of the already daunting experience of getting a new job and new financial parameters. | I am not on Medicaid. It would not impact me much. Maybe I, as a community volunteer, would be asked to routinely train Medicaid recipientsas volunteers. |
850 | I have pre-existing conditions and take several medications for multiple health concerns. Without medicaid I would not be able to afford doctor visits, obtain life-continuing medications, blood work. | In my community, I fear the new application regulations and the resulting six month lock out would be difficult for a lot of people to keep current. As a result, they would constantly be without insurance. | My income hasn’t changed in over a year. It is $0. | I am physically and mentally disabled. I would not be able to complete the requirements. |
851 | I have progressive heart disease and the services I receive help with medications and doctor visits. I also have 6 kids that depend on me and 1 with chronic asthma and 1 that has seizures. I am underemployed so the benefits help a great deal. | Inability to cover the cost of treatment with severe mental illness. Inability to get preventive care which in the long run increase cost of treatment and reduces life expectancy | My income is regular. But even so, there are few things I can make a ten-day deadline on. Especially for poor folks, working folks, folks with kids and aged parents, a lot of things can slip through the cracks and a ten day turn-around on something that isn't a pressing issue for most busy households seems oppressive to me. | I am unable to do that. |
852 | I have recently graduated from college and did not have insurance after age 18 because I did not have a full-time job and my parents did not have insurance. I found out in January that I have a heart condition. Although it is a pretty minor condition, I would not have been able to afford the tests and medicine that I now take daily without the Medicaid expansion. In addition to the ACA benefiting me, for the first time in their lives, my parents now have insurance at age 53. | Increased burden on submission of verification | My income is steady | I am unable to volunteer that many hours because of my mental illness |
853 | I have relatives that have not had health insurance for years that have been able to get basic care they haven't had in years. It could mean the difference in life or death for them. | Individuals may lose coverage and subsequently have no affordable access to medical care, medication, mental health care. | My income is steady, however individuals I work with often have incomes that change and it would be very hard for some of them to report changes in such a short timespan. | I am unable to work this much. If I could I would be working since I was a career professional. |
854 | I have seen many in my community able to access healthcare with the Medicaid expansion. Giving care to all makes the community a better place. | Insurance is very complicated and many people have experiences in life that interfere with the hours and hours of dealing with insurance renewal and applications when they need the coverage most. Requiring a fully completed application with income verification and premium payments up-front before coverage begins. I had to apply for insurance after losing a job in 2016 and the process on the state's end was weeks of delays on the state's part. Going without insurance at that time because of not having all of these details verified on the state's side is cruel and leaves the person vulnerable. | My income is the same | I am worried about how "medically frail" or "disabled" would be defined. As someone who may fall into a grey area, if i did not qualify for an exemption I may not be able to complete the required hours due to inconsistent health. |
855 | I have seen many people in my community; farmers and people that are self employed receive medical coverage; they never had it before and now they are much healthier | Insurance premiums are reduced, people are healthier, and good paying jobs are produced. | My income is varied monthly. If I were in situation to report income changes I would be negatively impacted: stress frustration possibly forgetting or not completing as needed or required | I barely leave my home due to my condition. I couldnt imagine having to try to work or even commit to anything like this. |
856 | I have several coworkers who work very hard, at non-minimum wage jobs, whose lives would be ruined without Medicaid. Either fix medical costs first, then do this, or leave it alone. These changes can be a death sentence. For instance, requiring people to volunteer 20 hours a week to keep their medicaid, how does a person who works a 40 hour a week job with a wife and three children have time to essentially work a job for free? This sounds more like you want to expand the state workforce without paying the workers to me. | It could be detrimental in her care if finding was stopped for a 6 math period of time | My income is very stable. I would not feel burdened by this requirement. However, I can see that an individual who has hours cut or gets laid off might be preoccupied for a period of time (perhaps more than 10 days) in trying to find financial assistance, job assistance, emergency mental health care, etc. | I believe 40 hours a week is more reasonable. In an ideal world, 80 hours a month should be doable, however I do not believe it is realistic. I am unsure there are enough community volunteer opportunities for this to be achieved. |
857 | I have suffered with MS for years and can no longer perform my career. I would not be able to afford my medications let alone all the tests I have to have all of the time. | It could be devastating to those who need medication and necessary treatments | My income or employment does not change but if it did or I was on Medicaid, which I'm not anymore, you would need to make it easier to report changes, like have a way to report it online because if someone gets a new job they may immediately start working and when they are off work the office is closed. | I believe my husband works 20 hours a week most weeks. However, sometimes there are a few dry spells. Since he is in his 60's, I don't think job training would really help him. If he had to do volunteer work, it would impact our family life. We have two children with special needs, so it would take away from him caring for them and our house. |
858 | I have two disabled children both age 12 . I'm a single parent and without there medical benefits I wouldn't be able to afford there monthly medications . | It does not serve children to have their parents forced into community service. Children need parents | My income or employment no longer changes regularly. When that was the case, it would have been difficult for me to make the time and gather the resources to report that change. | I believe there needs to be an exemption for people who try and, are unsuccessful at working or volunteering. |
859 | I have two good friends who were suicidal and were able to get the mental health care they needed because of Medicaid. They were covered thanks to Medicaid expansion. | it is a necessary changes to keep the program for the ones who truly need it | My income or employment status does not change regularly. Reporting change in income should be mandatory and should provide at least 2 weeks time or a month. | I believe this may be a good start. Start with a modest amount 10-15 then increase gradually up to 80 hours. If this is all about saving money I feel each state government elected official should take a 10% pay-cut and let us know how it affects them or their family or possible go without health insurance for a month. |
860 | I have two Grandsons one Medicaid. One has Down's (who wants to work and has worked part-time) and the other has "a long standing mental/ behavior problem (possibly on disability) who did not complete HS or his GED and can't keep a job because of "behavior" and addictive issues that his mother (ex daughter-in-law) enables and promotes because she has both sons living with her and spends their disability checks, | It is difficult enough raising a special needs child. My husband and I have full time jobs and have paid taxes all these years. I feel my daughter needs more help than what we can give her. | My income or employment status does not regularly change. | I believe this requirement, especially as it's structured now, is meant to specifically negatively impact urban communities of color, which is unjust and immoral. I believe that living in a society where communities of color are systematically excluded from basic rights to access and services is damaging to every single member of that society, myself included. |
861 | I have worked with an underserved population, mainly with children for over 25 years. I have seen first hand the benefits of Medicaid for these children. I am confident that, without Passport Health Plan these past several years, many of these children would not have thrived. | It is hard enough to qualify and stay qualified without more red tape to go thru | My income remains stable, however I recognize that those whose income status changes regularly should report these changes. I question how efficient the system might be in helping recipients keep up with the need for such reporting. Case management services might help with this and in other ways as well. People should not automatically be assumed "negligent" and have services revoked. | I can no do it. I am too sick. |
862 | I haven't, I get my coverage at the VA and my family is out west. My nephew is not covered at all. | It is necessary to provide access to care for the participants, LTC, meds, primary care access must be acailable. | My income status changes every semester and particularly over the summer. Reporting these changes within 10 days may not prove to be a barrier to me, but could certain be cumbersome if they changed more often - which is very typical for single parents working in hourly wage jobs. | I can not leave my wife disabled wife alone |
863 | I is essential to pay for nursing home care. | It is very scary to think that coverage could be lost due to an accidental rules infraction. | My income/employment is stable at the moment, but in times during my life where it wasn't, ten days would not have been enough time to get paperwork together and report those changes. | I can't afford a car. Live in rural KY. And am disabled |
864 | I just had my first baby, and i had to have the help for Dr appointments & delivery. | It leaves to many open gaps for them to determine your not eligible or delayed just enough that you get locked out.. I feel it's just a scam to get as many people off Medicaid as possible but still be able to say that you offered them the chance to have insurance and "they did something wrong".. | My mother's schedule changes so it would be difficult for her. | I can't do it. I'm too weak and fragile. Bones are brittle as old China. Also unable to get pain relief has left me with no quality of life. Pain day in and day out. Stop criminalizing people who are sincerely in need of pain relief. We are not all addicts. |
865 | I know many individuals to have family members that NEED Medicare. They might not be able to keep the family members at hope with these changes, which would take helpless children and adults out of the care of CARING family and place them in institutions (which would end up costing more and being less human) | It looks to me like the changes would throw a lot more people off of Medicaid and put a tremendous burden on Medicaid members to continually be reporting and keeping track of all these pieces. They need to be paying attention to their families and to their health. | My niece receives benefits. She has is currently pregnant and has changed jobs several times this year. I think this would be difficult for her. Immediate need is to raise her child and to work to pay bills. Her job schedule would not allow her to sit for long periods of time waiting to report changes. Her cell phone is prepay and if she doesn’t have the money that month, the phone doesn’t get minutes. Trying to go to the local office is impossible even if she has transportation which most times she doesn’t because the car breaks down. The local office has long wait times and they just don’t want to deal with Anyone. | I can't make those hours without a license |
866 | I know many people who have received healthcare coverage through Medicaid. Many have worked but did not receive coverage through their employer. Many did not earn enough to afford private insurance. Further, as a social worker, I work with many disadvantaged people who are are benefitting from healthcare coverage. I see the impact that having access to healthcare has not only in those adults but also their children. Having a parent become sick and not be able to access healthcare is something that can severely limit a child's capacity to function in school. I work with many adults who, before Medicaid was expanded, had to drop out of school to care for a dying parent or relative. This pressure placed on our most disadvantaged citizens is unnecessary. | It places unnecessary burdens that not everyone can meet and degrade the health of those that need it most without any realistic benefit. People don't need their lives threatened to want to get a job. | My paycheck and hours are different every week | I can’t |
867 | I know many students who relied on medicaid when they were kids, seniors who rely on medicaid for their medical and nursing home costs. | It will affect the vulnerable people we serve. It will affect the income of our employees. | My personal income does not change regularly, but most of the clients I work with have a fluctuating earned income and this requirement would cause them undue stress and anxiety. | I cannot due to a disability but I can see where it would create hardship. |
868 | I know of people in my community who had no medical insurance before ACA, they now have coverage and are in better health to help themselves | It will be devastating for our entire state if these changes are made. The ACA is not failing, it is Trump and McConnell propaganda. | My sister, like other Medicaid recipients whom I know, could never manage this requirement. She would likely lose her Medicaid coverage due to her failure to keep up with the reporting requirements. She is ill and simply cannot manage these requirements. | I cannot get out of bed for more than an hour a day. There are only 30 days in a month...you do the math. |
869 | I know people who would lose everything they have if they had a big hospital/doctor bill after losing coverage. | It will have an effect on some of my patients. | My son has a business where he gets large sums of money at one time, but it has to last. So reporting would make no sense. | I could do this if appropriate opportunities were available based on my frail condition. |
870 | I know several mothers who live on one income. They would not have insurance if it were not for Medicaid. They work hard enough already without having to worry about lockout periods or a community service requirement. They hardly have enough time for their kids already. Wouldn't their time be better served spending it with their children. | it will make it more difficult to prove all these facts to a government that cant organize a filing cabinet much less keep track of all the truly disabled peoples facts without causing delays or screwing up someones healthcare because of red tape | My son makes some commission income. It changes monthly, thus he already has to report it to Social Security. If Medicaid uses the SSI application, it might work, but don't put in penalties if someone misses the deadline. | I could not help take care of my parents and my sister cannot do it alone. |
871 | I know too many seniors who can't afford insurance and who rely on Medicaid. I know kids with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to keep them alive and allow them to attend school. Medicaid expansion helps hundreds of thousands live a better life. | It will make people sicker and costs jobs. | My son works part time, often they send him home early if business is slow. I can't access his portal to report changes & he's not able to due to cognitive impairment. | I couldn't do it, I have too much health problems |
872 | I live in a low income area and the access to health care that the Medicare expansion has provided has raised the quality of life for all residents. The burden placed on hospital emergency rooms by people using them as their primary source of health care has been reduced significantly and this benefits everyone in the community. | It will not affect my family but I do agree with some of the changes. | My son's hours at his place of employment (he has worked there for over 3 years) fluctuate on occasion for discernible reasons (seasonal? remodeling?) A requirement to report regularly would be an added hoop to jump through for me. He is not likely to remember or understand the instructions. The letters that have arrived so far have been very confusing. | I couldn't do it. I use a cane and I'm unable to work. Some medications make me drowsy. I can't stand nor sit long. |
873 | I live in a low-income neighborhood, and I don't want my neighbors to lose their coverage. | It will not affect my family but I do agree with some of the changes. | My status does not change regularly. However, if it did, I don't think a 10 day window to report a change is unreasonable, assuming access to do so is not overly complicated. | I couldn't volunteer as I already work a 40+ hour job |
874 | I live in a very poor, rural area of Kentucky. There are few opportunities for people here to earn a decent wage. They work hard but are paid little. Medicaid is their only hope for health care. For example, lately I was talking to a single mother of two, who works hard as a delivery person. She barely makes enough money to feed her children, pay rent and make ends meet. Without Medicaid, her children would not have coverage. She seriously does not have time to do community service between tending to her children and earning a living. | It won't bother me or working people at all | My status doesn't change | I couldn’t do it |
875 | I live on $915 Social Security. I am 67 years old. I would just die without it and not be able to afford food. For now, I just get by as it is. | It would affect me personally. I am unable to work and being forced to work for insurance is bull crap. Health care should be a right for all. | My status doesn't change often, but I rely on unreliable public transportation..and a busy work schedule in order to make it to the office and report any changes. Often difficult in only 10 days | I currently volunteer well over 100 hours per month. However, the proposed requirement would make those volunteer hours ineffective as mandatory work is not helpful in my field. I would like to explain this further. |
876 | I lost my job and with my insurance... I was able to get much needed gallbladder surgery and since I've been a substitute teacher which has no benefits it's provided me with medical coverage. | It would affect my works ability to get paid if they don't allow the presumptive eligibility clause. | My status doesn't change regularly, but when someone loses work or starts a new job, they have too many other pressing concerns than updating paperwork with the state government. | I do not have 80 extra hours in my month! I would lose my coverage, as I attend school full-time, and work 20 hours each week! |
877 | I lost my job because the position was eliminated and this was only coverage I could get | It would be a financial frenzy. | My status doesn’t change regularly. | I do not have Medicaid but I feel this could be a positive change in some situations. |
878 | I lost my job in 2013 and needed medical coverage. Even though I was working, I was only earning about $1000 a month. There was no way I could afford insurance. I have asthma and medication controls it effectively. Being able to recieve medicaid allowed me to visit my primary care doctor and continue on my medications. Without medicaid, I would not have been able to pay for treatment that keeps me out of the hospital. | It would be a major financial strain on our family and our community. My wife wouldn't be able to get the care she needs. | My two severely developmentally disabled adult sons will not ever be employed. | I do not have time. I have to work to provide for my family. |
879 | I lost vision in one eye from a medical condition and was helped by aca and then Medicaid expansion | it would be a terrible hardship and my grandmother wouldn't be able to receive the care she needs | My work and pay does not change, however it would be unreasonable for this to be reported within 10 days for an individual | I don't drive. I have no driver's license. I am too nervous to drive and I have some other medical problems that would limit me being able to work. |
880 | I myself have several medical issues: chronic depression and anxiety, for which Medicaid provides me mental health counseling, regular psychiatrist visits and medication. I was also diagnosed with Crohn's disease many years ago. I have been extremely fortunate that I have been asymptomatic all of this time. I have a colonoscopy every two years to monitor my Crohn's, and also to detect any colon cancer. Crohn's patients are at much higher risk for colon cancer. I also have high blood pressure and am pre-diabetic. Regular primary office visits monitor these and keep both under control, through testing and medication. Without Medicaid, I would have no health coverage at all, or at best sub-minimum coverage for which I would be throwing money at premiums that do NOTHING. | It would be hard on people in my community | My work day is so hectic that I would forget. Many people can’t take the day off to so this. | I don't have a problem with people volunteering but they shouldn't be forced to do it. |
881 | I provide care to individuals with Medicaid coverage with asthma. The coverage is critical to assure these folks receive healthcare and can stay out of the hospital. | It would become more difficult for families with mental health and substance abuse issues to obtain the resources they need in order to reunify or maintain their families. | My work hours change from week to week. I feel there needs to be some averaging or some kind of allowance for modest changes. What if my hours fell below 80 one month by 1 hour? Do I have to find a volunteer job for an hour? Very ill-conceived plan. | I don't have a problem with people volunteering in the community if they are genuinely able bodied. |
882 | I provide medical services to this population. | It would create even more barriers then there are to coverage. And the Medicaid employees take forever to review income documents so people would be without coverage for long periods of time, which is unacceptable. What would Jesus do? | Myself, no, but many others are not in the position to understand what , when and how do I address all of this information correctly | I don't know that it would impact me directly but it certainly could have a positive impact on the community by getting more people involved in community activities and organizations, and for those needing job training giving an opportunity to learn skills to better their situation is never a bad thing. |
883 | I qualified for Medicaid as a graduate student for 2 years after aging out of my parents coverage at 26. It was a great relief for me to know that i would be able to access care and could go to the doctor during that time. As a full-time student I was only able to work part time and did not receive employee benefits. I would not have been able to afford to purchase a plan given my strict budget and burdensome student loan debt that come with earning a doctorate degree in psychology. | It would effect my family because I'm a single mother raising twins both disabled ... | N/A for me, but I am sure my nieces with Medicaid would have difficulty keeping up with this. | I don't know that it would impact my personal day to day life but I would hope we could help people find ways to volunteer or work. I would love to see people volunteer by having more adults on school buses. I would love to see people volunteer as Adult Day Training Programs of people with IDD. I would love to see people volunteering or working in school classrooms, community gardens, cleaning up parks, riverbanks and highways, working in animal shelters and child care centers. |
884 | I quit smoking w my medicaid, almost 2.7 years ago, and now I regularly run and get exercise to be more healthy. I have also rec'd mental health services as all the attacks on my medicaid have severly stressed me out. | It would greatly affect the care of my special needs child! | NA for me. It would impact others who are less fortunate. | I don't know! For the population that desperately need HEALTH medical services, I think it would depend on housing security, food availability, transportation, and childcare or spousal care. |
885 | I received Medicaid for 2 months after I was laid off and before I obtained new employment. Without it, I would not have been able to afford medication that is imperative to my life. I was also able to see a dentist for the first time in 4 years. Currently, my boyfriend is unemployed and he receives Medicaid. He has to have heart testing this week that could potentially save his life. Without coverage, he wouldn't have been able to even see the cardiologist. | It would help hopefully because less people would be using Medicaid dollars which could be used elswhere | Needs to longer than 10 days | I don't think it would, since I and my husband are self-employed, but I am worried that someone may decide that we do not work enough or make enough and need to do some of these volunteer or training activities. |
886 | I received medicaid while I was in college and law school. Without that coverage, I would not have been able to afford health insurance becsuse it was prohibitively expensive. Several members of my family still rely on medicaid for affordable health insurance. | It would help weed out those that don't need it or abuse it and those too lazy to work for what they need | negatively | I don’t have time. |
887 | I run a small community arts non-profit in an under served neighborhood in Louisville. I get paid as an independent contractor. I don't make a lot of money, and I donate a lot of my time. I do not have any employer that will cover my health care. It is important for me to have assistance from medicaid (or a reduced price plan) in order to be able to continue to do the work that I do. Many of the families I work with are also on medicaid. There are single parents who have kids to take care of. How can we expect them to complete community service hours or be at work all the time and then criticize them for not watching their kids? We need to give extra support to these families, not make it harder for them to survive. | It would hurt countless families. Wound repair. | Negatively | I feel it would make some of our consumers feel like they are contributing |
888 | I started Medicaid when I received my widow pension, and had to raise my grandkids, after they were removed, from parent , now I have another , I am getting ready to turn 64, and have a bad back, makes it hard for me to work afull time job, I have a 2yr, old and when she gets to staart scdhool I can maybe find something to do. It has been hard, I get 908, from SS and 235;00 from one kid child support, it is a struggle, but we are making it. | It would hurt my community, mostly by further stigmatizing those who struggle to pay for healthcare. Most people on Medicaid already work full time or close to it or can't work or care for children or loved ones full time. This isn't about getting people to work, it's about belittling the poor and enriching the wealthy. | Negatively as my job is flipping houses. which id often moveing from feast to famine and vice versa | I fully support this after a certain period of time. Some may be receiving medical treatment that prohibits them from working immediately. |
889 | I suffer from multiple chronic illnesses, my husband works every single day at his family business. We can not afford private insurance, medicaid has saved my life. I don't have to worry about er visits, dr appts, surgeries or even my meds anymore.u | It would leave people without coverage they need to stay alive. | no that would cost a lot ? more people to keep up with data. | I had to quit my job to be the caretaker of my mom. I lost my income and now I will lose my health insurance because my family needs me at home. I had to sell my vehicle because I can afford the upkeep and insurance, so I won't have any transportation to fulfill the PATH hours. I will lose the ability to use GRITS for transportation to my medical appointments. I have applied for disability but the process takes time and I will still be requirement to participate in PATH to keep my health insurance. |
890 | I suffer from several mental illnesses that would have gone untreated without medicaid coverage. | It would make it difficult for people to get the coverage they need. The Medicaid process is very difficult as it is. I can't imagine someone in the midst of a crisis or someone uneducated being able to navigate these changes without making a mistake that would result in a lapse of coverage. | No - wouldn't affect me. And it wouldn't be that much of a burden as the program is designed to not require everyone to report every single change in circumstance. | I have 2 grandchildren in my care that live with me. |
891 | I think Medicaid is good for people who are DISABLED | it would make it harder for some people to pay these high premiums. we need more controls on insurance premiums and ins prescription drug costs. | No access to internet, no help from the CFBS offices, reporting changes in 10 days seems impossible. | I have a full-time job, but many of my friends work irregular shifts or their work changes seasonally. It would be very hard to meet that every month for some.of them even though they work hard. |
892 | I was able to finally get the medical care and life saving medicines I had to do without for years. I become in debt for emergency services and had to pass on specialists I needed when needing a diagnosis. My health severely suffered causing me to become unemployable and disable by the time I had coverage. | It would make it more difficult to get needed care. | No affect | I have children, so probably wouldn't be able to do this. |
893 | I was able to go to the doctor and get the medication i needed because of medicaid. | It would make our already unhealthy state a mess. | No affect | I have chronic lung issues so flar ups could last 3 weeks or more for me causing me to lose coverage . Plus lack of transportation when house hold owns one car and the other person works 10 plus hours or more weekly. |
894 | I was able to see a doctor for medical care such as strep throat, allergies, and planned parenthood. Thankfully, I did not have to utilize Medicaid for major hospitalizations. For the years that I was in college before expanded Medicaid (and before I knew about Student Service Health Center) I experienced significant delays in healing from common illnesses like strep throat, allergies, sinus infections, and that impacted my performance as a student for up to three to five weeks. Also, in college I used my grant refund to tend to dental and medical care. For annual exams, teeth cleanings, and so forth I completely wiped out my refund with the exception of approximately $1,000 - $3,000 that I held as a combination health/housing/transportation safety net. After enrolling in Medicaid, for the first time I could see a provider for annual gynecological exams. Although I practice safe, protected sex and have had very few partners, women's health issues run in my family and the extra certainty of prevention/screenings reassured me my health. Thanks to Medicaid (expansion), I found a doctor who would investigate symptoms of recurring bladder infections that was actually interstitial cystitis (inflammation/damage to mucosal lining in the bladder). The treatment and relief for this included trial rounds of medications, but ultimately lead to coaching from my providers to accommodate my bladder through nutrition, adjusting my physical activity, and addressing my emotional health/stress. Having a community of compassionate, Medicaid-providing doctors helped me to feel more secure as I work out of generational poverty and helped me to feel cared for. My mother, through Medicaid coverage, underwent a partial hysterectomy after being diagnosed with pre-cancer. In addition, the Medicaid network combined with KASPER monitoring and the strict requirements of pain management facilities keeps my mother in a network of care that addresses her painful health conditions and also keeps her closer to the opportunity to addictions treatment. I fear that the cost and loss to community and family by removing individuals from Medicaid is 1) an increase of trafficking of opioids 2) a decrease in monitored use of prescription opioids that will put people in pain at risk of overdose or accidental injury due to backdoor/self medicaiton. 3) a lesser likelihood/lesser accessibility to treatment. I am forever grateful for the Medicaid coverage that my siblings had as children. One man making less than $50,000 a year providing support for my mother and the four of us is tolling. Thanks to Medicaid coverage, my siblings got dental care and regular physical exams as well as basic care for common illnesses thanks to Medicaid. | It would mean many people would not get the medical care needed and put a lot of stress on our local doctors and hospitals. It would mean children would fail to receive the care needed. | No and it wouldn’t affect me. | I have health, back issues, and went to college at 40 so I can get office work. My last office job was last year and the clinic i worked at closed due to insider embezzlement! I have not found office work since, and can't work factory or fast food, so I'm looking at throwing my degree in the garbage and filing for disability ssi because i can not lose my medicaid. I've already lost my foodstamps. I am continuously looking, applying for office work, but should i be punished because i can't get hired?? |
895 | I was able to stay on my parents plan until 26 and then able to get Passport for a couple of years that was able to carry me over through grad school. As a result of the expansion, I didn't go into debt trying to afford health insurance and was able to purchase food with about $5 a day to live on. Once I finished grad school, I was able to get insurance through my workplace. | It would not affect me or my family. | no and not | I have HIV there are days I'm exhausted for no reason |
896 | I was able to take care of my health. Cataract surgery saved me from slowly going blind. Working with the best counselor I've ever had allowed me to push back a recurrent major depressive disorder and create some hope for my future. The support of Medicaid allowed me to continue giving care to my 90 year old disabled father, thus allowing him o remain in his own home, saving the state the burden of supporting him in a long term care facility l. Simultaneously I was able to provide care to my grandchildren, so that my son-in-law could complete his Master's and residency in a hospital chaplaincy program. The care and comfort he provided to the dying, the injured and their families strengthened and supported the community at large. | It would not affect me personally | No but for those that it does they are too busy trying to survive than to report a change. | I have insurance through my employer, but live in a rural area, and if it were required above for me, if I had Medicaid, I don't know if there are enough places in the area to fulfill this requirement. People would need help finding where to go to fulfill this requirement. |
897 | I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 2 years ago, I am a generally a healthy person, watch my weight, exercise, and do not smoke. I am uncharacteristic to this disease. However my employer did not offer insurance. Without medicaid I would not be able to afford the necessary supplies and medication to control my blood sugar. Medicaid has reduced my risk of kidney failure or loss of limbs. | It would not! | No but I do think 10 days is not enough time. 3weeks would be beneficial. | I have no car, how would i get to any place else. |
898 | I was finally able to go to the doctor when I received Medicaid and found out I am diabetic with high blood pressure. | It would only be harder for my family members to enroll. | no but I think it would be impossible to track and report all the time | I have no problem doing this, but the state better find me a place to volunteer, because I got locked out of snap because of the idiots at the ky careers centet. |
899 | I was layed off from my job with Humana along with hundreds of people right after Trump was elected. We got no explanation, just laid off after 3 years with Humana. My daughter and I need Medicaid to obtain medical care. I make very little from Unemployment and I'm trying to keep my house while I look for another job. I wouldn't be able to get medical care without Medicaid. It is temporary for us until I find a good paying job with benefits. | It would potentially leave us without insurance | No but if it did it would take time away from my family. | I have no transportation and if I could physically "volunteer" 80hrs, I would have an actual job instead. It's ridiculous to make people work for Medicaid when it is federally funded. Our state is not loosing money on this program. Matt Bevin is greedy and a vindictive legislature who punished his citizens when he doesn't get his way. He just wants to pocket the federal money for Medicaid and further hurt his constituents. |
900 | I was on Medicaid when transitioning from graduate school to the work force, and I would have been in deep trouble without it. | It would put up obstacles for using system. More obstacles will trip more people up. | No but if it did the requirement is rediculous. | I have no way to travel.. Inhibits work, school, training, ability to meet appointments, everything. |
901 | I was personally on medicaid my whole life until I graduated college and without it, I would be in so much debt I wouldn't be able to get myself out of it. I work at a Non Profit HIV clinic in rural KY and we serve over 500 patients on a regular basis. These people NEED their coverage in order to be healthy and get the kind of care and treatments they need to not only keep themselves alive but be at an undetectable HIV status so that they can NOT go out in the community and transmit HIV to other people or their unborn children. Taking care of these people is taking care of the community and in the end, protecting healthcare costs because the better care these people get, the healthier they are! Just like any other infectious disease/chronic illness. | It would return us to the way we were before ACA. If KY wants to overcome its drawbacks we need to have a medically cared for population. Turning KY in a total have or have not state is NOT going to be a way forward. If we want to keep families here or at least kids we need to see to it that they are healthy. Healthy parents produce healthy kids. We can't just turn people away from nursing homes (ie, no medicaid). | No but it could in the future. | I have young kids and my sitter is not reliable. It would be hard to participate in this program. Also in some areas there is not enough opportunities for volunteering. And I have a bachelor's degree so many training programs would not allow me to enroll. |
902 | I went through a devastating divorce several years ago. I was left with nothing. Having two kids at the time, I was lost. I immediately found a job and place to live. A friend suggested I try and get help due my employer not offering insurance. I did so, and have been able to take care of my children like I hadn't before. I am forever grateful for the help I receive. | It would simply devastate our client population. Many of our clients have mental health issues or substance abuse that make it impossible for them to be able to function as most of the rest of us. | No but time constraints when jobs or life happens just adds one more stressor that's just cruel. | I imaging any 'community engagement' policies will simply result in more state taxpayer dollars being directed towards some private entity that will reap enormous profits while implementing a costly and inefficient system of busy-work for Medicaid recipients. |
903 | I work as a mental health therapist in private practice. Strictly speaking about Medicaid expansion and nothing else, it has been an overwhelmingly positive force. Many more kids, teens and adults are now getting coverage through our agency and surrounding agencies and I can see a very clear benefit and link to the Medicaid expansion. Compared to private insurance, Medicaid doesn't tend to pay remotely as well, but mental health treatment is an important service to offer and receive and I'm happy to lose a little money on a Medicaid client any day of the week. | It would take heathcare away from human beings who are in need. | No change | I just could not comply I do not have a car and living in a rural town no public transportation. I have no money for a car or car insurance. I would probably lose my healthcare that I desperately need. |
904 | I work at a Ryan White Funded HIV clinic where the vast majority of our clients have Medicaid coverage. We went from about 15% of our clients having insurance to over 90 %. This means if they need a referral to a specialist, we can obtain one. They also have been able to obtain primary care which is a concern since many of them live over an hour away which makes it impossible to provide primary care to them on a routine basis. | It would, at the very least, kick a lot of people off of coverage, and likely clog the ERs again because they'd no longer have a choice. ERs should not be primary care. | No changes | I just do not see how I could do it. My son is hard to care for and I have no one else I can rely on to keep him while I do anything else. |
905 | I work for a nonprofit social services agency in Louisville fighting the opiod addiction crisis. This treatment is long-term and intensive. Far less expensive to treat this way than the costs of crime, incarceration, and medical emergencies, let alone the human costs of unproven treatment, or no treatment at all. | Kentucky is probably *the* state that has benefitted the most from the ACA, thanks to Steve Beshear's expansion of Medicaid. To install barriers to Medicaid coverage is cruel and un-Christian. | No changes | I know many people who would have difficulty achieving this due to physical or mental illness or environmental factors. |
906 | I work for a rural HIV/AIDS clinic, many of our patients have Medicaid. The items Gov. Bevin is proposing will not help our HIV infected patients with their care. These proposals will only make HIV rates in Kentucky rise along with HCV. | Know people on Medicare that are too sick, old or infirm to work. | No changes on a regular basis. Need to have more counseling available. | I live in a rural area and it is nearly impossible to get to the meetings or the community service ... especially having no car or transportation. |
907 | I work full time and if Medicaid weren't an option for my kids I would lose my house and car which would also cause me to lose my job. | Lack of insurance is bad for individuals, bad for the economy, bad for the schools, and bad for society. Any insurance system that doesn't cover 100% of its citizens (no, that does not mean "giving access" at exorbitant rates) is a failure. Instead of the above changes, I would like to see affordable and quality insurance extended to all Americans. | No changes regularly | I live in a very small town and it’s hard enough to find work much less afford the gas to go to work. Having to volunteer without getting paid would cost me even more money that I don’t have. |
908 | I work full time but do not earn a lot. My daughter is disabled. We did not have any coverage and had not been to a doctor or dentist in many years. I have high blood pressure and as I mentioned my daughter is disabled. Medicaid has likely saved our lives. | Leave Medicaid alone | No disabled and retired | I live out in a rural area. 35 minutes away in good weather from any of the places volunteers are working. It would create a hardship both financially and because of circumstances |
909 | I work helping low income and at risk individuals find jobs. Since Medicaid expansion, I have seen people able to more quickly address chronic health problems and find employment and become self sufficient. Before Medicaid expansion, my clients would struggle with basic health problems making them unable to go to work and therefore remain on welfare for longer periods of time. Medicaid has removed a major barrier to going to work and let to a community with more people working and paying taxes. | Less access to mental health care | No effect | I love it. Healthy people get a job ,or volunteer, or take job training. NOTHING in Life is FREE. |
910 | I work in a clinic where people who previously had no coverage were able to get the treatment they desperately needed due to the ACA. Having Medicaid can prevent and treat diseases that left untreated will be more expensive. | Like many areas in ky, my rural county has s high proportion of citizens whose only access to health care is Medicaid. Many of these people lack transportation which would keep them from holding a job or performing voluntary service at a regular schedule . Our small hospital is vital to all in our county and will suffer from changes in the ACA and in Medicaid. | no effect | I love the idea to get individuals more involved in the community in which they live. As long as the individuals are physically and mentally able to volunteer/work/etc, I think it would be an excellent way to transition individuals back into the job market, provide skills which could be beneficial in the long run, create networking opportunities which could help as well, and definitely improve the community by filling holes where volunteers are needed. Work (and volunteer service) is such a huge part of our identities, and guiding individuals to such opportunities can help create a sense of worth and meaning in an otherwise depressing existence. |
911 | I work in a home for.the elderly. Loss of Medicaid would not only mean some had nowhere to go, but the loss of several jobs that support my community. | Limiting access to healthcare means people will die. There will be an increase in people applying for disability because they didn't go in for check ups to prevent treatable illnesses from becoming debilitating and permanent. Or children going into foster care because their parents died. | No effect | I may have more difficulty finding a place to volunteer. |
912 | I work in a mental health center. Medicaid is vital to them getting medicine and recovery programs. We need ACA. | Losing Medicaid could cost several local jobs one being mine. | No effect | I may not be directly impacted; however I can imagine individuals who might have challenges due to coordinating child care having reliable transportation or the money to pay for getting to work/ child care |
913 | I work in a non profit health clinic and have seen innumerable people who live in Kentucky get much needed and better access to all forms of healthcare through Medicaid coverage. I am happy to help my fellow Kentuckian should they need my tax dollars to improve or maintain their health and lives. | Losing their insurance would mean not being able to have some of those medicines. One of my daughter's medicines alone is over 2000 dollars. She is on 7. | No effect | I mean I have a job and again this isn't about me. |
914 | I work in social services and the clients I serve benefit from Medicaid services. The children we place also need these services. | Loss of emergency care, dental care. Diabetic care. | No effect but if income change happens it must be reported | I might be able to meet the requirement sometimes, but other times (during winter or summer break) I couldn't do it. |
915 | I work in Special Education. Medicaid reimbursement has allowed for additional services and equipment to be provided in the schools. | loss of jobs | no effect on me, I have had the same job for over 30 years and have always had coverage, but I see the needs of the community | I personally will not be impacted |
916 | I work with adults with disabilities and see the benefits that Medicaid and the affiliated waivers have on this group. | Lots of people who receive Medicaid are not able to work or participate in community activities such as someone with stage 4 cancer, or someone who depends on other people for rides to their doctors appointments. These changes would hurt those it's meant to help. A 6 month lock out would hurt someone who maybe wasn't able to make it to the office in time to report changes causing them to be without coverage for 6 months and someone with Type 1 diabetes cannot afford to be without insurance as the prices for test strips and insulin are too expensive if someone is not working or able to work. This also remains the same truth for someone with cancer or any other debilitating disease. | No effect to me personally | I personally would be able to but a lot of people would not. They would need to make sure people could actually do it. |
917 | I work with children who have life long medical needs. The changes I have seen in the past 6-8 months to the Medicaid Waiver program are alarming. I have had multiple children denied due to having primary insurance who are both new to the program and undergoing a three year evaluation. Medicaid Waiver is ESSENTIAL to fill in the gaps where private insurance does not meet their needs. I have had other patients with life long medical needs (disabilities) be denied because "it's anticipated a child would require daily assistance". That is simply unacceptable. Yes, children need assistance but there is a profound difference in the needs of children with disabilities. | Low income individuals face numerous barriers. We do not need to increase these barriers because we do not understand the reality of trying to survive living with a low income. | No effect. | I probably work more than 80 hours a week between farm work, my consulting job, bring primary caregiver of our three kids and my volunteer work in my community, increasing healthy food access to food insecure families. But I'm supposed to prove this?? How? Can we start trusting poor people please? |
918 | I work with individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Medicaid has enabled them to access primary healthcare services, mental health treatment, and afford the expensive medication that helps them live outside of a psychiatric facility. | Low income people often live precarious lives, financially on the edge. These kinds of tight limitations and requirements add a level of stress that isn't healthy or necessary. Losing civerage due an oversight is inhumane. Changes in healthcare should make tbe administrative side easier dor patients and providers. This treats people as if they are not worthy members if our society. We need healthy workers. We need healthy citizens! | No I am on disability. | I regularly volunteer my services as a therapist to low income folks, pro bono work, but I do not believe that I should have to "prove" I am a good person just to treat my condition. And what about the times I have planned to work and get cancelled on, and then having to find a way to make up those hours so I can get my meds?! Healthcare access is a fundamental human right, not a prize to be won or earned, People who do not earn enough to afford an essentially rigged system that is meant to provide huge profits to isnura ce companies should not be punished or have essential care withdrawn just because they have a job that won't offer healthcare as a benefit or because they cannot afford a separate plan. This should not be a for profit industry, and I should not be forced to "engage" in my community during a severe RA or fibromyalgia flare or be punished and have my access to a doctor taken away. Because that is another reality. I cannot predict when I am well enough to volunteer or work. My illness does not fit into a neat monthly calendar. |
919 | I work with low income families some of whom have never had health insurance until the ACA became law. This meant that they often didn't couldn't seek medical treatment when they were ill and they were not able to access preventive health care. | Make it too difficult, people won't get coverage and take care of themselves | No I don't have a job | I still am not together mentally or physically after having cryptosporidiosis for over a year. I almost died and my body still doesn't absorb nutrients as it should. I get tired and mentally tired very easy. |
920 | I work with many deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) folks who depend on Medicaid. Due to lack of work available for D/HH because they lack hearing privilege many have this as primary insurance. | Make it very difficult to have a job and have health coverahe, especially those with minimum wage jobs | No I don't work now. | I support the requirement. People who are able to work should work. |
921 | I work with many families that until the healthcare act did not have any health insurance. In most cases they were working as well. Having insurance has assisted with people regarding preventative care and in 2 cases a diagnosis of cancer at early stages so they could get treatment before it was too late | Making it harder for.pwople to get coverage does not positively affect any one but the government. | No I have a stable profession. | I take care of my 95-yr-old mother. If that doesn't count, I would not be able to meet the requirement. |
922 | I work with many homeless folks whose lives have been changed with the ability to go to a doctor. I also have church folks who needed the subsidies to afford insurance. Limits and pre-existing conditions are a big addition. | Many able bodies adults already have jobs, they just aren't paid.a liveble wage. If parents get sick, mant would lose their job and the ability to care for their kids, this hurting and burdening our community even more. | No I'm on SSI | I take care of my husband who is disabled. No one else is available to do so. |
923 | I work with people with HIV/AIDS and I have a niece with MS. These folks can't be without their medication for 6 months if there is a lock out period. Many of our patients have co-morbid conditions that will affect how they are able to comprehend the rules and may forget to pay their $1.00 premium payment. Or the mail may slow down their payment. We seriously can't be talking about holding their prescription coverage for 6 months. These medication are life saving drugs that must be taken every dose every time. Think about the cost difference to treat AIDS verses, treating HIV. This is not a smart economic strategy! | many elderly / poor do not have transportation or energy to volunteer 20 hrs each week. | no income because no jobs | I think I would see more people off the streets. I hope those who work will find pride in earning their way. |
924 | I work with preschool age children and families, many of which currently qualify for healthcare under the Medicaid program. | Many in my community would lose their insurance if these changes were to go into effect-- there are many ways people contribute to their community and simply being "employed" is not the only way. | No it does not | I think individuals who are able bodied should be required to work, volunteer, treatment hours or classes or etc of at least 20 hours a week. Pregnant women, children, parent of dependent, disabled, or retired individuals should not be required to do this. |
925 | I would be dead without Medicaid coverage. | Many Medicaid recipients are already working, or lack the transportation/health to work. We must work from the inside out: Well bodies (and minds) can be working bodies. Working/volunteering for 20 hours a week for Medicaid coverage (which doesn't cover all of the treatment that some individuals need) is not equitable or fair. We do not expect individuals with a 40-hour week to work 20 hours (or 50%) of the workweek for limited health coverage! Further, in applying for assistance at the Department for Community Based Services, I can attest that documentation and filing is already challenging for the employees. I returned to a DCBS office three times with my income documentation, which I made copies of, because they lost it. Individuals who are working 50% the hours of a full time job for Medicaid coverage cannot afford to lose their healthcare due to "lost" documents. | No it does not change | i think it is an arbitrary number unrelated to complexity of assessing individual capability and need. Successful execution and implementation will be a logistical nightmare that will mostly hurt those who need and benefit from current medicaid services the most. This state's health greade is far enough behind the other 50. we don"t need to cut services, we need to INCREASE them, if anything!!! |
926 | I would be in a wheelchair without medicaid | Many Medicaid recipients work in minimum-wage positions that do not provide job stability or security, meaning that their wages fluctuate. It is impractical and unethical to punish Medicaid recipients for failing to declare a change in income within 10 days, when their incomes are in constant fluctuation. | No it does not change regularly. Are reporting changes more stressful and more of a hardship than changing employment status? | I think it would provide Medicaid recipients in my community with an opportunity to "give back" to the community that is providing their coverage, add additional volunteers for important programs. |
927 | I would not be able to work at all without treatment paid for by Medicaid. | MANY of our patients would lose their coverage which would put a greater burden on our small nonprofit organization to obtain the funds to not only provide care for our patients but to pay for their prescriptions as well. We can't do what we need to do in the community if we don't have the resources. We need to get out and test people, we need to drive people to Dr. appointments, we need to give them food, we need to help them with housing and get people off the streets so that they can create stability in their lives, get to their appointments and take their meds. This is more than an issue that effects people on medicaid, this is about public health as a whole. | no it does not change. | I think some participants could but some could not. Like anything else...we have those who abuse the system and those who are honorable. I make home visits with young families who struggle due to transportation or support systems. Maybe require less time per week/month? |
928 | I would not have health care without Medicaid | Many of those who are sick will not get proper care and will be left to die. If it weren't for the affordable care act my husband mother would not have gotten the proper care before dying from cancer. | No it does not, but I am a tax accountant and I can tell you the the people who are eligible for Medicaid do not have the resources or the education (which is our fault as citizens) to follow these insane rules. | I think that anything that adds additional requirements to seeking care is wrong. Healthcare should be a basic human right. In order to be able to work or volunteer, people must first have their basic needs met and must be healthy. Preventing them from getting care unless they work first will only serve to make people less healthy and thus less able to work. |
929 | I would not have insurance and probably have already have died because of heart problems. | Many people here in the eastern part of the state have lost their jobs and can't find work. Many are retraining, but they couldn't do that without help for their families. | No it does not, but think about people who are mentally challenged--they do good to report changes in 30 days. | I think that the requirement is too stringent and it is down right wrong. are you aware of the numbers of people who are not working because they are caring for a family member? How would you like to be unemployed because you are caring for a sick or disabled person and then be asked to find time to volunteer? |
930 | I would still be paying for medical bills for my third daughter if not for Medicaid. She was born prematurely, which was out of my control. She received the best care that saved her life without any question as to how it was being payed for. Without Medicaid, I could possibly still be paying for it. But because I did, it was an advantage for my whole family to thrive without the burden of medical bills. My oldest daughter just finished her second year of college on a full 4 year ride to an out of state college that she earned. I feel that if the burden of medical bills were a part of a daily lives then things could have been different for her. | Many people I know are worried that these changes will negatively and greatly affect them. | No it does not. | I think this is a good thing - expecting everyone to give back. |
931 | I wouldn't be able to walk, and therefore, work without the Medicaid coverage I receive/ed. | Many people I know switch jobs often and do not need the burden of reporting an income change within 10 days when they start a new job that might only last 14 days or 30 days. Many people are underemployed, but highly qualified and actively looking for other employment--they do not need and would not benefit from the burden of being required to enroll in a job training program or volunteer service while they look for a job in their already highly trained field. Many people need Medicaid to be for them when they go to the clinic or hospital and need emergency services or immediate prenatal care. It would be of no benefit to them and of no benefit to the state's funds or the provider's funds to deny or delay these people coverage because they cannot prove their income on the spot. Medicaid is meant to be a safety net. These proposed changes would totally subvert the intentions of Medicaid. | No it doesn't apply in my circumstances | I think this is a great idea, but do not agree with the 6 month lock out period. |
932 | I, nor anyone in my family, that I'm aware of urilzes Medicaid, but I am a supporter of Medicaid for all. Any disruption of coverage even for a day could be devastating to a family. | Many people in my community including possibly some of my family would lose the ability to get the medical care they need. People without insurance do not go to doctors when they need to because they cannot afford the bills that follow. | No it doesn't. I think people need more than 10 days to report a change. | I think this would accomplish nothing and would be an administrative burden on the state. |
933 | I, nor anyone in my family, that I'm aware of urilzes Medicaid, but I am a supporter of Medicaid for all. Any disruption of coverage even for a day could be devastating to a family. | Many people who need Medicaid to survive are without the abilities and means to be able to complete forms and make any payments before they need the help. This is penalizing people for being poor. | No it doesn’t | I took early retirement to help a sick family member & his child...I could not do this if I was required to be gone 80 hrs/mo. |
934 | I'll try to condense this. I have life threatening blood pressure right now. I am waiting on a stress test and changes to my medication. Nitro was just added to my meds on Monday. It's that bad. I'm suppose to go to the ER if I get worse and see my doctor again in 10 days from now. I've suffered from HBP for 25+ years. I also am treated for thyroid disease and require meds daily. I have spinal stenosis scoliosis and degenerative disc with physical disabilities yet lack enough credits to get disability coverage. If I lose Medicaid Expansion I lose my life. Simple as that. I literally went broke with my retirement fund buying private healthcare insurance prior to the ACA Medicaid Expansion. So without any exaggeration I can honestly say that Medicaid Expansion in Kentucky literally saved my life and continues to do so daily. Please don't limit or take away my lifeline. Medicaid Expansion has been a God send for myself my husband and thousands (450K apx) of people in Kentucky | Many people will DIE at the hands of Gov. Bevin's directive to make it impossible for many to receive coverage. I personally will not be able to treat my chronic medical conditions. Will I die because of it? Possibly. | No it doesnt change regularly, I am lucky in this respect. | I was already working part-time when on Medicaid. Some on Medicaid are simply unable to work due to health or lack of transportation, etc. |
935 | I'm 55 years old and had health insurance all my life until my husband walked away from our 27 years of marriage and I was dropped from his insurance. I went without coverage for 2 years until the ACA was implemented and I was able to get health care. I only needed it for a year before I was able to get insurance through my job. The ACA was a blessing and I don't know what I would have done without it at that time in my life. | Many people would be forced to loose their housing to pay for medical expenses, go bankrupt, or simply not go until they are dying because they can't afford it. In a small community we are already struggling to support homeless and low income. Plus the requirement on top of already looking for a job? When would these people juggle that? From experience when I was job seeking I spent 7+ hours a day doing that. If it is a single parent how are they going to afford daycare expenses on top of that and be able to go do those hours??? | No It would not affect me. | I will be 65 in June 2019. I currently help care for my grandson while his mother, a single mom, works. I also sit with my 88 year old mother 3-4 days a week in the nursing home. |
936 | I'm a mental health therapist and have seen people come in for much needed treatment that never could afford to before. Treatment has improved their overall functioning and quality of life. | Many people would be without coverage. | no mine does not, but I can readily see that that requirement would be an impossible demand on people working several jobs just to support their families. | I work 20 to 40 hours a week on my own business whenever possible, due to health issues. I have also worked seasonal jobs that are during my businesses naturally slow periods. I dont have the capacity to commit tgo anymore with my health. Most my sales are during holidays. Work requirements totally ignore that I am working because they say it has to earn equivalent if $9hr/20 hr a week (per SNAP). If I get another job, all my work and money to build my business is lost. In the meantime, I have recently gotten much worse. I cant work at all some days or weeks. Getting a diagnosis is takig years (seriously) and so the doctors wont give me any kind of "Disability" proof yet. I am now seeing a Neurologist and I am 99% sure its Myasthenia Gravis, but its a rare disease that is tricky to diagnose. Without Medicaid, I will never get diagnosed or treatment to get on my feet again. Or worse case, get on Disability. Expanded Medicaid is a safety net for a lot people. Just because I dont have a doctor to sign off yet, doesnt mean I am able bodied or not medically frail. Medicaid needs to be flexible and give people time ( years not months) if they are showing effort. Not everyone fits perfectly in your little check boxes. We are the ones most impacted by all these rules and red tape. |
937 | I'm a single mom. I am employed. I cannot afford health care coverage for my daughter without Medicaid. I don't want money to have to be a consideration when my daughter is sick and needs to go to the doctor. "Sorry but I can't afford to take you to the doctor." is not something anyone should have to tell their child when they're sick. | Many pepole that I love and care about could die without the medical assistance that they need. | No mine doesn't but the requirement to report is just a ploy to make it harder for people to comply in the hopes they make a mistake then they can cut off coverage. | I work 35-40 hours a week most of the time |
938 | I'm disabled and can't work it pays for my diabetes medicines | Many seriously ill will be denied medical care ! | no my employment statues has been the same. | I work 40 hours a week now |
939 | I've been able to go to the eye doctor when something happened to my eye. | Many will return to fragmented care through Emergency Rooms during crisis situations only. They will be unable to receive follow up or preventative care due to upfront costs. Without Medicaid coverage the cost of medications is cost prohibitive for many. | No my hours are stable now. I remember as a part-time worker my hours would change a lot. One week I could get 20 hours the next week I could get 33 hours then it would drop down to 17 hours the next. | I work 40 hours a week now |
940 | I've gotten mammograms for first time in many years....and dealt with health issues knowing I was covered, hives after flu shot...funny lump in my side....before I wouldn't be able to afford to go. | Many with disabilities rely on Medicaid. Many loved ones must be full time caretakers and may need the coverage themselves, due to inability to work in those circumstances. Work hour requirements would be undoable for caretakers. A strong Medicaid program supports people living in their homes and integrated in the community, rather than in institutions. Premiums would cause many with limited resources, as many with developmental disabilities have, to not get therapies or medical care they need, or to have to live in an institution to get them. | No not at present. | I work 40 plus hours a week- not sure when I would have time for that |
941 | If it weren't for Medicaid coverage members of my family would not be able to afford their medication - life saving and life sustaining medication. | Many would lose coverage and places an extreme burden on people | No--I'm retired | I work a full time job, it would be almost impossible to coordinate someone else's work schedule around mine. |
942 | If you have no or little income Medicaid is a must... I only make 1,100 a month but do not qualify , praise God I am healthy, but some family members of mine have to have med coverage and sorry a 6 mos block is not good... cause doc offices or other ppl filing make mistakes and the patient is punished until they go thru much stress and phone calls and leg work to fix it... crazy when you are sick | Many would lose coverage and places an extreme burden on people | No, and it would not affect me. | I work about 38 hours a week so that change doesn't concern me personally. That said I think it's unnecessary and wouldn't encourage people to work. |
943 | Im barely alive because of it, thanks. | May be a change in our ability to pay | No, and reporting this assumes easy access to methods to report. Many of the least of these in our communities do not have access to reporting systems. | I work all the time, and volunteer too, but I don’t want to have to record and report it to the government under threat of losing my health coverage. |
944 | Improved health,easy,affordable access to medical help is a plus for my community. | May not be able to continue care in nursing home for 93 year old stepfather and my 91 year old mother. | No, be at the same job for 12 years, and my husband has been at his job for 24 years. | I work already. Having to report this regularly on penalty of losing coverage is absurd and going to be impossible for anyone who doesn't use or have access to computers. In the rural parts of the state, it can be an hour drive to the county public library where all of these "free computers available to the community" are for use. It's just another way to punish poor people for being poor. |
945 | In a rural area where most business are small businesses, Medicaid expansion has allowed those previously not insured to gain insurance. In my case specifically, I can remember when insurances consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition, had it not been for Medicaid, I would not have been able to afford vital prenatal care for my child. I worked throughout my pregnancy, if the same situation occurred today, there is no way I could meet the additional requirements of classes, volunteer or paid work in addition to already working. These requirements assume the majority of our population is not working- this is not true. Basing law on false assumptions is absolutely penalizing those among us that need the most assistance. | May not be able to continue care in nursing home for 93 year old stepfather and my 91 year old mother. | No, but having worked in human services programs most of my adult life, I know that many of the individuals and families our agency works with have part-time employment which can result in frequent changes. Depending on the calendar, holidays (when state offices may be closed or short-staffed) and the workloads of eligibility workers and system outages, 10 days is not nearly as long a period as it might seem. | I work and/or volunteer 40+ hours a week, so it would not impact me. |
946 | In all ways we have benefited some of us can't afford medical attention and really and truthfully need assistance. | Medicaid applications are complicated, and the enrollment process rarely goes smoothly. Several of these proposals would negatively impact low-income and rural Kentuckians who do not have as much access to enrollment help, excess income, and support when transitioning to Medicaid. The proposals take for granted that wealthier Kentuckians have attorneys, family, and medical professionals to support their application process. | No, but I agree reporting in 10 days is fair | I work at least 100 hours per month |
947 | In my family my mother who is a stroke survivor is provided with Medicaid to pay for her health needs. She is retired, disabled and not able to work. She needs Medicaid. Other members of my family have needed Medicaid to cover healthcare needs during times of difficulty and transition. It has provided them the opportunity to get back on their feet and return to work and providing for themselves. Without Medicaid they would not have had the healthcare to return to health. Kentucky as a state has benefited significantly by having greater access to Medicaid. A healthier population means a healthier workforce and less drain on our state's economy. | Medicaid covers mental health at this time. I am very concerned that those with mental health issues would not receive services needed. | No, but I can see how if it did it would be easy to miss this deadline through no fault of the person. | I work fulltime and my co-pay at the VA has gone up so it seems to be the way the industry works. As a chemical dependency counselor, I see gaining employment has beneficial in a holistic approach to treatment |
948 | In the mid 90s my wife at the time needed to take advantage of the Kchip program due to my job in construction not having health insurance and being unemployed for a period. Medicaid is a great program for those that use it what it's meant for, not a long term benefit if someone is able to progress into stable employment. | Medicaid cuts and changes to make it more difficult will affect the entire community. It will affect individuals receiving the services by reducing their health and livelihood. It will affect the community by reducing the number of individuals with disabilities contributing to society via volunteering and spending their money in the community. And it will affect me personally, as a healthcare provider, by impacting the number of individuals who are able to afford my services. | No, but I can see that being a major burden to many of the families I work with who frequently change jobs due to life circumstances and need. | I work in medical office. |
949 | Increase in low income two job working folks now have access to care including preventive care as well as necessary care and keeping down unnecessary ER visits. | Medicaid is a hand up. Most people treat it as such. Others ride it for all they can get out of it. Follow the rules or get locked out, all for it. Reporting income, all for it. We all have that someone in our circle of influence who are dodging the rules and they are proud of it. | No, but I do not own a computer and do not have any leave time from work. This would be onerous. | I work way more than 40 hours a week. I think making others work 20 hours a week to help cover expenses is valid. |
950 | Increased access to medication and medical treatment | Medicaid is my only option currently | No, but I have family members who might experience this. Also, I can't begin to imagine that DCBS has the administrative capacity and infrastructure to support the new reporting requirements--this will place Medicaid recipients at great risk of interruptions in their coverage. | I work with clients who cannot move and cannot speak-- what community engagement do they do? This proposed law is just a way of walking past someone in need and justifying not acting. It is designed to remove guilt from those who don't want to help (the lawmaker) and to place blame on the victim so the lawmaker can stay in his cocoon and pretend bad things don't happen to innocent people. |
951 | Increased health in the state of Kentucky reduces health care costs for all of us. Hospitals have reduced write off expenses. Addicts are getting treatment rather than sitting in jail. Our community is better off without these waivers. | Medicaid is not an easy thing to navigate, especially not that our corrupt governor dismantled the best exchange in the country. These new rules would very likely have a negative impact on people who need help. | No, but it seems a pretty short amount of time. | I work with individuals with behavioral/intellectual issues. Many have lack of access to reliable transportation in rural communities. Access to health care should be a right, not a privilege. |
952 | Indigent care that had been previously paid for by hospitals and indirectly by higher rates for private insurance, are now paid for by Medicaid. More preventitvie care is provided. Hospitals have been able to employ more people. Hospital spending is economic activity that benefits my community. | Medicaid is not an easy thing to navigate, especially not that our corrupt governor dismantled the best exchange in the country. These new rules would very likely have a negative impact on people who need help. | No, but It would be a hassle. | I work with people who can not do this our system will spend more money tracking and following these requirements and verifying those who can not instead of dollars going to treatment we will Again spend our dollars on administration costs |
953 | Individuals insured are healthier and that creates cost savings and a better community | Medicaid should be helpful, not punitive. | No, but it would take me at least a month to do so if I had to and I have means and transportation to attend to this issue where many on Medicaid do not | I work, but many are disabled, yet not getting disability yet. |
954 | IQ work but can't afford the cost of the medical. | Members of the community and several of my distant relatives would not be able to maintain their current health status. Further, they would be at risk for not being covered for any future medical/dental needs they may have. | No, but it’s obvious how ridiculous a 10 day window is for this regardless. | I work, but only 3 Rd shift hours. Totally unable to do anything else do to being caregiver for mother and husband. Husband can't work, waiting to be approved for disability. |
955 | It assures me that I can afford my next meal or clothing for my daughter. Knowing I don't have the expense of medical bills or premiums is beyond helpful. | Monthly redeterminations are just a way to kick more people out of the program. The 6 month lock out period is cruel. One little mistake on paperwork, or one little miskey by a state rep and I'm dead or bankrupt. | No, but many of my friends have weekly or monthly changes to work schedules that would be cumbersome to report at the very least, if not impossible because of last minute shift/schedule changes. | I worked for my local animal shelter as a volunteer once a week, then got hired in part time, then worked from home for them part time.. doing payroll, paying their bills etc... I think all able bodied persons should be FORCED to work for their money.. give them all the minimum wage jobs so that they get experience before they get out on there own and want to make some real money. And there should be bus service only for those employee's that don't have transportation. |
956 | It benefits my widowed mother, my cousin who has epiliepsy and CF that's being raised by her single mother, and a former teacher that I worked with for years who'd love to still be teaching but can't because her POTS symptoms are so controlling. | More paperwork and regulations will increase the chance a mistake is made. I already have to call multiple people everyone there is a change or need | No, but my mother does, and this is already very difficult for her, given how slow and unresponsive CHFS is. | I worry of what jobs will be required to be performed to fill this requirement. I worry of the safety and/or security of the businesses offering positions that may be filled just to meet these requirements. |
957 | It doesn't | More people scrambling for health services means unnecessarily crowded hospital ER departments and overwhelmed public health departments. | No, but my sister's does because she is a student and works part time. | I would be constantly trying to prove that I am a caregiver! We don't have a car! |
958 | It give human beings healthcare they need, which benefits all. | More people with healthcare= good for everyone! | No, but one doesn't have to be poor and struggling for survival to realize how ridiculous such a requirement would be. Thirty days, maybe. | I would be unable to comply. I'm unable to leave my mother alone due to her health issues. |
959 | It gives low income people access to necessary health care | More people would back up Emergency Room because they can't afford to go to a Dr and will wait until it will cost more to treat them. | No, but reporting changes correctly can be difficult without help. | I would be unable to do any of the types of work that they have mentioned , I am very physically disabled |
960 | It has allowed a better quality of life for my son who has Down Syndrome and provided exceptional medical care to keep him healthy and develop progressively. It has now given me coverage for medical expenses I would never be able to afford for my cancer treatment. | More sick and old folks would apply to jobs, and either fail to get them or fail to do the jobs. Some folks will die trying to get coverage when they should be just taking care of their health. | No, but sometimes life is busy (maybe because you're working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet) and ten days go by quickly. | I would find it difficult to go back to work or volunteering due to my mental health status. |
961 | It has allowed many who were on a small fixed incomes to have healthcare and it has allowed those who cannot afford private insurance ( example someone with a chronic condition) to be able to afford health care | More sick kids st school mean my kids get sick, miss school, and require me to pay for more medical bills. That is money I will not put back into the local and state economy. | No, but the ten day limit under such uncertainties does not seem adequate. | I would full time so would not impact me. |
962 | It has allowed me to access mental health services I desperately needed that I would not have been able to afford otherwise. My monthly medication alone would be $1200. | More sick people, if they can't pay then they flood the emergency rooms. Denying basic care also stops people from becoming healthier individuals who then can contribute to society as whole. | No, but the underprivileged community cannot afford to be penalized for this. | I would have an issue with transportation but otherwise would attempt to comply. |
963 | It has allowed me to stay on my much needed medication. Without it, I would not be able to work fulltime. | Most everyone in my community has some form of help through Medicaid or Medicare. Not everyone can afford these high premiums that Obamacare called "Affordable." I know we can't, my sisters can't, and my father can't. My mother can't afford it, and has been making her premium payments on credit cards so she can still go to her doctor. It's not right. No one should have to go into debt to afford health insurance, and be denied Medicaid because you make $2,000 over the limit to qualify. | No, but what a nightmare | I would have no problem with it whatsoever. I think it's a fantastic requirement. If able bodied people won't work to earn a paycheck, they can work for free! |
964 | It has allowed my child to partially/independently support herself and therefore help with her medical expenses, living and social expenses | Most of these proposed changes will suppress access to Medicaid by those in legitimate need, increase the likelihood of premature KY deaths, and end up costing the state more in ultimate healthcare costs. | No, doesn't/hasn't changed, but has always been unpredictable. 10 days isn't enough time to assess my situation much less make a report I would resent. | I would have to do this and already do, so not much impact to me personally, but worry for some it would greatly impact. For those who have no vehicle or a broken down vehicle, how does this work? I would assume it doesn't work for them to have healthcare. |
965 | It has allowed my daughter, who has aged out of family insurance and her job did not provide any coverage, to receive medical care. She is on medication for mental health issues. She functions well and is able to work with medication, but her problems escalate quickly without it, making it difficult, if not impossible for her to work. The new system that has been proposed makes it too easy for gaps in care to occur, exacerbating health problems, and making it more difficult for people to find and keep jobs. Continuity of care is critical for people with ongoing health issues, which is provided with the current system. | Most people would never be able afford this and most people already have one or more jobs trying to make ends meet. | No, however I can see that access to transportation, phone, or ability to report could perhaps be an issue for some lower income people. | I would have to leave my children at home alone! I cannot do that, they are just children, my son is autistic and without me he would be lost in this world, I'm his normal, his routine would change and he'd be lost. I home school him. He is very smart and important to this country, he is studying to become a civil engineer. |
966 | It has allowed my family and I to receive healthcare. We cannot afford insurance. By receiving the needed medical treatments it has allowed us to regain employment. We are grateful for Medicaid and extremely fearful of our future without it. That fear is causing stress induced illnesses, Medicaid has covered the doctors appts to receive the medical attention for these illnesses as well. | Much less access to needed services for clients that I serve. More children at risk of abuse/neglect. | No, I am retired and am enrolled in Medicare. | I would have to quit my high paying job to help my family and friends get to their "volunteer " activities |
967 | It has allowed my son to receive the care he needs and medical treatment he requires while allowing us to still function as a family. | My 2 sons have asthma and I have one with severe food allergies. I don't know how I would afford epipens, which are required by the board of education to have on hand at all time while he is in thier care. | no, I am unable to work due to using a walker and wheelchair. | I would like to think that people receiving assistance would be open to participating, but you have to look at our history. There are generations of families that live off of the government--these people will not give of their time to receive benefits, because they have never had to do it. They will more than likely revert to illegal means to support their families. The children will be the ones who suffer. |
968 | It has been a lifeline in the rural area I am from and helped so many to survive and receive proper medical care that if they didn’t have they wouldn’t be alive today. | My adult son struggles every day just to earn money, get an education that will help him get a decent paying job, pay his bills, etc. He is disabled and may likely never earn enough money to make a premium payment or co-payment for any health coverage. | No, I can't work because of health. But I know it will others. | I would loose my coverage. My health doesn't allow me the capacity to complete such tasks. |
969 | It has been my life line for the medical coverage and meds that I need to sustain life ! | My best friend's daughter has a chronic disease and she would lose coverage because she is not able to work or volunteer 20 hours a week. | No, I have stable, full-time employment, unlike many in today's economy. | I would lose coverage |
970 | It has enabled my children to have insurance since I otherwise cannot afford it for them. It would cost nearly half my pay each month to cover me and my 2 children if Medicaid was not available. And since my work offers it to me at an "affordable" cost for myself, I do not qualify to get subsidies on the exchanges for my kids. Thanks a lot aca. | My boys would regress not getting the necessary medical they need. | No, I’m on full disability. But, would like to work someday if I knew I’d have a guarantee of coverage. I need a safety net to feel confident to get back to work. (If any employer would have me) Or even earn money at home.. the fear of going into bankruptcy over medical bills keep me from ever attempting to get off disability. | I would lose my Medicaid because I have close to zero hours a month free to volunteer anywhere. If I had the hours I would be volunteering for other local organizations doing good work in my community. I already do “community engagament” I don’t need a health insurance company requiring me to do it to their standards. I work 45+ hours a week. I have a son in first grade who also plays baseball. I’m also in school and working on starting my own business on the side, I also help support a friend and her two children, and I’m also incredibly involved in my local community and events around town. I don’t have time to volunteer to keep my health insurance. |
971 | It has enabled my family to better care for our son. More paperwork and regulations reduces the time with my child. | My brother and sister live in rural parts of the state and if my brother was able to get to volunteer he would be able to work | No, income does not change regularly. | I would need childcare. |
972 | It has expanded the fundamental human right to health care. | My brother is a farmer who has limited income. He is young and healthy and I fear that he wouldn't have insurance if it weren't for the expansion. Hower, doing manual labor on a farm puts him at fairly high risk of trauma, so he really benefits from being covered. | No, it does not | I would not be able to do it, I HAVE TO WORK! I am a single mom! I know a lot of people that don't have transportation and do not live by the bus line. How in the world would they be able to go to volunteer? Who is going to pay for the costs of implementing these programs? Who is going to pay for the background check of volunteers that may be working with sensitive information or with groups of people? This might be the dumbest part of this idea, and will be impossible to implement. Of course, that is the plan-make it so hard to maintain medicaid that people stop dropping off. |
973 | It has given me and many others health coverage for the first time in our lives. We have been able to treat chronic conditions which we couldn't do before. | My brother is physically disabled from birth (wheelchair bound) and lives with me. His community based services are a necessity. | No, it does not change. | I would not be able to meet that criteria at this time. |
974 | It has helped hundreds with pre-existing conditions and those on lower incomes. | My brother would probably die. | No, it does not. | I would not be able to meet the requirements due to being a caregiver to a family member. |
975 | It has helped me afford my medications. I am on several different medicines. | My child would not have coverage | no, it doesn't, but if I were in a different situation such as frequently changing jobs due to working temporary jobs it could be a significant burden. If I'm changing jobs frequently then I would need to be available to those employers and potential employers rather than spending my time trying to meet excessive government deadlines (i.e., jumping through unnecessary hoops to satisfy some politician's idea of a good time) | I would not be impacted, but many of the people I work with would not be able to do this due to a combination of health and careproviding or school needs. |
976 | It has helped me and my daughter get the health care we need. | My chilling not have coverage | no, it doesn't, but it would be difficult to get the change made in a timely fashion | I would not personally be impacted by the "community engagement" requirement but I have strong feelings of opposition to such a requirement. 1) The cost of the bureaucracy to try to monitor this wildly fluctuating "engagement" 2) This proposed program would be very burdensome for the working poor, seasonal workers, workers with multiple jobs with irregular hours 3) I can't even begin to imagine how the "enforcement" would happen: Total chaos for recipients and providers and a computer programming nightmare 4) It "feels" like this whole proposal is an attempt to push as many people as possible off of the Medicaid rolls to please a political base. Human beings are NOT political footballs |
977 | It has helped us a great deal without it I wouldn't have been able to have my surgery or my girlfriend wouldn't have been able to have hers. | My clients would be hurt. Some work 2-3 jobs to pay bills and have no time to volunteer 20 hours. Health insurance should be free to all. | No, it stays the same | I would not, as a single parent to young children, be able to meet these requirements every month due to the high cost and unavailability of childcare. |
978 | It has helped us get ourselves together and helped keep our family in good health | My community has been positively impacted by Medicaid/Expansion. I do not see how the changes could help. We are very rural. We do not have many jobs or public transport. The people here are poor. Many do not have the transportation to get to volunteer work or cannot find employment. They will be penalized if they cannot find volunteer work or a job or have the means to get there. I cannot work due to my disability. If I could work, I would be working. I am highly educated and this wasn't a choice. My brother is already working and proves that many people are! | No, it would not affect me. | I would participate in community engagement as long as accommodations are made. |
979 | It has kept me alive | My community will see poorer health outcomes, there will be many more emergency room visits for non-emergency situations, health care providers will have to cover that cost by passing that on to paying citizens, and the overall cost is likely to be higher. | No, mine does not change. Though I work with people that has regular income changes due to medical needs. A 10 day reporting requirement is silly and cost prohibitive. | I would prefer Medicaid expansion persons work and earn a living for their families and pay taxes without government mandated hours that would also require a reporting mechanism that might create more work for employers. |
980 | It has made possible for me to get the medical care I need which I otherwise would not get because of not being able to afford the care due to not making enough money through my job. | My community will suffer if treatment options are taken away. A 6 month lockout will result in some people losing necessary treatment and going from "able bodied" to "medically frail." | No, my employment does not change regularly. However, for the folks that does change regularly, I would agree they would need to report that change. Especially if it's a positive change for them. It shows how the system can work for the good of folks who really need it and allows for those who need the money to work towards the same. We should ALL do what is right thing. This world has become so evil. | I would see a more productive community. The work of volunteers benefit us all |
981 | It has provided health insurance to thise in my family who didn't have it before. | My community would be affected as there would be many people who would not receive medical care. This would be a huge step backwards for our state. | No, my employment has not changed in 4 years. | I would see more people getting active which could decrease health care costs |
982 | It has saved me and my family from financial ruin when I lost my job and when I was in school. | My community would be devastated by these changes. Lives are at stake. People are dying every day from opiate overdoses. Others cope with chronic health problems and need specialty care, which is very hard to come by without health insurance. Those living in poverty are burdened by lack of transportation, limited child care, and often have histories of trauma and systematic discrimination. These policy changes imply that poverty is a choice and seek to punish our most vulnerable. | No, my income does not change, but friends who lose a job and report it promptly then find out their benefits are not change until two months later, by which time they will have an "overpayment" to pay back! | I would think we would meet the requirements. I am disabled. He is in school full time, and works from home. Our children require near constant supervision. |
983 | It has saved my life and the lives of many I know. | my community would have more respect for itself and one another | No, not at all | I would want to help family members meet that requirement, which could take time away from my job. |
984 | It helps my severely autistic daughter by paying for medications, dr apts, and medications. Without it she wouldn't be able to have any of those benefits | My concern is the 10 day notification process suggested. It takes a week or more to get through to make any changes, people are rude and not helpful. How would a person with disabilities handle this situation? Some may escape the task or not have a caregiver to properly advocate for them. I've called for recertification and have been on the phone waiting for 2 or more hours. How would an individual with disabilities handle this? People need accountability but people with special healthcare needs should be exempt or habe extended times set. Anything less is neglect and setting them up for failure. | No, we are on SSI 750.00 a month | I would welcome the requirement. U would think that anyone would feel better about themselves and their places in society by contributing something for their well-being. |
985 | It is for my foster children. Since they are foster it is great to not have to fight to get them on insurance | My concern is the requirement of working/ volunteering for benefits. 1. There has to be someone supervising/ keeping up with what a person is doing/ not doing. Who does That? An already overworked case manager? And 2. Those who are not capable of working/ volunteering. Why make such a requirement? | No. | I wouldn't be able to do it because of my health, so I would end up losing my Medicaid. I have no car. I haven't worked 7 years because I can not keep a job because of calling in sick all the time. Thank you. |
986 | It is plain to see | My daughter has a young son and she works hard at a Daycare, but no matter where she works Corporate America refuses to allow her and millions of others to work a full 40 hours a week so they don't have to give them health benefits. How would anyone be able to volunteer 20 hours a week in order to get health care when they are struggling to work 2 jobs in order to survive!!!! | No. | i wouldn't be able to i am always working or caring for my child |
987 | It keeps my grandmother alove | My daughter won't have insurance. | No. | I, myself, work 40 hours per week. |
988 | It keeps my neighbors from stealing from me more to supplement their income. | My daughters would loose their therapy. My Ex wife would loose her caregiver pay. | No. | I'd have to picket the Governor's home 24/7, as should all impacted by him! |
989 | It keeps people who are too sick or old to work from having to work in jobs Kentucky doesn't have available to them. | My elderly friends would not be able to comply with some of the regulations mentioned | No. | i'd lose healthcare as the flawed screening process has deemed me able bodied, even though I haven't been to the doctor in 4 years |
990 | It pays for our medicines that many couldn't afford otherwise... | My elderly friends would not be able to comply with some of the regulations mentioned | No. | I'd lose my healthcare. I'm not able to function many days and unpredictable. My husband is disabled and sick and alot older than me. Cannot drive needs monitored. I couldn't drive to town for all that. Quit work when he almost died 10 years ago i also got RA fibro autoimmune issues. I worked many years until he got chronically ill then myself. We live on his ssdi I now dont have work credits to apply for me and we cant get ssi so I'd be doomed and lose all as it's not possible. |
991 | It saved my husband's life. | My elderly friends would not be able to comply with some of the regulations mentioned | no. | I'm 61 and having trouble working If I had to work more I would have to get disability. |
992 | It saved my life and continues to do so. I found that I have several medical issues that could cause me to die without going to the doctor and receiving medication. With the coverage, I would have never known and would be dead by now. | My family member who is on Medicaid is healthy and does not seek care frequently. I think that if the system becomes more complicated at all, she will let her coverage lapse and stop seeking the preventative screenings she has started getting since on Medicaid. Her priority needs are dental and I fear she will not be able to navigate extra accounts and reward points, etc. When dental needs go unmet, they can lead to infections and other medical needs, so this is worrisome. | No. | I'm 55 years I take care of my husband and my home I fell off a k loader working for UPS 14 feet on to concrete my body hurts all the time how I don't think I could |
993 | It saved my life when I lost my job and was able to continue to get medication until I was back on my feet. | My family member's health would be severely compromised. This could affect their ability to parent, remain in their housing, lead to incarceration and jeopardize public safety. | No. | I'm a full time employee and my wife meets the hours requirement. Great incentive and honestly should be expected by anyone expecting low cost healthcare coverage. |
994 | It saved my mother in law's life. | My family would be at much greater risk of community acquired infections, antibiotic resistant infections from those who could not pay to return to doctors but still work in the public sector and from diseases like hepatitis among workers in public contact. Further, observing the public suffering of the disabled and injured is harmfulto the ethical development of our children who are raised to understanding the teachings of Jesus to heal the sick. | No. | I'm disabled and other members of my house already work or attend school full time |
995 | It's been my lifeline for being disabled with Multiple Sclerosis!!! I worked my whole life and thought I would be working my whole life! But I sure am for personal responsibility!!! | My family, none but the patients I care for very much, having a colonoscopy and getting polyps removed or early cancer care is a lot better than extensive surgery, chemo, radiation hospice care and death. | No. | I'm gonna be 62 soon. Where's all this energy supposed to come from after working? |
996 | It's improved my ability to find and keep a Dr that helps my health needs | My family's income is below the poverty line. Before the ACA expansion only my children were eligible, I fear with these changes my husband and I would lose our coverage that has been keeping us healthy. I fear mostly losing my mental health coverage. While we meet these guidelines set forth, I doubt we'll be able to pay any fees as we are already stretched as it is, which would make having it almost irrelevant. Honestly the part about punishing people for not reporting changes fast enough is creul. Many people in this area work 7 days a week for slave wages, sometimes time slips away. Taking away care for 6 months plus back fees is just evil at it's worst. It's kicking someone when they're down, which seems to be the goal with this Governor. Punish the poorest for not being rich. | No. | I'm medically frail and exempt |
997 | It's our health coverage | My fiancé works 7 days a week most days and I stay home full time with the baby, I honestly don't have time to do volunteer work even though I am not in school or work a "real job". | No. | I'm not able to work or volunteer that many hours because of my mental illness |
998 | It's relatively simple to use and understand, for starters. I am typically very healthy but have had a myriad of health problems over the summer, none of which I would have been able to treat without Medicaid. | My friend would be dead without Medicaid. | No. | I'm not sure my other son who has Medicaid but works less than 80/month would handle this. His medical problems prevent him from working many hours. |
999 | It's saved my life and the life of my daughter. It has paid for my son to get help with autism that he needs. | My grand-nephew is mentally advanced, although severely physically challenged. He lives with his mother, a widow, who is obliged to work in order to provide food and shelter for herself and her son. She is not free to quit her job to care for her son. | No. | I'm not sure, but I don't think it is fair. How would this be implemented? How would this be regulated? Sounds like more bureaucracy to me. |
1000 | It's something that has helped me during lapse of coverage due to being let go | My grandfather would probably be murdered by the legislators who pass this legislation. | No. | I'm old myself and my father is 86. I spend much of my time taking care of him and taking him to doctor appointments. How are people like me supposed to spend two weeks a month doing community engagement? I can't afford to pay someone to care for him. That's a job I can do myself if the state government will allow me to. |
1001 | job layoff and has allowed me to perform required care of elderly parent. | My grandmother relies on Medicaid. Taking that away or changing the system will not allow her to continue needed follow ups, etc. | No. | I'm on Medicare, so this doesn't apply to me. |
1002 | Just don't want to see the Michelle p waiver cut for disability people | My grandson is on Medicaid. | No. | I'm the care giver for my 90 yr. old bedridden father. The requirements would really impact him. |
1003 | Just having healthcare coverage for many more people supports the entire health delivery system | My husband and daughter need to be tested for Celiac (my mother in law has it). Their dietary needs and overall health depend on this, but I'm afraid without Medicaid my daughter won't be able to be tested. I doubt my husband can. | No. | I'm unable to work or volunteer that many hours because of my mental illness |
1004 | Kentucky has seen a dramatic increase in the number of previously uninsured people who can now access health care through Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act. The number of health care jobs has also made a significant impact on our economy, especially in eastern Kentucky. | My husband and I are going to lose coverage again. | No. | i've got a job, I work much more than 80 hrs / month It is not unreasonable to expect people to be responsible for themselves |
1005 | Kentucky is a very poor state with many families, children & individuals struggling to make ends meet. These proposed changes hurt the poor. | My husband and I both have bachelors degrees, but have found it incredibly difficult and frustrating to navigate the Medicaid system since Gov. Bevin took office and began making changes, such as the change from kynect to benefind. If it weren't for our attention to detail, there have been times when errors were made that resulted in lapses in coverage or other extreme inconveniences. Adding more rules and regulations is only going to hurt those who most need these services. Until changes are made to make the system more easy to navigate, to better train employees, and to better support and assist those who are on Medicaid or attempting to receive benefits, it is ridiculous to begin adding even more burdens to those who are struggling to receive the benefits they need. | No. | I’d it threatens coverage, it’s bad. When I was on Medicaid and in school, this requirement would’ve been disastrous. Please don’t let them do this. |
1006 | KYNect was a great program and gave me health insurance for the first time as a not pregnant adult. ( I had insurance the 2 times I was pregnant but was kicked off after giving birth) | My husband and I both work full time. We barely make ends met much less be able to pay his stuff up front. A 6 month lock out without therapy could severally set back my child. | No. | I’m a paraplegic. I needs total Care. |
1007 | Last year, my mother had to enter a nursing home. Without a Medicaid waiver, she couldn't afford to stay there. I worry that changes in the Affordable Care Act might cause her to lose her bed. | My husband and I cannot afford childcare for our children if we both work the same shift, which means we work shifts opposite one another so we can care for our own children. Currently, I work and my husband is seeking employment, filling out applications daily and calling to follow up on them. He has not been able to find work. If he is required to work or volunteer his time or lost coverage, he will lose coverage. If you can give him a job right now, that allows him to work the opposite shift from me, then it would be fine. But I don't see the governor handing out jobs. | No. | I’m unable to do it because I’m to physically ill, in addition to it being a violation of the terms of my application for disability if I did any work or job training. |
1008 | Life saving surgery and Neuro intensive care stay | My husband is disabled, we were not able to get insurance for him before Obama Care/ACA. | No. | I’ve been unemployed, and that is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s shortsighted and cruel. |
1009 | Lifesaver! | My husband sees patients in the ICU because they were unable to afford the preventative care they needed. We know these outcomes are improving dramatically in Kentucky. Also, my school district has over 50% of students living in poverty. Medicaid and Medicaid expansion are crucial to helping our communities thrive and these students to be successful. | No. | If "abled bodied" individuals are now being required to work, I am not sure that putting "community engagement" volunteer participation would be required. If we are requiring multiple things to individuals who are not used to doing anything, we may become a society that sees more suicides than current rates. |
1010 | Living in rural area access to healthcare and mental health services is essential | My income would decrease which also means the taxes I pay would decrease. | No. | If frequent health issues might be unable to work or volunteer a set schedule. Few good days and more frequent bad days. Would need transportation component on good days |
1011 | Many children and elderly in my community count on Medicaid coverage. This is a very important program for so many. | My medical expenses are more than my monthly income. Without Medicaid, I could die. | No. | If I am required to work in order to keep the medical I have. 80 hrs a month with my health issues, and the need for extensive dental work. I would lose my coverage due to the fact I am not Hireable at this time. I am working on these issues to the best of my ability. |
1012 | Many community members were able to have Medicaid coverage under the state's expanded "kynect" program, now taken away. This had led to a healthier community -- and state! | my mentally ill son would risk break in coverage as income statements gathered | No. | If I could work I wouldn't be on as I disability |
1013 | Many families in our community are low income households. Medicaid offers them the ability to receive healthcare at a no cost or minimal cost. | My mom can't find a decent paying job that will accommodate her disability with her skill set. | No. | If I had to volunteer I would have to leave my young children, one who is breastfeeding, one who is disabled and one school aged. I don’t have access to childcare and wouldn’t be able to do it. |
1014 | Many folks are being kept out of nursing homes as a result of Medicaid | My mom has been very close to above poverty and has gone over multiple times. It is a serious hassle having to reapply for Medicaid, and running the risk of having to wait for her to get coverage could be serious depending on what might come up. Changes can happen as far as employment very quickly with a lot happening. 10 days is a very short time frame to report this and the penalty goes too far. People can have a lot going on and it is ridiculous to take away coverage because they do not think to report something in 10 days. Should be a longer period. People who can afford health care do not have to do community service to get it. Many people with little income work long hours each day, just like the people who make more money. Requiring to put that much time out of each week to volunteer just to have health coverage is not right. They have lives, jobs, and families that take a lot of time. They likely don't have time to volunteer just so they can have something as basic as health coverage. Also, people who are unemployed are often spending most of their time applying for jobs with little time to do much else. | No. I'm retired. | If I have an opinion then I need to be willingly to give back some how. I'm willingly to help those who show they want to do the right thing. That means we ALL have to step up somehow some way. |
1015 | Many folks in my community rely on Medicaid, as do friends. Some have children with disabilities, and the waiver would make it hard for working families to cover the cost of these preexisting medical conditions. | My mother has been applying for disability for 2 years and cannot leave the house. She would be ordered to pay or do volunteer work neither of which she can do. | no. But if it did it would be very difficult to always find a way to report these changes, especially if you are out there trying to work. Many of our clients do not have computers or cell phones. | If I was able bodied then I wouldn’t have a problem. But for those who are able then make them earn it by volunteering in their communities. |
1016 | Many friends and coworkers have had Medicaid at some time or have it now. Some of them had it in between jobs. Some of them have it because they work part time, are low income, and are not offered coverage through their employer, though they are looking for full time work elsewhere. Some of them are single parents who had insurance previously through a job, but are now working fewer hours in order to take care of their children on their own, and cannot get or afford insurance through their employer. Some are full-time college students who also work nearly full time at a job, but are not offered health insurance there either and are low income. Regardless, all of us need healthcare in order to stay healthy and be able to work and take care of our loved ones. I would have been on Medicaid myself for a couple of years if my dad had not been able to cover me on his employer sponsored plan until I turned 26 in 2015. But I know that many people do not have that luxury of access to coverage through their parent. | My mother is aging. Without Medicaid, it would leave her conditions untreated and shorten her life. In a decade, it could kill her. | No. I am currently trying to get my disability. I am unable to work. | If I was already working and taking care of children, it would be difficult. |
1017 | Many in community now have access to preventive and medically necessary health care | My mother not being able to work and taking her help could entirely destroy everything she's worked so hard for all of her life. Forcing single mothers who are trying to raise their kids alone would not benefit society in the long run. Those kids will be raised by babysitters and teachers with absolutely no discipline. I do agree that if they do not have younger children at home and are not employed then yes, they should have to earn their help. I understand that people get caught up in life and forget to report changes of income. My boss gives me raises and I don't notice them until I take the time to look at my pay stubs. I have direct deposit so I normally just throw the stub in my desk without opening it until I need it for something. Forgetting something like faxing a piece of paper could cause children to go to bed hungry...NOT OKAY! | No. I work very hard. Have 3 jobs to keep my family fed and insured. | If I was required, it would affect my mentality bad, which with disability, I don’t know if it’s required but it would still affect people who have kids and are busy taking care of them. |
1018 | Many in my community have benefited and it's benefited me because when people don't have insurance, they go to the ER for colds and it drives costs up. | My niece would not be able to get what she needs. Both of her parents work full time, but could not afford everything if out of pocket. | No. Stay at home with my children. | If I were unemployed, it would make caring for my children extremely difficult. |
1019 | many in our community are poor and come to our hospital or our local food bank and rent and utilities assistance utilizing Medicaid for themselves and their children | My oldest daughter is not capable of working or participating in everyday normal life. She is 43 but is a paranoid schizophrenic with a host of other disabilities. I'm raising/supporting my 3 grandchildren and I'm retired. I wouldn't be able to contribute and would be a hardship. | No. That would be a problem, of course but I am retired. | If I’m a college student and didn’t want to work and just focus on school, this would be unjustified in my opinion. There are several other circumstances as well that would make this an issue. Stop punsishing others and give us our basic human rights! Most countries don’t do this! |
1020 | Many of my parishioners are alive because of it, or receiving very important treatments because of it. | My patients (who all have chronic conditions) would stop going regularly for medical appointments and to the hospital when needed. They will get sicker than they already are, and when they finally do turn up at the ER, will require much more costly care which will fall on these patients, hospitals ,and ultimately taxpayers. | No. These complicated changes affect those who already deal with daily challenges. | If many of my clients could volunteer 80 hours a month, they would likely prefer to work for income. Work and volunteering are often interrupted by sxs. |
1021 | Many on my clients I work with have been able to obtain long overdue medical and dental treatment. This has resulted in increasing their overall health and quality of life. | My patients are able to come in for treatment and afford medications they need | No. But it would affect all the people who can't pay for phone, computer, cars, buses or Uber who are on Medicaid. | If my current job didn't meet the requirements to qualify as enough "engagement", in would be homeless or hungry trying to instead meet this requirement over my scheduled work. |
1022 | Many people who receive the expansion under Medicaid have vision and dental care that they so needed but was unable to afford! Going to an eye doctor or denist is a very expensive trip! People's teeth and eyes are very important to their overall all health! Taking this away is in no way improving health outcomes for Kentuckians! | My patients could lose coverage or postpone coverage which will limit their ability to access adequate healthcare. | No. I do not have any income. | If my husband isn't here to take care of myself and our child plus other family members he helps out we would be in bad shape. Having him here to help me helps keep me as healthy as possible. Having him help his extended family keeps them out of nursing homes. |
1023 | Many poor friends able to recover from illnesses. | My sister would not receive care needed, nor medications. | No. I've been fighting for SSI for almost 3 years and I'm considered to be 'Chronically Disabled' by my physician. | If people on waivers and people with any disability are excluded, then i think this is a good thing for the healthy participants. It improves community engagement, inclusion, and can improve self esteem thus decreasing depression. Social isolation is worse than smoking for your health so i have no problems with this rule for healthy, able people. My waiver participants could never be expected to do this. Usually they need reminders to bathe or take meds so this would be a stretch. |
1024 | Many towns in Kentucky are made up of impoverished, older populations. We need medical support to keep our communities healthy. This population will NOT seek medical care if they don't have insurance. | My sister-in-law's health issues cause her to be forgetful and disorganized. She might not be able to keep up with the paperwork and deadlines and could lose coverage. | No. It should be at least 30days | If people qualify for Medicaid its because they can’t work. Isn’t that how this works? |
1025 | Many women I know have gotten prenatal care through Medicaid. | My son and I would have no medical care at all. We would be forced to use the ER for any needs. We both wear expensive glasses due to severe needs. How are people who receive no eye care or dental care expected to stay healthy and work, read, drive, go to school, etc? These plans are beyond cruel. | No. It wouldn't so much. | If possible, they could benefit from the experience. Otherwise, they'd be a burden to the system of childcare assistance. The State would have to pay in other ways. |
1026 | Me and my children are healthy and are provided great coverage and i have had pregnancy complications with both pregnancies and was covered | My son could die | No. My husband has worked at the same place for 3 years. I currently stay home to care for our disabled child. | if there actually were work options or help finding volunteer options it could be good - but my son is mentally ill and has a felony record from past experiences with the police while he was psychotic. There aren't a lot of jobs or volunteer opportunities that are available to him. |
1027 | Me and my kids can see a doc cause I'm a single mother | My son could die. His health will suffer. | No. N/A | If you are to disabled to work this wouldn't be good at all. |
1028 | Medicaid (and Medicare) prevent our elderly from dying penniless as they did prior to LBJ's landmark legislation. My grandparents and relatives were and are able to receive medical care when they need it---not when someone scrapes together the cash. | My son could lose care he desperately needs as could many others. Lives will be destroyed. | No. No income | If your sick how are you going to participate |
1029 | Medicaid (and other assistance programs) help people receive proventitive care, which costs the community less than reactive urgent care when medical issues become too severe. | My son could lose services. We can't afford ABA therapy without the Michelle P. Waiver. | No. No income | Im a primary caregiver |
1030 | Medicaid allows low-income people to be healthier and to get well quicker. Plus, it lowers the burden on emergency rooms (the most expensive way to provide everyday care), and it ensures that ALL children get the health care they need to get a good start in life. | My son has disabilities. He needs medication and many visits to the doctor | no.yes | Im unable to work due to many health problems but I dont receive disability, just social security. I will be 64 yrs old in 2 months. |
1031 | Medicaid allows my sister to have access to supplies to treat her type 1 diabetes. | My son needs these services as a child in order to reach his maximum potential. He will likely require community-based services as an adult BUT these will allow him to hopefully live independently (or in a group home), have gainful employment, and lead a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, he was not born with the same set of "tools" as most of his peers & therefore requires an additional support system to achieve success. He also requires these services so that our family unit can remain intact. He has married parents, two younger brothers, and a sister. We rely on external support to provide him with opportunities he might not otherwise have. He requires a lot of 1 on 1 assistance for safety & guidance. | Non applicable | Impact to family that do not have access or means to participate. |
1032 | Medicaid allows people with disabilities to be their most productive and happy self. | My son wants to return to work as soon as he is able. I believe this is the case for the vast majority of Medicaid recipients. To leave the definition of "frail" up to the state would only jeoprodize the recovery process. | None | In a job desert like Kentucky a plan of this nature only exists to force people off these desperately needed programs. In short it would Rob my fellow citizens of a healthy life. |
1033 | Medicaid coverage allows problems to be diagnosed before it is TOO LATE and allows more people to continue working. | My son's disability manifests in his inability to engage with the community outside of the home. He has not been able to work, nor to attend college. If he were required to volunteer 20 hours per week, he would lose services. I wish he were able to volunteer/work 20 hours per week as that would mean that he no longer were so significantly impaired by his disability. | None | In my case i joined the Shelby Co. Volunteer Fire Dept and Rescue Squad in 1972 and left 1984. A few years later I was on a board for East 60 Volunteer and chairman for that broad for over 10 years and didn't retire until Dec.2001, 6 months later had second heart attack . So I feel that my volunteer work stands for it's selve . |
1034 | Medicaid coverage equates to a healthier, more able, and productive community. If people in my community are not healthy, then the community itself suffers. Offering coverage, no matter what, is the only way to alleviate these problems. | My spouse has Parkinson's. It is probable that we are looking at long-term health needs with the provisions listed here, we could be looking at financial ruin. | none I'm on disability and retired now | In theory, not a bad idea. But I am very concerned about the infrastructure to hire volunteers, train them, monitor their work, and report their hours. I don't think there is a plan in place to suddenly hire lots of people. |
1035 | Medicaid coverage has allowed more access to preventative care. Screenings for breast, cervical and colon cancer have been shown to save lives. Clinics and staff that have not received reimbursement are now receiving at least some reimbursement for the valuable service they provide. If Medicaid coverage is removed, the Emergency Room will once again become the "primary care doctor" and that care is much more expensive. Monitoring of chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and pulmonary function greatly improves compliance with medication regimens. | My two sons would lose coverage. Younger son is in the middle of braces treatment. My oldest son has very poor quality insurance through the marketplace (combined) w spouse coverage @ $278/mo. We can barely afford this. We support Medicare/Medicaid for all. | None, simple paperwork | In this area, it's unlikely I could get a job that didn't require me to be on my feet the whole time, which at this point in my life is painful, though I'm not "medically frail". Any employment would most likely be a half-hours' drive (one way) away as I'm in a rural area. I don't drive, so that means my husband would have to take me to work, then come home, then come back and get me after work, there being no public transportation out to the sticks. That's two hours' drive time for every day I'd work. That, and the gasoline costs would be an unfair burden and eat up a huge amount of any wages I'd earn. |
1036 | Medicaid coverage has benefited my family in so many ways. For example, I had a missing tooth, and one of teeth needed to be rotated. Without having medicaid coverage I don't think that my family would be able to afford all the expense that comes with having braces. | My uncle and aunt would die | nope, not really | Individually N/A There is nothing wrong with appropriate job training. I believe Kentucky already has such programs. However, the mandatory 80 hour/ month work requirement is not reasonable for many Medicaid individuals. |
1037 | Medicaid coverage is very important to my two brothers with disabilities. They would not be able to get therapy and some medication without these services. | My wife is working what might appear to not be full time, but as a self employed person, she's working 16 hours a day. If she's got to justify that/volunteer 20 hours a week - that's crazy! | Not affect | Ineffective especially in counties of Clay, Magoffin, Letcher, Bell, Wayne, Casey, pulaski and Lincoln counties. |
1038 | Medicaid covered my dad's cancer treatments for multiple myeloma. He was UNABLE to work due to his illness | Needy individuals would lose health coverage | Not affect me. | it would give me an incentive to know that I was earning something; I do not believe in freebies. there is no such thing as freebies, someone has to pay for all of those freebies, work will make the person feel better about themselves and encourage finding employment or going back to school. this will decrease lot of mental health issues and perhaps get someone out of the addiction. |
1039 | Medicaid covers part of what Medicare doesn't and without it, my prescription costs would be more than my income | No change in under poverty level | Not applicable | It can be difficult for others to participate especially if they don't have transportation. |
1040 | Medicaid covers the most vulnerable among us. Without it, many wouldn't have access to the medical services they need. Many times covering the most vulnerable can benefit everyone else through a reduction in communicable diseases. Also, by more people having access to Medicaid, that reduces the financial stress on our medical system through lower percentages of unpaid medical bills. | No consideration for mental illness. If my sister was able to work 20 hours a week she may not need Medicaid. Many people with mental disabilities have difficulty with organization. 6 mo penalty is to harsh. | Not applicable | It does not affect me but I have friends who would have to register. Do you know how much it costs to take public transit to a "volunteer" job? There's no way a cash poor Medicaid recipient could afford the cash to take two buses to get to a volunteer job, and then home again! |
1041 | Medicaid gives low income Kentuckians the opportunity to have healthcare when they may otherwise not be able to afford it. Just because a person or family is poor doesn't mean they should be without healthcare. Also, many Medicaid recipients are of a lower education level and have a hard time finding work. | No coverage means people will be unable to prevent easily preventable illnesses and will have to rely on the ER for their care. This leads to higher costs overall. | Not applicable | It does not affect me, but it does affect my son. |
1042 | Medicaid gives my daughter access to the medications that keep her OCD under control and permit her to hold down a job, serve the community in several forms of volunteer work, and in general to live a happier, more productive life. | No good to the community will come from these heinous changes. | Not applicable | It does not apply to me personally but I foresee problems for many in rural areas in finding volunteer locations. It will also be difficult to monitor and document. |
1043 | medicaid has been a blessing for helping my grandmother pay for nursing home care-- I don't know how we'd have done it with out the assistance | No one knows what tomorrow holds. | Not applicable for me. Changes within 10 days is unreasonable, as people are hospitalized for lengthy stays and unable to pay bills, communicate, file for disability, may lose their job.... | It does not directly impact me but I believe this is an inappropriate requirement for so many people who receive Medicaid benefits. |
1044 | Medicaid has been a life saver for me. It has afforded me the opportunity to care for my grandfather and have health insurance during that time. I had to leave my job to care for him, and if there wasn't some type of healthcare backup available, I wouldn't have been able to care for him. Medicaid helps support people of low income and in need of assistance. No one wants to be poor. Not one wants to ask for help. But when times get hard, it's a comfort and a blessing to know there is a backup. | none of the changes being proposed would effect my family. | Not applicable for me. However, for many working poor people scraping by, adding one more stressor is not helpful, nor is it necessary!!! | It does not effect me, but I don't think there are enough job training sites to accommodate people 80 hours per month. The participant needs to get something out of the job training for it to be beneficial. Hanging out for 20 hours per week because there are 5 volunteers to do the job of 1 is not beneficial to anyone. |
1045 | Medicaid has enabled my family member to have some medical coverage they couldn't othe rise afford. | none of these Changes will help my family they will Infact Hurt my family. I have 5 kids No way can i have time to Volunteer in my community. with my family's Issues that would take me from them | Not applicable personally or for my family. | It doesn't affect me personally because I'm not a Medicaid recipient. Improving availability of volunteer, employment, and job training opportunities seems like a great idea, but having a requirement for participation doesn't make sense. It's something else to have to track and seems to add a layer of unneeded complexity. Some communities will have more opportunities than others which will make it more burdensome to meet this requirement in those communities than for the population at large. That seems unfair and punitive. |
1046 | Medicaid has literally saved my life, allowing me to get a life-changing surgery I desperately needed. My doctors, network, & pharmacy work together to finally get an action plan for my medical issues. Please don't take away my Healthcare. | Not Able to consistenty work. Probably would not be able to do this and thus denied coverage thus denied medicine. | Not applicable to me | It doesn't impact me but there is not enough businesses in my county to accommodate that many people on Medicaid. |
1047 | Medicaid has paid for the majority of births in my family in the last 10 years | Not all adults can volunteer, because they are full-time, unpaid caregivers. People who are poor can't afford to pay upfront premiums. | not applicable to me but many people lack the foresight and means to be able to report these changes, people on Medicaid do not always have phone, internet, or reliable transportation so this is an unfair burden on them | It doesn't. I work 52 hours a week and get health insurance through my job. |
1048 | Medicaid has saved my life by helping pay for medications and go to the Dr for monitoring the medication. | not beibg able to go the doctor | Not applicable to me but sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare to process, especially with administrative budget cuts. | It doesn’t my family members, especially granddaughter who is attempting to raise a child and go to school full time it might but I still believe it is a good idea |
1049 | Medicaid helped cover costs of health care for my grandfather before he passed away in a nursing home last winter. Without these benefits, he and the family would have suffered greatly, not only financially, but physically as well. | Not providing adequate health coverage, for all, will only make the situation worse...for everyone. If I can't afford to see a doctor, or get prescriptions... I will get sicker and not be able to work. | Not applicable to me, but certainly a problem for people I work with. | it doesnt |
1050 | Medicaid helps make medical care affordable. Costs are entirely too high in america, and any system that sets out to penalize the poor/prevent their access to medical care is irresponsible on the state's end. | Not sure how I will Afford insurance!? | Not applicable to me, but people with substance use disorders (SUD) have lives that are unmanageable, including gaining and losing employment and housing. This requirement would make it extremely difficult for them to maintain coverage. | It impact my father and I terribly. It would be a total hardship. It would take time away from his care and I would have to hire a sitter that I cannot afford. Plus, I cannot sit or stand for very long. I have a lot of back pain and it would be worse if I had to do that |
1051 | Medicaid helps my adult son to be able to have a part-time job and go to school. My son has a lifetime disability and may never be able to hold a job that will allow him to have paid medical coverage. | Not sure how it would affect nursing home residents | Not applicable to me. | It impact my father and I terribly. It would be a total hardship. It would take time away from his care and I would have to hire a sitter that I cannot afford. Plus, I cannot sit or stand for very long. I have a lot of back pain and it would be worse if I had to do that |
1052 | Medicaid helps our entire community by offsetting the weight of mental illness, poverty, inability to access resources, overburdening of working multiple jobs and still not being able to support family because of low wages. | Not sure how this will affect people in nursing homes...but there are so many people getting disability checks that a very capable of working...get the alcoholic & drug users rehab & then help find them a job...if they fail to help themselves they shouldn't get Medicaid or welfare | Not applicable. | It is a moot point since I have medicare |
1053 | Medicaid helps the people in my community to suffer less. | Obviously, the immediate impact is to the individual but it will also have a significant effect on hospitals, physicians and anyone employed in the physical or mental health professions. Medicaid literally brings in billions of dollars to Kentucky's economy. This will have dramatic effects on the economy across the state. Many hospitals and clinics will be forced to close and thus unemployment will increase. Ultimately this will result in people not being able to pay their bills and so even those businesses not involved in healthcare will be effected. In many rural areas, hospitals and community mental health centers are the county's largest employer. This is a very short sighted policy proposal. | Not apply - I am a healthcare provider. | It is discriminatory and punitive towards the poor. |
1054 | Medicaid is a moral and just healthcare benefit to the otherwise unserved/under served members of our community. | Oftentimes we do not have access to internet. This can make it very difficult to report changes or pay premiums on time. A 6 month lock-out from healthcare coverage for having limited access to broadband in rural areas is not ethical. | Not as much as it used to but yes it can be difficult for people who have unstable or varied employment. | It is pie in the sky. I'm a full time caregiver to my child with disabilities. Like I said before dealing with all the problems I do each year with her Medicaid alone should count as a community engagement! |
1055 | Medicaid is literally all my family has been able to have. It's the thing keeping us alive. It's the thing keeping us kicking. I was raised by my grandmother. Our only income was her disability check. You think we could afford anything else? You think we wanted to use Medicaid? Have you ever been to a Medicaid doctor? They're overworked. They're underappreciated. And honestly, a lot of the time, they're not good enough. The reason I'm even remotely healthy is programs like Medicaid. | One of the things these change would do would be to further marginalized and oppress he poor by putting and keeping them under constant scrutiny and suspicion of violating the program. The time required to constantly report fluctuations n income can be overwhelming in an already busy and chaotic life.. Navigating the social support system as a whole and fulfilling the requirements of different agencies-takes time and organization which many families may not have. | Not at all | It probably wouldn't, except for overloading systems and needed more people to enforce the requirements. Consequentially, I think I would see more tax dollars being used to pay the salaries of the people hired to create, construct, and manage the system. |
1056 | Medicaid is the only thing keeping my family alive. My mother has cancer. She's in her sixties. What else would you have us do? | One or more close family members would be dead. | Not at the present time as I am on a fixed income (SSDI). | It seems to me that most people receiving Medicaid are working (or are in nursing homes.) I have friends that are so overwhelmed with caring for children and elderly parents, that it seems cruel to ask them for more. |
1057 | Medicaid is the only way for me to have healthcare. I was born with Kyphosis and had to have my spine fused together with metal rods. Since then I have been in severe chronic pain. I have multiple bulging discs, DDD and arthritis of the spine. Without Medicaid I would have no way of reiciving care or access to pain management or medication and would most likely just kill myself. Medicaid has been a lifesaver for me. | Our community is 70% on the school lunch program. Every dollar required for health care for these families is a dollar that they cannot use for food. With food subsidies under siege as well, I forsee a good number of people both ill and mal-nourished. I lay this at the state's door. | not at this time. | It sounds like a nightmare unless some provisions were made to establish volunteer opportunities in the communities. I work with volunteers at our local library and I know the realities include training, monitoring quality, administering hours...will public institutions be given more funds to increase staff to perform these additional functions in addition to their regular tasks? |
1058 | Medicaid keeps people healthy and keeps people from using the ER as their primary care | Our community is healthier when everyone has real access to health care, especially preventive care and mental health services. | Not currently, but it would if I was still in a tip-based position. In those positions, income varies widely, and this requirement would significantly increase paperwork for Medicaid employees | it was never a requirement for the poor.when singed in to law,by LBJ. |
1059 | Medicaid keeps people healthy and keeps people from using the ER as their primary care | Our community will have to "deal with" individuals who lose access to Medicaid card one way or another. They will show up at hospital ERs in medical crisis for treatment which is MUCH more expensive than providing health care in a clinic or doctor office setting. These changes are not going to save the state money if that is the intent. We will all be paying. | Not effect | It will be hard for me with the job I have to maintain it. |
1060 | Medicaid keeps people healthy and keeps people from using the ER as their primary care | Our community would suffer. People should have medical a d behavioral health care. | Not employed. | It will impact my ability to offer programs to community members needing services, as they will have less opportunity to seek education and workforce development programs |
1061 | Medicaid keeps people in my community healthier, which makes our community healthier as a whole. | Our family would not survive. We already avoid the doctors' office if we can. We already wait until the last possible minute, until we've been red and puffy and sickly for weeks. Medicaid is our only stand in. Please stop trying to kill my grandmother. | Not enough time | It will not impact me. However, monitoring this will require much additional funding which will probably cost more than providing access to programs designed to detect health problems earlier which should result in considerable long term savings. |
1062 | Medicaid makes it possible for my family member to live. Otherwise dead. No joke. | Penalizes the most vulnerable citizens, increased bureaucratic overhead | Not enough time. I would not be covered. | It will not only cause people who are not working to lose coverage, but people who are working, people who have a disability, just about all Medicaid enrollees would be at risk. this doesn't promote Medicaid's objectives of "furnishing Medical Assistance". It is illegal. |
1063 | Medicaid paid for all of my mothers end of life care. Sh passed away at age 60 in Sept the 2016. Her illness was not something my family was financially prepared to handle. My husband and I graduated right into the recession. Neither of our careers have enabled us to financially prepare for a family terminal illness. We had a very limited amount of time since the doctors told my mother she only had 6-12 months left to live. Because the state of TN, where my mother lived, did not expand Medicaid, it took our family 8 months to qualify for Medicaid and disability. She qualified two months before she need a nursing home. Medicaid covered all of her end of life care, something my husband and I could never have done for her. | People could accidentally miss deadlines. Punishing them is unfair. | Not for me, but I can see how someone working a part time job would be affected. | It won't hurt me, but many people who are on Medicaid are disabled or in extreme poverty, they may not have child care, or elder care that would enable them to leave the house. |
1064 | Medicaid plays a vital role in the lives of my students and their families. Eighty-five percent of the students I currently service have complex medical needs and many of them would not have received the needed treatment if medicaid had not been there. Medicaid also provides Orientation and Mobility Services to some of my students with blindness and visual impairments. Without these services, students would not be taught the skills necessary for safe and independent travel. | People I know and love and those I don't know would suffer needlessly and die from easily controlled medical condition..C-mon man...please for fucks sake! | Not me--but for others in my community they may be impacted if they are without the resources (phone, car, computer/internet) to quickly report the change. | it won't impact me |
1065 | Medicaid protects vulnerable populations. As a human being, a member of a family, an employee, as a resident of a community, it matters to me even if I am not (by the grace of God) part of the "vulnerable" today. Expanded health care access means healthier people more able to attend to their preventative care rather than having to wait until something catastrophic happens that could have been caught and/or prevented. It means ERs are not overrun with uninsured non emergency type needs. It means hospitals can be by being reimbursed for all the indigent care they provide. Mentally ill have access to medications and services that help them remain stable in the community. Physically disabled have home health care and other services needed to stay in their home rather than go into group homes and other institutions. | People in my area of the state would loose health coverage and be forced to go without much need medications and monitoring. These people without coverage would be forced to go to the Emergency Room more often and end up costing the state more money in the long run through expensive and not long term sources of care. | Not me, my son who is disabled. | It won't. |
1066 | Medicaid provides insurance coverage to those who are unable to afford it in my community. I live in rural Kentucky, so many members of my community benefit from the Medicaid program. I am happy to pay a bit more on my taxes to make sure that the needy in my community have access to affordable health care. A healthy community is better for all of us, and I think it's necessary that we take care of one another. | People in our community who can least afford to pay for coverage would have to make decisions between health coverage and other bills. | not myself personally I am lucky to have long term employment. The fact is that that is rare now why should people be penalized for business closures, layoffs and downsizing? | It won't. After I retired, I worked part time in the public library. Government agencies could not get enough businesses to allow volunteers to get their hours in as it is. Adding more just isn't a working reality. |
1067 | Medicaid was a lifesaver for my elderly parents when they could not longer take care of themselves. Besides them I am aware of many people who would be among the homeless without the ehlp of Medicaid. More people without a place to live and without food to eat is not stabilizing for our community. | People NEED medicaid. It's supposed to AID people with their medical costs. People who work and can't afford insurance should be able to get it- without having to be pregnant or blind. | Not only would it be an imposition on my time and energy, but also implies a punitive attitude on the state government's part. | It wont. |
1068 | Medicaid/Medicare are what keep our small, rural hospital operating. We need the ambulance service, ER and swing beds that it provides. | People who are already suffering from poverty, chronic untreated health problems, and lack of transportation do not need to be required to volunteer 20 hours a week to receive health care benefits. They are usually incapable of such. It sounds like a outside-the-box solution but has absolutely no practical merit. The working poor are everywhere and historically have been left out of every category of help to obtain medical care. The expansion of Medicaid was a limited start on a solution for this great segment of our society. Much more was needed. To go backwards is cruel and inhumane. If we want everyone to have health care, we need to get busy and figure out how to afford it, just as we figure out how to spend massively in foreign countries to kill people. | Not reasonable and below the Qualifying Event time line for commercial coverage. Why enforce shorter times for an already at risk population? | It would affect my income stream for work, if my clients that use the insurance suddenly found themselves without insurance...appointment cancellations and clients unable to afford services means no work or income for me. |
1069 | Members of my community have benefited as they have been able to receive care they would otherwise have been unable to afford or access. | People who are unable to work due to illness would lose coverage & could not afford treatment & meds | Not regularly but 10 days is way too little time. | It would allow taxpayers to recover some of the expense of paying for healthcare. |
1070 | Mental health coverage has been Provided my family member. It has been difficult when the disease waxes for him to maintain compliance with meds due to their side effects. Compliance with treatment regimen and timeliness of completing forms is difficult because he can't maintain focus (medication side ecfect and disease issue). | People who need coverage often do not have support or means to make these things happen in a timely manner or, even at all in some cases. | Not regularly, but Kentucky is an at will state, and I've been laid off with severance pay, when benefits were cut off immediately | It would be a hardship. |
1071 | More children able to have insurance. They are healthier. | People who need help quickly would be unable to if they couldn't pay up front given the proposed changes. It endangers community health. | Not very regularly, but it is frustrating to be facing these kinds of changes because the system does not make it easy to report changes. The wait time on the phone can be over an hour, and I have been cut off regularly once I get to the front of the “line”. The website has never worked for my family, every time we try to log in online, the page redirects us and says we have to call our DCBS office. I have reported some changes several times and for whatever reason, they are not appropriately updating our files to reflect these changes. If the proposed changes are approved, faulty reporting systems and/or someone else’s mistakes could cost my family access to healthcare. | It would be almost impossible for the many Kentuckians on Medicaid to find jobs. If this many jobs were readily available, many people wouldn't be on Medicaid to begin with. |
1072 | More lower-income people have coverage for their health care needs and hospitals are being reimbursed for medical treatment at a higher rate. | People who work variable hour jobs (anything that someone else schedules for you -- like a restaurant, day labor, seasonal work, etc) would have a hard time reporting changes in labor hours. Is your system really set up to handle that or are you trying to make it complicated enough that people quit working to keep their Medicaid? | Often changes take us out of routine cycles, and are in them selves time consuming, time limits as short as 10 days can prove difficult to meet. | It would be difficult due to my health conditions. |
1073 | More people are able to access substance abuse treatment. | People will die | Older people with disabilities or illness don't have access | It would be difficult during setbacks with mental health issues |
1074 | More people can get medical care. Individuals with mental health issues and or addiction can access treatment | People will die Sickness & disease will spread | Online registration telephone. | It would be hard to add any work load or volunteer with everything else in raising a family on my scheduled day after years then learning or doing something new or different that would make anxiety rise. |
1075 | More people have basic health care coverage, meaning people are healthier and the economy is better | People will die under these changes that don't have to..... | Our daughter is unable to work. | It would be hard. My daughter is disabled. She can't be in daycare per doctors orders and no daycare or sitter will accept her bc of her health issues. If I can't work bc of those problems how can I do community service? Will they provide a care giver for her? If so I don't mind but if they can't provide a nurse for her i can't do it. |
1076 | More people in Kentucky have had better health outcomes since getting coverage through the ACA. How can we harm the poorest and sickest in our state? | People will die. Plain and simple | Our income does change frequently due to my husband running a business. We do not use Medicaid however. But I can see for my patients/families, this would be incredibly challenging to meet this requirement. | It would be harmful to families trying to hold down a job |
1077 | More people wit health coverage helps improve the health of individuals and, ultimately, the whole community. | People will die. Plain and simple. These are effects I don't want to have to live with. | Our income fluctuates based on the hours worked | It would be impossible due to my parents' health. |
1078 | Most people in my community are dependent to some degree on Medicaid. Single payer universal health care needs to get here quickly | People will die. Resources that existed before the ACA don't exist anymore because they were no longer needed with so many more people were covered. If you make these changes, you will kill people. | Our income is extremely variable. Many months nothing, then thousands all at once. how do you report that?? | It would be impossible for my daughter to work 80 hours per month. |
1079 | My "community" is adults with severe mental illness. Medicaid is the primary payer for the services needed to treat the illness through medication, therapy and psycho-social rehabilitation interventions. With the right interventions funded by Medicaid they are able to recover, live independently in the community and return to work, school , family and social relationships | People will die. They won't go to the doctor. | Overall, I beleive this is too short of a time period. I beleive 60 days would be appropriate to allow for job training and bring hired beyond the trial period for jobs. | It would be impossible for these friends to keep their current jobs, school, and family schedule as of now if they are required to do any more additional hours. |
1080 | My 21 year old son is autistic and these changes ciuld devastate his and our family's lives, medically and financially. | People will not be able to get health care they need. Nonprofits will carry bulk of burden of keeping recipients on the roles in order to keep them from losing coverage. "Free" labor is costly to agencies if those persons do not have needed skills and motivation to succeed. Ask anyone that's ever had to supervise a college intern. | People I know would be reporting all the time. As we all know 10 days go by very quickly, they don't even get paid every 10 days. | It would be ludicrous, in my opinion, to require this of my severely disabled son. He went through vocational rehab and even tried a work trial putting CDs in CD cases until his fingers bled, and he never achieved a speed that would be necessary even for supported employment. I don’t understand the point of revisiting this, putting him at risk, and disrupting his health and environment. He has medicaid because he is severely disabled and unable to work. |
1081 | My 28 year old daughter works 24 hours/week as a server in a restaurant who does NOT offer health insurance. She also goes to school. Bevin wants to take away that coverage. What will she do?! | people will suffer due to not having the insurance to assist them | People I serve have frequent income changes. They lose jobs, do temporary work, become eligible and ineligible for benefits frequently, lose housing, move around, and generally lead very unstable lives. It is very difficult for them to get around to visit government offices, they do not have easy access to computers or may not have literacy skills, and many do not have phones. It is unlikely people I a see daily would be able to keep up with this requirement, and would ultimately lost benefits. | It would be nearly impossible for some of my more SMI clients to work. They are disabled. |
1082 | My 8 year old | People would be healthier, and therefore, be contributing to society. | REAL BAD | It would be restrictive and humiliating to be asked to report my work and charitable time to the agency. |
1083 | My 8 year old daughter suffers from multiple rare, life threatening congenital diseases. My husband and I both work full time and have decent insurance benefits through our employers. However, without Medicaid, our daughter's medical needs would have been financially catastrophic to our family. Her primary insurance provider (Humana) routinely denies claims, which are then covered by her Medicaid waiver. The waiver also allowed us to utilize a skilled nursing medical day care facility so that we could both continue working full time and ensure she received the appropriate level of care. | People would be kicked out of nursing homes & family members who are employed full time would be forced to quit their jobs in order to provide care. Therefore the entire family would end up on Medicaid. | Reporting changes is often problematic for people with mental health problems due to their mood and thought disorders. | It would be terrible as part time work doesn't guarantee you a certain amount of hours per week or month. You may work 6 hours one week and 20 the next. If you can't get enough work, you are punished by losing your health insurance. Your health could decline during the lockout period and you may not even be able to work by the time that you can re-apply. Let alone having money to pay premiums. Medical bills would pile up for these people. Community Engagement/work requirements are illegal in Medicaid. |
1084 | My 80-year-old mother has Medicaid and it has been a life saver when she underwent treatment for bladder cancer. Also, she uses the benefits for her general well-visits and has been very healthy as a result. | people would become more hopeless and desperate | Reporting changes requires paperwork and going to the office where you set for hours only to have to repeat this in a few days. Employers know this so they use it to keep people working in bad situations. | It would be to hard. I'm in chronic daily pain. |
1085 | My 9 year old son has a rare condition which requires regular doctors visits and expensive medications. Treatment would not be possible without Medicaid. He is just one of thousands in this same situation. | People would die. People would not receive treatments, and medications that they need. These deaths would be on the governors hands. | Reporting changes within 10 days is ridiculous. 30 days is better, but really it should just be updated twice a year at recertification time. I change jobs a lot because of how strict my home needs are given my situation. Sometimes it feels like I'm calling them every week. | It would be very, very hard, if not impossible for many of the members @ Bridgehaven to volunteer without our direct help. Many are not ready yet for the work force, and this could make it impossible for them to attend the daily classes and projects that have helped them to become partially rehabilitated to the point of socialism. |
1086 | My 96 year old mother is living in a nursing home, thanks to Medicaid. It has saved her life. I am a cancer patient and cannot take care of her. | People would give up, and would not get health care they need. These are unnecessary hoops that penalize for small mistakes or oversights. | retired | It would cause my patients to encounter undue pain and suffering because of requirements they couldn't meet |
1087 | My adopted child has CP with many medical conditions. We would not have been able to adopt her without it due to finical burden. | People would go without the medical care that they need for sustaining life. Medical coverage is a basic human need. | retired | It would change a 40-hour work week into a 60-hour work week. And if someone was already working two jobs, they could end up working up to 100 hours per week to comply with this requirement. They'd never see their children, wouldn't be able to take care of normal tasks and would likely become sick from exhaustion and stress. |
1088 | My adult son who has intellectual disabilities receives support from the Michelle P waiver. It enables him to be more independent in the community and provides it provides job support services. | People wouldn't have access to life-saving interventions and just plain well care. To choose to kill people by rescinding this support is unbelievable. What type of person would do that? Certainly not a Christian. | Retired and not anticipating this type of change | It would depend on how it defined these activities. I already work, but if it required me to leave my disabled daughter at home while I went out and did volunteer activities on top of this just to have basic medical coverage then I'd likely have to just lose my insurance. So it could very well have a significant impact on my health care options. |
1089 | My aunt gets life saving and increased quality of life care with out the worry of bankruptcy, denial of coverage due to a pre existing condition. | Personally this would not affect my family member. However, it will affect a lot of folks I know and serve. | retired now; but that would be a very onerous requirement for someone dealing with survivability. | It would depend on the hours and days. Half days would be easier to deal with than full days. |
1090 | My aunt has muscular sclerosis and is bed ridden. Thanks to medicaid she gets the care she needs in a nursing home. | Physical health varies day to day - Medication does not always work satisfactorily. | Right now it would not affect me because I’m on long-term disability, trying to get disability BUT that is too small a timeframe. A month is more reasonable when you are mentally disabled & things get stressful so quick you can’t process it. It’s almost like you are trying to get rid of coverage for people who need it. | it would deprive me of my health care. I do not have time to work in 80 extra hours of stuff a month. |
1091 | My aunt Mary has Down syndrome and my mother is her full-time caretaker. Both Mary and my mother have benefited from Mary's Medicaid coverage without which both would be unable to attain adequate healthcare. | Pick your poison. The government can either give me health insurance, or I can collect disability to pay off my hospital debt. I work full time and have 3 part time jobs. She works full time and has a part time job and still qualifies for Medicaid. She needs surgery. Kelly Conway said people on Medicaid just need jobs. That is the Republican myth. They say that to get people to oppose government assistance. They want the public to believe if you qualify for assistance, it's because you're lazy. You can work full time minimum wage and live in poverty. That's immoral. | Right now, no it doesn’t. That is not much time to report. | It would destroy me. I have severe panic attacks just going to the dr office. I sweat and tremble. The post traumatic stress freaks me out. I know I would not be able to do tht many hours around strangers. |
1092 | My autistic daughters get home services currently ABA therapy. | Please DO NOT TAKE AWAY MY HEALTHCARE I AM A DIABETIC AND I HAVE SEVERE HEART DISEASE I CANNOT PAY FOR DR VISITS TESTS OR MY MEDICINE PLEASE STOP THIS | Self employed and seasonal workers would not be a able to conform to this. | It would do my heart good to see deadbeats have to get up and do some work in the mornings. |
1093 | My autistic son is on the Michelle P. Waiver. It allows him to attend therapy that will make him more independent and less reliant on public services as an adult. It helps pay for a caregiver that allows me to work outside of the home and earn money to help support our family. | Please read my answer to the first question, the answer is in there as well! | Self employed so income fluctuations often. Would make it very complicated. | It would frustrate me to see my government treat human dignity as an earned achievement rather than an accepted norm. |
1094 | My autistic son is on the Michelle P. Waiver. It allows him to attend therapy that will make him more independent and less reliant on public services as an adult. It helps pay for a caregiver that allows me to work outside of the home and earn money to help support our family. | Please see my response above. Hundreds of men in our shelter, as well as the 72 men in housing, would lose coverage to essential care. | Several family members have erratic work schedules and income. Some do not have internet access to report. | It would get employable people off of their sofas and out into society, which would be good for their mental health, set a better example for their children, and may help them to build skills. |
1095 | My autistic son is on the Michelle P. Waiver. It allows him to attend therapy that will make him more independent and less reliant on public services as an adult. It helps pay for a caregiver that allows me to work outside of the home and earn money to help support our family. | Please see the above answer which includes this. | Should be thirty days. | It would hinder my recovery if i were forced into environments or obligations i am not capable of. |
1096 | My autistic son is on the Michelle P. Waiver. It allows him to attend therapy that will make him more independent and less reliant on public services as an adult. It helps pay for a caregiver that allows me to work outside of the home and earn money to help support our family. | Please, please please, no extra paperwork. It is overwhelming to those caring for children, trying to find all the birth certificates and health records. Sometimes they never find them and have request new ones which can take up to 6 weeks delaying care for sick children. | should have a system set up that flags employment changes ; when received notify the medicaid receiver and cut off medicaid until they notify changes. | It would hurt me via hurting my community. Most of our patients who are unable to work because of mental health reasons would lose coverage and we would lose clients, and I imagine our crime rates would rise due to economic desperation and lack of access to healthcare. |
1097 | My best friend utilized it when her son was born and her husband had unexpectedly lost his job. My friends with children who have special needs utilizes it so she can stay home to take care of them. | Poors people with diabetes and other chronic mental or physical disabilities would die. I couldn't get my colonoscopies or see my eye Doctor and other needed tests. | Should have to report from last day of employment. | It would hurt the disabled |
1098 | My brother gets to stay alive. He'll die without coverage. | ppl will be going bankrupt | Sometimes there are long lines at community base office should be a thirty day requirements | It would impact clients who need disability for ailments or mental illness and they can not work if they are disabled. I support others who need temporary benefits being required to volunteer time or work. |
1099 | My brother has a spinal cord injury. He is unable to work because any income he receives causes him to lose disability and Medicaid benefits. He can never get ahead of his fixed income as their is no gap coverage options. My sister has a mental illness. | Pretty much covered above - no regular screening for my Crohn's and for colon cancer. No medications for anxiety, depression and high blood pressure. No regular testing for my blood sugar. | Sometimes. Despite an advanced degree and years of quality experience, my work sector is volatile because of state budget cuts, and I've found myself suddenly without work sometimes. 10 days is possible for me, but I know peers for whom it would not be. | It would impact me because members in the community I serve through the BHSO where I'm employed would not have as much time to focus on treatment because they will be focused on meeting the eligibility requirements. |
1100 | my brother in law is alive because if Medicaid. He was diagnose type one diabetic as a child and needs insulin. Without Medicaid he wouldn't have been diagnosed as quickly and wouldn't be able to afford his medication. | Pretty simple: less people still have coverage, more people will be sick and even worse, more people will perish. | Sometimes. It would be a problem. | It would impact me by requiring me to do something that makes me uncomfortable. The MS in affected by standing for long periods, and most activities. |
1101 | My brother is mentally handicapped and is currently in assisted living paid through medicaid. | Prevent children from receiving much need healthcare and mental health services | Sorta I gain and lose clients... it would be a constant hassle to keep up with | It would impact me greatly |
1102 | My brother was disabled and able to gain Medicaid to seek medical treatment for a lingering illness. It turned it to be cancer. I believe that while Medicaid allowed him to get a diagnosis, he would not have died if he had Medicaid earlier thus receiving earlier treatment. | Proposed changes would put the healthcare access that's benefited my loved ones at risk. In addition, requirements to give away free labor will constrain members of my community in their efforts to find wage-earning work that can sustain their families and promote longterm well-being. | sounds fair to me. | It would impact me only in the sense that I am disgusted that human beings can even come up with the plan that encompasses this requirement. Make it a voluntary enrollment program, and I could possibly support it. |
1103 | My child has autism And is covered under the Michelle p waiver in which he received Medicaid. Without Medicaid he would not receive behavior supports. This is not covered by our primary insurance (most insurers do not cover behavior) and without this service my child would not be as high functioning as he is. Realistically he would have been a societal risk as an adult and that is no longer the case. | Public Schools in Kentucky are able to bill school nurses to Medicaid. Under proposed rollbacks school systems like mine can lose as much as $300,000 a year resulting in a loss of those jobs and resources as well as care in schools for children who may not have care at home of for first aid in schools. | Stop penalizing the poor | It would impact my clients tremendously. Some of them have profound intellectual disabilities. Some have dual diagnoses. Some can't see, hear, speak, or walk. They would not appreciate the importance of volunteering, working or participating in job training. |
1104 | My child has autism and under waiver services, he is able to have additional support he needs to eventually come off of Medicaid as an adult. | rather than addressing issues of healthcare, or actual job training, energy and money wlll be spent policing those in need. Complicattd system obviously designed to make it difficult and easier to opt out or be locked out. | Ten day is not enough time for most people to report when changes happen. | It would impact my family members. Lack of transportation, no internet access and health issues. |
1105 | My child has coverage | Reduction in coverage would mean less people able to seek care, which if things were really bad could result in us having to let employees go. | Ten days is not enough time, a month is barely enough. People working seasonal temp jobs should not be further inconvenienced because their situation generates more paperwork. | It would impact our dialysis patients who spend 12 hours per week in treatment. This does not count getting to and from treatments, or the time recovering from the treatments. |
1106 | My child has down syndrome and without Medicaid as a secondary insurance coverage she would not have a lot of the medical coverage that she needs. Open Heart Surgery and a visit with heart failure would have bankrupted us and it does not include the countless amount of other doctors she has to visit. | Refugees have no income on arrival in the United States, and if there is a delay in their Medicaid coverage, it can result in hundreds of dollars of medical bills from medical care required by the US State Department. | Ten days is not fair. Does that mean if this happens on a Friday we get 2 extra days? | It would impact those in my community who are providing care to family members or are on Medicaid because they are unable to do the above anyway. |
1107 | My child has Down syndrome with many health care needs as well as therapies necessary to improve life and her future. | Requiring adults to volunteer or participate in work activities for 20 hours per week to earn Medicaid coverage may be detrimental to individuals who for whatever reason do not have the transportation/time/ability to volunteer or participate in work activities. | Ten days is too short of a turnaround time, unless the Governor's office wants to start operating on a 10-day turnaround for all of its business. | It would impinge upon my access to coverage which is my tight by the Medicaid law |
1108 | My child was able to receive preventive services, immunizations, dental care and sealants and required medical care while I was getting on my feet after divorce. I worked and attended school during this entire period. | Requiring documentation of hours worked would be burdensome to my husband, a self-employed carpenter with a varying work schedule. A mandatory six-month lockout for missing a deadline could cripple our family financially, or lead to health complications if our children cannot visit the doctor or dentist as needed. | Thanks goodness mine does not but I know waiters' and farmers' income changes from month to month. | It would just be a hassle. LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT HEALTH CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR KIDS, I already bust my tail working and volunteering, improving and engaging in my community. It would cost more to pay somebody to process my reporting and waste my limited time/patience in some Kafka-esque reporting process. Not for one hot second do I believe this work requirement is anything but an opportunity to give folks the boot. That's nasty. My community appreciates that I'll be able to ENGAGE more by having healthy kids and less stress. |
1109 | My children benefit from this program because they're 'father' who I'd court ordered to carry medical insurance on them does not because he can't hold a job. My work does not offer medical insurance. | Requiring documentation of hours worked would be burdensome to my husband, a self-employed carpenter with a varying work schedule. A mandatory six-month lockout for missing a deadline could cripple our family financially, or lead to health complications if our children cannot visit the doctor or dentist as needed. | That would be difficult, confusing, and may interrupt coverage, especially if the income is inconsistent. | It would make it hard for me to support myself. |
1110 | My children have health insurance - I am able to take them to the doctor, and prevent communication of illness to others in their school. I am also able to verify their illnesses for my employer, and keep my employment! | Requiring documentation of hours worked would be burdensome to my husband, a self-employed carpenter with a varying work schedule. A mandatory six-month lockout for missing a deadline could cripple our family financially, or lead to health complications if our children cannot visit the doctor or dentist as needed. | That’s too short | It would make it harder to get insurance coverage for someone who has disability such as my self |
1111 | My children have used Medicaid for the past 2 years and it has been invaluable to us. Their medicines and appts are covered and it has been a Godsend. I was on it for 6 months and had emergency gallbladder surgery that was covered. I would still be paying on the bills if it wasn't for Medicaid. | Restricting access to Medicaid and adding unnecessary hurdles for families to jump through in order to obtain services would stigmatize those who legitimately need help and would reduce the overall physical health and economic well-being of our communities. I believe investing in our citizens is one of the main reasons government exists and that we should be encouraging rather than discouraging eligible people to enroll in Medicaid and similar programs. | The 10 days is not enough - some individuals will need assistance in reporting. | It would make it more difficult as my husband is a full time caregiver for our child and I have the sole income for our family, yet he still needs healthcare via Medicaid. |
1112 | My children have used Medicaid for the past 2 years and it has been invaluable to us. Their medicines and appts are covered and it has been a Godsend. I was on it for 6 months and had emergency gallbladder surgery that was covered. I would still be paying on the bills if it wasn't for Medicaid. | Right now they wouldn't because of pregnancy, but if I can't find a job without insurance afterwards it's going to hurt me and my family. | The amount I bring in from retirement does not vary but other sources of income do and 10 days is not enough time! People who are disabled and their caregivers lives can be very hectic, even more-so in some ways than when we worked regularly. We need to be given as much time and compassion as possible!! | It would make me feel better about having to work while others don't and have more. |
1113 | My children rely on Medicaid and 2 of the 3 have chronic illnesses that require expensive medication to keep them alive. | Rules that are too strict & punitive will throw people off who really need this coverage. People will get sicker, will clog emergency rooms, will end up homeless, in jail or even dead if they're thrown off Medicaid. | The extensive wait time to use the phone and inability to get to an office makes this a burden. Most of these folks don't have or are fearful of the internet and don't have a lot of phone use to wait for the extended amount of time it takes to speak to someone to report these changes. | It would make me feel much better about the amount of hours I HAVE to work knowing Medicaid recipients had to contribute something back for themselves to participate in something free that is paid for by workers tax dollars. |
1114 | My chronic conditions are finally addressed. | Safety in our rural community. | The families that we are assisting are not stable in regard to income and housing. Things are changing rapidly for them and deadlines may be missed. | It would make my community worse |
1115 | My community (Louisvile) has benefited tremendously from expanded Medicaid coverage. I work in the mental health field and see first hand how insurance provides access to life saving mental health and substance abuse treatment that would not otherwise be available. | same as above. Medicaid WORKS. ACA works. Stop with the damn lies and trying gut it for tax cuts for the rich | The Medicaid office is very slow to help with extensive paperwork required for benefits- I don’t think they could handle a 10 day Clause which would cause delays in benefits for my mother and others! | It would make my job more difficult because I work in a billing department where 80% of our clients have Medicaid. |
1116 | My community benefits because it keeps more insured, provides for preventive care, is a step in the direction of empowering individuals. ALL people should have medical coverage. | See above comments. What is the purpose of the changes? More kickbacks to the rich? | The system (kynect) was designed (or was intended by Deloite) to be a system to work in conjunction with all reporting programs. I don't believe the state is allowing that system (or cannot allow the system due to issues/problems) to work correctly. Creating a more effective reporting system and allowing (requiring) the system to work correctly would be a major benefit to the 10 day reporting period. For example, the client has 10 days to report, 10 days to verify and then 10 days for the agency to take action. If that rolls past cutoff periods, that can be 2 months worth of benefits the client receives they are not actually entitled to receive. If the system allowed for immediate action, the 10 day reporting period would be more effective. Most individuals income change constantly and this should be considered (there are countless examples of non-ongoing income changes). Possibly 3 month recertifications are the answer. | It would make my life difficult. |
1117 | My community benefits from having healthy neighbors and community members. The children in my community benefit from having healthy parents. | Seems to put efforts at self employment off the table. Adding onerous bureaucratic qualifications frustrates everyone and makes them MAD. Spending dollars in more time and resources to save pennies | the us mail would cause most to miss deadline and others may not have transportation or a telephone | It would make sure that those who can work do so and contribute to the community. |
1118 | My community benefitted from the medicaid expansion as a vaccine resistant strain of pertussis moved through our community and more people were able to access care to prevent transmission, be re-vaccinated, and tested or treated. This remains a problem and transmission is ongoing and especially risky for the children of parents who are not covered. | Self employed persons cannot predict their income. part-time employees cannot control hours given by their employers. | There are so many appointments and so many forms we need to complete on a regular basis. A requirement to report within 10 days seems to place an unnecessary burden. | It would not - I do this anyway as a commitment to a better community |
1119 | My community has benefited by having coverage even though they may be low-income participants. | She is not capable of working, disabled. | These do not change. The only income we have is my husbands SSDI. | It would not affect me as I do not have Medicaid. |
1120 | My community has benefited from Medicaid because people who were stuck in the middle without insurance, could not afford to pay, now have insurance to cover family issues . | She woll losr vovetage snd will no longet have a family physican. | These reporting requirements involve expensive, unnecessary, government bureaucracy that will mean even people who comply with the law will be locked out of Medicaid. | It would not affect me but it would affect my community because I understand how difficult to look for a job or care for a family and then trying to fit in 80 hrs on top of trying to find a way to get to wherever these requirements are located, that if you don't get them done, it takes away their health insurance which in some cases is life or death. |
1121 | My community has benefited from Medicaid coverage for community health clinics and the Ryan White funded clinic to receive a revenue from patients who need medical coverage that did not have it in the past. These covered individuals have been able to receive medications they normally wouldn't have been able to have access to as well as primary care coverage so badly needed. | Should my father lose this care, we children would lose work time to taking care of him, and none of us are financially prepared to pause our lives to assist him 24/7. We cannot support his medical bills and keep our own paid. | They do not work. | It would not affect me but it would be a burden on employers who offer entry level jobs and require people who have very good reasons they are not working: they faint, they pee, bleed or poo all over the place, they can't walk, they can't read or aren't conscious, they have difficulty dealing with people or concepts or words or tools because of mental or physical disability or illness -- to do things that may even be medically contraindicated to keep what they are entitled to as Americans: full medical care. |
1122 | My community has more access to health care. The preschool students I work with have healthier parents/guardians caring for them. The "working poor" now have coverage and can receive services. | Sick Kentuckians can't be productive citizens. My daughter is working towards a college degree and needs Medicaid until she's out on her own | They would be nearly impossible | It would not affect me but it would the community clients. This is too much for someone with mental disabilities to be able to process and keep track of. Sometimes it is all they can do to come in and be treated. |
1123 | My community has seen an uptick in preventive care, mental health and substance abuse care, and in less inappropriate use of the ER. I do not want to go back to days when basic services weren't covered. | Sick people can't work thus there is no income for pre-pay of premiums. That's a non-starter. People working part time at low wages won't have an extra 20 hours to work extra just for health care. A 6-month lock out just puts them at MINUS square one, and if they are sick, they can't get back to work. These options are not thought out thoroughly. | This does not affect me, but it is easy to see how it could trip up vulnerable citizens who do not have reliable transportation, support systems, or internet access, and are understandably overwhelmed and confused by any large institutional system (vocabulary, forms, processes, steps, schedules, etc.). | It would not affect me but would cause a severe hardship for persons who have no transportation. |
1124 | My cousin is severely mentally disabled, and without Medicaid, there is no possible way she (we) could afford her medication and healthcare. It makes all the difference in her life! | Simply more paperwork and bureaucracy. | This does not affect me, but those people who make a minimum wage often change jobs in the hopes that the next job will be better for them. Many of them have limited education and find it very difficult keeping up with correspondence needed within a ten day requirement. | It would not affect me personally, but could make many folks ineligible for benefits, unfairly. |
1125 | My cousin might be "medically frail" but she has needed benefits her whole life, even when she was able to work some. In fact, having healthcare like this has meant she CAN work when she is able. I would like other people to keep having that option. | Since my brother isn't yet pronounced "disabled" and isn't capable of working, I worry he would lose his healthcare. | This does not affect me. | It would not affect me, but for many of my members they would not be able to meet this requirement without transportation. And the smaller amount would be more reasonable |
1126 | My cousin suffers fruit m depression and after his girlfriend died from an accidental overdose, his depression worsened, he lost his job and continues to struggle. Medicaid has allowed him to receive medical treatment and counseling for his depression and he is beginning to do better. Without Medicaid he may not have survived. | Since my son is a disabled child, these changes would not affect his participation in Medicaid. However, I don't want to live in a community that punishes people for being poor by denying them the right to affordable healthcare. | This does not apply to me personally, but ten days to report changes in employment or income is too short and resembles a technicality that would unfairly kick people out of the system. | It would not affect me, but I don’t agree with these requirements. |
1127 | My coverage has allowed me to obtain well visits, vision, and dental screenings for myself and family. Without it I would not have the piece of mind regarding my herniated disk and the care I need to live with it. | Since the beginning of the ACA (and before Bevin) our small, rural hospital has not had to have the ER function as primary care facility for people that had no money. The improved Medicaid coverage has allowed people to get care earlier and cheaper than waiting and using the ER for more advanced illnesses. | This does not apply to me, so I cannot answer it. | It would not affect me; however, I have already shared how it would be next to impossible for a friend who has medicaid. |
1128 | My coverage hasn't began yet, as I just lost my job and just reapplied. But when I had it years ago and was unemployed before, I direly needed my wisdom teeth out and Medicaid was the only way to afford it . Medicaid also allowed me to continue to see my therapist who I saw when I had insurance covered by my previous employer, which was good because I was suicidally depressed Due to unemployment. Medicaid saved my life as it permitted me to stay on my psych meds which keep me stable and functioning . | Since the block out would not affect children, it would not directly affect my students. However, many of my students' families are low income and my district's community is in rural Kentucky and chronically under-employed. These kind of regulations do nothing to raise those in poverty up, and only snow-ball into further financial trouble. I do not appose financial literacy classes, either online or in-person, but who would provide the internet connection, transportation, and/or childcare to complete this? Lawmakers do not seem to understand poverty. These are people with, oftentimes, complex situations and no safety net. | This does not apply, but 10 days is a n unusually short turnaround time for reporting. | It would not affect me;I do not have Medicaid but several family members do.They live in rural areas with poor transportation that would make this very difficult. |
1129 | My dad was laid off from his job after 33 years. A few months in he suffered brain trauma in an accident and had to be on Medicaid to help with his treatments. Thanks to KY Medicaid, his rehabilitation resulted in him being able to live independently again after 2 years of treatment. Had it not been for Medicaid, I would have had to quit my job to take care of him and he would probably still not be able to function on his own. | So many people in my community have no clue what schedules will be every 10 days. | This does not effect me or my family. | It would not directly impact me but would be of impact to members of my community. Many members may not have transportation to participate and some the mental capacity to engage in such a program. Many individuals that receive Medicaid benefits do work or may not have the means to work to keep a steady job or volunteer. |
1130 | My dad worked worked all his life and scrimped & saved - when his employer didn't provide benefits. Then when he retired my mom was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. It came to a point that she needed full-time skilled care and went in a nursing home - paid for by Medicaid. At that point, my dad was in his 80s and I worked full-time. It was the best option - unless I had quit working and we ALL would have been destitute! But I guess "Christian" Republicans would have wanted my mom to get a JOB! | So many people will be without access to any care at all -I believe people will die | This doesn't affect me. | It would not directly impact me, but it would impact all the clients I work with who are consumers of the mental health system. |
1131 | My daughter a full time college student wouldn't be able to go to school and have her medical needs met without Medicaid, it's a Godsend. Please don't take her medical coverage away. | Some clients who have a persistent and severe mental illness struggle to keep up with things like re-enrollment dates and deadlines and losing coverage would be detrimental. | This has not been an issue recently but in the past the main problem with reporting changes within 10 days has been the antiquated reporting system used by most governmental agencies. | It would not directly impact me, but it would impact the community I live in which would impact my and my family's well being |
1132 | My daughter and grandsons have health coverage including dental and vision. It was a godsend. She works full time.. just one of the many working poor in this state. | Some of my family members would not be able to pay the premium up front if that change was made thus losing their health coverage. | This is a ridiculously short period of time that does not account for travel, illness, etc. | It would not effect me or my family. |
1133 | My daughter does not have insurance through her part-time job and Medicaid has helped us out immensely. A friend with dementia is in a nursing home. She has no family and no money. I hate to think what would happen to her without Medicaid and Medicare. | Some of our community is legit for true assistance and the others are welfare families that know how to play the system and get what they want. Most live better than we do. | This is an unnecessary hurdle. | It would not impact me but family who are not able to work or volunteer as they are ill or have a disability. it would form a barrier to receive health care needed, due to their inability to work. |
1134 | my daughter even needed surgery | Some people just don't realize the rules and locking them out will cause them to not seek treatment or be hurt | this is crazy who could do this every 10 days. My job changes every week and some times daily. | It would not impact me but I’m not eligible for Medicaid. But it would impact many because of reason already addressed ( lack of funds, transportation and support). |
1135 | My daughter had insurance through her employment but she has IBS and her copays, etc. is outrageous. Before she recently received a pay increase she qualified for Medicaid that help tremendously with her out of pocket. I also have been a kynector for the last 4 years and I have seen the devastation on individuals with no health care coverage. | Some people, especially those in poverty, have employment statuses that change quite regularly. The requirement to report within 10 days is an undue burden to these people. Furthermore, the stipulation that any backdated care won't be covered in an undue financial burden. | This is not applicable to me, but again is highly relevant for the SPMI population that who have significant difficulty with managing even basic activities of daily living are difficult to maintain. | It would not impact me but it would my mother who is unable to participate in such programs |
1136 | My daughter had insurance through her employment but she has IBS and her copays, etc. is outrageous. Before she recently received a pay increase she qualified for Medicaid that help tremendously with her out of pocket. I also have been a kynector for the last 4 years and I have seen the devastation on individuals with no health care coverage. | Some ppl won't be able to have Medicaid | This isn't applicable to me. | It would not impact me directly. It would, however, impact those that I serve. In my work, I see the most vulnerable individuals (those who are homeless with SMI's, chronic medical conditions, substance use issues, trauma, lack of support, lack of transportation, etc.) I have witnessed these individuals try to gain employment before being stabilized and often are unable to maintain the job (for various reasons) and end up regressing in regards to their mental and physical health. Without being able to stabilize and have basic needs met, these individuals encounter more failures which lead to increased hopelessness. The consequences for this are vast (illegal activity, suicide, violence, death due to untreated medical conditions, etc..) |
1137 | My daughter has a mental illness and works she will be unable to keep up with these requirements. | Sometimes, agencies ask for paperwork that isn't handy or may take a while to gather. If insurance doesn't pay during that time, people could die. Or someone may be forced to postpone treatment, which could have dire consequences. | This makes it hard to report changes. Some changes are for only a few days and its is irrelevant in the long run. | It would not impact me personally but people in my community. I beleive if a person is able to volunteer or work, then he/she needs to contribute to the community. |
1138 | My daughter has a rare inborn error of metabolism. She was born with this and it will never go away. We struggle everyday to maintain her medical stability. Associated with this disease are some developmental delays and autism. She gets a special medical formula through a gastric tube. She currently has the Michelle P. Waiver and Medicaid coverage. Throughout her life we have been able to get therapies, special foods and formulas, nursing care so that I can work. We now utilize Community Living Skills workers to help her learn to be a functioning member of the community and become more independent. Many children with her disease are severely mentally retarded. We are diligent parents and have worked very hard to keep her stable and teach her. With the help of the people and services we were able to access using Medicaid, she is now 19 and working part- time. We continue to struggle with independence and medical stability. In addition, because of these programs Medicaid has I have been able to maintain employment, thus paying into the tax base, etc. Now she is doing the same. Lastly, without this help, we would be strapped financially because of costly formulas, therapies, medications that would not be paid for by our regular insurance. That too has a trickle down effect on our community. | Statistics reveal most people on Medicaid have supplemental income, but may not be able to work 20 hours a week to maintain the enrolled requirement for this new system. Some people in the community are unable to work for valid mental reasons or illnesses that may make them ineligible for this new system of Medicaid. | This requirement is easy to meet and I'm ok with it. | It would not impact me personally, but I know that people who are already struggling to have the money for medical services don't have time to engage their community. |
1139 | My daughter has benefited from addiction therapies; my community has benefited in myriad ways, from merely being able to access preventive care that was previously not available to them to receiving life-saving treatments that were previously unaffordable. Obamacare has been a God-send for the people of Kentucky. the majority of citizens of the Commonwealth dearly need this support. Don't take it away. You will be killing people!! | Take away health and function, and you add to the fiscal load on everyone. People need to be healthy and to be able to function so they can contribute to our communities. | This will not affect me; however, for citizens living on the margins, employment is often spotty and insecure. On top of this, these citizens tend to have more difficulty with reliable transportation and access to the internet. All of these factors jeopardize their ability to meet this requirement. The requirement stands as a barrier to access the services for which they are qualified, and this is not right. | It would not impact me personally, but I'm not sure how someone lacking transportation and physical/mental abilities would be able to participate successfully |
1140 | My daughter has braces thanks to medicaid. She had severe jaw issues and they are being corrected and there's no way I could have afforded this. Braces aren't just cosmetic. For many they are physically necessary. For her, it was, and that's why medicaid approved them. I am so thankful. | The 6 month lock out would make it so many HIV+ individuals could be with out care. It is a fact that HIV is not easily spread if HIV+ individuals are on their medications and have viral suppression. A 6 month lock out would only make HIV+ individuals more capable of spreading the virus. Many HIV + individuals are on disability or are to ill and weak to volunteer 20hours. Although I do feel like if people are capable that they should volunteer 20 hours. I just do not see the government being able to distinguish between the two. I understand the reasoning behind having completed paperwork, but not having expanded locations and additional people to help these individuals complete the necessary paperwork is not the answer. Paper work can be confusing even for educated people not to mention uneducated people. Making it easier on the common folks of Kentucky is smarter then making it harder which is what Gov. Bevin wants to do. Make things harder for common people. | This will not affect me. This is difficult for some I know because they work part time and care for disadvantaged family and they don’t need to worry about their health care coverage dropping, they are trying to make ends meet, have enough gas to pay day, enough food for dinner, filling out permission slips, doing homework etc | It would not impact me personally, but many Medicaid recipients already meet this requirement. The problem is that the proposed method of reporting such hours is very complex and would require maneuvering through several websites. Not everyone has easy access to reliable internet and not everybody is literate at a level that they can easily maneuver or troubleshoot complex websites. |
1141 | My daughter has had Medicaid since birth. She has Sacral Agenesis. Medicaid has covered catheters supplies, walkers, wheelchair, therapies, and all dr appointments. | The 6th month lockout - I believe this is beneficial in helping prevent fraud. I reported my changes every time. The only problem I see with this change is that many times I was unable to get ahold of anyone r/t their hours, holidays, weekends, etc. If changes are reportable online, that could solve this issue. 20 hr work week - This is a good change. Anyone capable of working, should! Premium payments up front - It is not listed how much is due up front. What if this is more than the person can afford? This is why I did not support this. And - define affordable... because my insurance through my employer SOARED in the last 10 years. At one point I was paying OVER $700/month for me and my children to be covered. AND we had a $6000 deductible!!!! This is anything but affordable. | This would absolutely mess me up because my wife works several part time jobs where her hours are constantly changing. The other major problem is actually calling the people to let them know there are changes as I work fulltime and am at work the same hours that they are actually open. And then when you actually call them it may takes hours, sometimes you get disconnected after this long wait, and then have experience the same long wait. There have also been many times where they input some of the information in incorrectly. They had me listed as a woman for a year, causing me many problems and much time on the phone. Different people also tell you different things. Basically I dread ever having to do anything with reporting new information because it is such a hassle and time drain and rarely goes right. | It would not impact me personally, though I would find it distressing that others would be required to do so. |
1142 | My daughter has many medical problems due to mitochondrial dysfunction and is on Michelle P. Waiver. She is considered fulltime care. Before we were on the waiver we were paying the equivalent of our home mortgage in insurance deductibles on her. We are still paying off credit card bills from that. Respite through waiver helps me work 2 small part time jobs. Community Living Supports helps my daughter work on life skills and accessing the community. | The adults with disabilities that our organization serves would be affected negatively by these changes. | this would be difficult for anyone to keep up with, including me. | It would not impact me personally. I have met many people in my community on Medicaid who would be unable to fulfill this because they have limited mobility, both physically and for transportation. This requirement is unethical. |
1143 | My daughter has medicaid through her biological father, whom does not pay me child support. We have used it when she is sick. | The big problem will be jobs. Where will these people work? | This would not directly affect me but it would affect people who work two part time jobs where the number of hours they work changes often. Also, full time workers at WalMart and other predatory employers are always at risk of having their hours reduced. It's not their fault. Today's workforce is primarily in the Service INdustry - and those jobs do not (currently) pay enough to live on. We must change minimum wage to match the changing workforce. | It would not impact me personally. The cost of overseeing such a program would take away need funds from the medicaid program. |
1144 | My daughter is 46 and had covetage gor first time in life and is heathiet ad a result. | The change concerning the notification works against people a lot of the time. When you call to report changes you need to stay on the line until someone answers. This could take hours!! People that are working or taking care of children or elderly don't have hours to just sit on the phone. This system is one of the worst "improvements" the state has made. As far as health literacy and financial literacy classes go why do you feel the need to pick on these people? Looks to me like no one in the government state or federal understands this stuff. Making the little guy take classes would just a big waste of money!!! That no government has!!! Stupidity.... | This would not directly affect me but would affect many clients served and put an undue burden on them to report regular and frequent changes | It would not impact me terribly |
1145 | My daughter is applying this week. Lost her job. Unemployment checks have run out. | The changes are very bad for our most porr of the poorest,,insurance is a right for everyone | Those on medicaid in my community often have employment changes due to poor wages and poor working conditions or personal instability. These persons spend considerable amounts of time looking for employment and can be preoccupied with maintaining access to food and shelter rather than contacting the medicaid office. The Report of changes should be longer than 10 days. | IT WOULD NOT IMPACT ME, BUT COULD HELP OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE OTHER WORKERS TO HELP IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY. |
1146 | My daughter is disabled and has many doctor and hospital visits for seizures. Out of pocket pricing for her medications could not be paid from my single-income. | The changes are very bad for our most porr of the poorest,,insurance is a right for everyone | To be honest for me personally it would not. But take for example, you are a musician (a guitarist) and you really like country music. You have an innovative sound that you are happy for others to hear. Right now you are healthy and you tour around the southeast trying to get your sound heard and get a big break. For you to tour you have only the ability to get jobs that are temp jobs. You may work for about 3-4 months then when you have enough saved up.. you tour again hoping to find your big break, but lets say on one of these tours you get into an accident and broke you hand). Your temp job in construction won't take you any more because you broke your hand and now you can't play. But look, you never were making that much money and now you had your medicaid taken away. Even if he was healthy the man is on tour... how is he supposed to report changes within 10 days if he is away. Work requirements would really hurt this guy. | It would not impact me, but I do see the benefits in this as long as the resources are available for people to get help with community engagement. |
1147 | My daughter is disabled with several special needs and requires constant care, my husband works and I have 2 other kids, one that starts College this year and one in Kindergarten, I am their primary caregiver and it's not feasible to find an extra 20 hours per week. | The changes may keep me from having medical insurance and force me to go to the ER for all of my medical needs | Too short | It would not impact me, but if I were disabled, elderly, or too young to work it would be stupid. And my guess is that if I didn't fall into one of those categories I would already be working. If the government wants to offer job training for people who may be between jobs, that would be awesome, but to require that is just adding extra cost and trouble to the paperwork. Are we trying to trim down our government expenses or add to them. I suggest the Governor look at what Scandinavian countries are doing because it is phenomenal and they don't have the problems we have. |
1148 | My daughter is medically disabled | The changes would penalize low-income families even further as they wouldn't be able to meet coverage requirements and would be further penalized for being low-income participants. | Very badly | It would not impact me, but my community would be greatly impacted. Not everyone has the same access to jobs or transportation for training and volunteering. |
1149 | My daughter was able to get her braces. Also Medicaid helped me when I was applying for disability | The community will suffer and the long term costs will rise if these penalties are put in place barring community members from healthcare. | Very difficult | It would not impact me, but would interfere with job searches, medical treatments for some, and might not be physically possible for some people. Also managing the records would result in a higher cost to the state. |
1150 | My daughter was on Medicaid for a short period of time between jobs. Though she did not need medical care during that time, it was good to know she would be able to get care should she need it. She had no money to pay for a private health care policy. > | The community will suffer by reducing the number of people covered. | We are disabled and handicapped and our status is not going to change!! | It would not impact me, however it seems difficult to find adequate places in some communities across the state to volunteer. Transportation and childcare could be barriers to this requirement in multiple areas. |
1151 | My daughter worked in the horse industry without health insurance. She made a very low salary. Even so, she would not have qualified for Medicaid under the pre-ACA additions. The Ky. Medicaid expansion allowed her to be covered and get help for her birth control, complex migraine disorder and broken elbow. | The cost of implementation concerns me as well as the burden to those who are sick or disabled. | We are self-employed. Our income varies all over the place. I'd be calling every 10 days. | It would not impact me, since I am a full-time student. |
1152 | my daughter works 37.5 hours a week. she pays day care for her daughter (my granddaughter). she only makes 8.50 per hour. she has to live at home. she is no longer eligible to be on our insurance. | The entire community is better is everyone has a chance for health care. | We both work but our hours vary and we both are paid bi-weekly, so we would be reporting every 2 weeks and that is just an extreme hassle | It would not impact me. However, as an employee in the nonprofit sector, we are constantly looking for long-term volunteers who WANT to be volunteers. Volunteers who are required to give time are not in a mutually beneficial relationship and neither the nonprofit or the individual volunteering get anything useful out of the experience. |
1153 | My daughters are adopted from foster care. | The greatest proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries in Warren County are children; these proposed changes are based on faulty stereotypes of Medicaid recipients as "lazy" or "irresponsible" adults. Adults enrolled in Medicaid are already significantly economically disadvantaged and these proposed requirements place an undue burden on them. | Well since you don't get paid from a new job for at least 2 to 3 weeks in most cases there will be no proof to supper a change. Low wage earners must change jobs regularly now thar their bosses have no incentive to give raises or a set schedule. | It would not impact me. However, none of those will be effective if you are forced too. |
1154 | My disabled sister is able to get medical coverage she would not otherwise have since her social anxiety does not allow her to apply for ssi | The lock-out penalty seems particularly draconian for folks that are struggling to get by. Ten days to report a change in income doesn't give much time for a person in poverty, or a person with disabilities, to report changes. This is a particular problem for folks whose hours fluctuate (as with most retail and restaurant jobs), or people that work on tips or on a commission basis. | When changing jobs, its hard to remember to report it to different entities when you are just trying to provide a little extra for your family. | It would not impact me. While I would support this requirement, I think the decision about who is able bodied should be taken seriously and with broad allowance for other conditions such as caring for children under 5 or elderly individuals. Thisw should also be exempt. |
1155 | My elderly aunt is in a nursing home. She can't walk. Has dementia. She's sold EVERYTHING to cover care, and completely depends on Medicaid. How in the Hell do you evil bastards expect her to live on in a nursing home without Medicaid? Or work? Are you just ignorant? | The majority of preople who gained coverage under the ACA in Kentucky did so through the Medicaid expansion. Uncompensated care has decreased, preventive treatment has increased. This has important positive consequences for Kentucky's future. Throwing tens of thousands of people off health care will doom the state to mediocrity. | When I am in the stress of an unexpected change in income, the last thing on my mind is more paperwork. So I would have to decide between filling out applications for a job or filing paperwork to not lose medicaid | It would not, but 80 hours a month is 20 hours a week. What if I'm already working 40 hours (or more likely, 38-39, so my employer doesn't have to provide benefits), and I have two small kids? That's nearly 60 hours a week. |
1156 | My emoloyer does not offer insurance and we do not have enough income to purchase insurance independently. Myself and my two daughters are able to access quality, affordable healthcare because of our Medicaid coverage. | The new requirements would make it very hard for many of the people I know to maintain their coverage. The excessive paperwork and volunteer requirements are too hard to keep up with while trying to cobble together several jobs. The community engagement requirement also requires reliable transportation, which many of the people on Medicaid I know do not have. (Often, the transportation issue is what keeps them from being able to hold down a job, because they can't afford to keep a running vehicle and they can't afford to live near public transportation.) | When I worked the Medicaid program this was a requirement. If it's not reported, ss# matches find & match recipient with income. | It would not, but I know that it would be impossible for individuals to comply, adding to the costs of raising a family, by trying to find child care, by taking time off from work, etc. |
1157 | my employer didn't provide benefits or pay me enough to be able to purchase them on my own, and I have had a lot of dental issues that needed immediate attention. more recently, I've had an extremely hard time getting back to work and it really made a difference in my care. I was diagnosed with severe depression while out of work and without medicaid, I wouldn't have received care or medication to help me function every day. | The nonprofit community does not want people to "volunteer" if they are not truly volunteers. We also think struggling people have too much to juggle already without adding "volunteer" obligations. | When people have a major change in their employment, they are often too distraught to meet short deadlines to comply with government requirements. They're searching for another job, or trying to feed their children, looking for housing or figuring out how to pay the heating bill. Ten days is too short a time to expect someone to regain their stability and report changes. | It would not, but it would my wife unless there is a ruling that a mother that home schools her children doesn't also have to volunteer, etc. |
1158 | My family and community have been more likely to be able to seek medical attention. This doesn't just benefit them, but also their insurance providers: preventative health care has been keeping these people healthier whereas previously they had to wait until they were very sick to get any real medical attention from the er and hospital if they were admitted which costs exponentionally more! | The opposite of the above | While it would not affect me personally, I know many people who would struggle as their hours vary greatly. Should the change in work be an increase in hours, they might find it impossible to report that change during hours the agency is open within such a nsrtow window. | It would not. Only I would have to leave training in the middle of such if called back to work. |
1159 | My family and community have benefited greatly by not suffering till death with easily treated medical conditions. | The paperwork burden for Medicaid and waivers is already exceedingly onerous and a burden. The forms are repetitive and there is no one to ask for clarification on which forms to fill out and which questions are required or unnecessary (my spouse has a PhD and I have an MA; We STILL have trouble with these forms). But if you fail to answer every question in the manner required, then that could jeopardize your whole application! There is huge bureaucratic red tape in every aspect of the application process and these changes add to the burden of families already facing hardships. Plus it adds unnecessary expenses to manage these changes. | With a family and children it would be very difficult for us to report it in that amount of time. | It would only affect my outlook on things. Folks need to work and learn to take care of themselves. Not depend on the working to pay everything. |
1160 | My family and friends do not use Medicaid, we either work or work and have to pay for our own premiums because we make to much to qualify or Medicaid | The pay back would be very beneficial to my community. The overall effects for the community would restore dignity and respect to the working poor. That has been missing for a very long time. | With so many things to deal with at once and the limitations of the state workers either face to face or on the telephone this could be very difficult. | It would place undue strain on the family & community |
1161 | My family and I have been able to go to the doctor when we need to. I do work but I've never had the option of insurance through my work. I'm a single mother raising 3 children so everything I earn goes to their well being. My needs were set to the side and there was never extra money to go to a doctor's office. I'm much better off now that I can go to the doctor for earaches instead of attempting home remedies that rarely work. My mother has benefited from it significantly. She has numerous disabilities and conditions that she must be seen by a doctor on a regular basis. She would be bankrupt by now if she had to pay those doctor bills. | The people in our community are desperately poor. Their circumstances are dire. They feel hopeless and with this health care proposal, they may be left to get sick and die. These people may not have the money to pay premiums upfront or on time. They are barely getting by, they are being punished enough in life without KY punishing them further. I've worked with children in the local schools my whole life and the circumstances these children endure are heartbreaking. They come to school hungry, sad, defiant and in need of any help we can give them. Why would their state government knock them down any further?? They would really be hurt by this cruel act of legislation. | Without the 10 day grace period reported changes would not allow participants to acquire the information needed to continue in the medical program. Due some jobs not paying weekly. | It would put some work effort for those that use the system. Its just a way to say "thanks" for getting me free benefits. |
1162 | My family had to utilize Medicaid after the death of her spouse and primary breadwinner. This allowed her and her child to continue receiving important post-natal care, ensuring that she and the child remained healthy after giving birth. | The people in the community will be able to be productive members of society without the worry of illness. | Would be nearly impossible. As a self employed person, income fluctuates. That's why we budget. | It would reduce the quality of life, and personal safety, by forcing citizens to deal with the lowest echelon of society- i.e. people who often have a history of criminal behavior; drug and alcohol abuse; mental illness, etc. |
1163 | My family has depended on Medicaid for years. My husband was let go from 5 years of employment where he was getting his medical insurance, and we had no choice but to apply for Medicaid. Thankfully he received it and last year when he got a double ear infection he was able to be treated and healed quickly. My daughter got the flu and was able to go on tamiflu immediately and luckily recovered quickly, because of Medicaid coverage. My son was born with a capillary malformation (completely harmless thankfully) and we had to see a hematologist. We would not have been able to afford a specialist for him without Medicaid. | The people who work for Medicaid do not have enough training to always give people the correct information. It would end up just like everything the State government does. I Mess!! | Would make it almost impossible as sometimes must travel out f state to work | It wouldn't affect me personally, but I think everyone benefits from engaging in community activities |
1164 | My family has not. | The places where they volunteer could benefit from the help. | Would not | It wouldn't at this time. |
1165 | My family member if disabled, draws a small pension check...which is not enough to cover his medical needs i.e. doctors and prescription meds. | The proposals in the original document and in the operations modifications will not in any way increase accessibility or "enhance" health care. They seem mostly designed to create barriers to Medicaid with coverage lockouts, copays, elimination of presumptive coverage, and other penalties. As the administrative rules become more complicated, coverage will become much less accessible. This will harm Kentucky's most fragile populations. | Would not affect me. | It wouldn't but I can't begin to image the burden on non-profits or local employment and training programs. |
1166 | My family member is still alive.... | The proposed changes are too complex and burdensome for people who are barely getting by as it is. No one in my family receives Medicaid at this time, but medical emergencies can happen to anyone, and I can easily imagine a person in my family needing Medicaid. I don't want more obstacles for someone already dealing with serious medical issues. | Would not affect us, but....It could affect many people. Government is only looking for ways to get out of helping those who need it. | It wouldn't effect me |
1167 | My family members are able to access healthcare they would not be able to afford. | The prospect of our citizens picking up trash so their children can have their cavities filled sickens me and I find this a cruel aspect of Governor Bevins mentality. | Would not effect | It wouldn't I work 80 plus hours every two weeks. |
1168 | My family members have been able to receive the needed medical care due to Medicaid. | The reporting a change in 10 days is much easier said than done. Sometimes you don't even have proof at that point of an increase in wages. And anything run by the government does not run smoothly and there were times I had to send verification in several times since it kept getting "lost." Working mothers need at least a month. | Wouldn't affect me, I am not a recipient. I'd say give them a month, not 10 days. | It wouldn't impact me |
1169 | My family owns a small business, a farm, and we all get our coverage through medicaid. It has allowed us to get preventative and acute care and to grow our business without having employer sponsored health coverage. | The suffering or premature death of even one individual within our community is worth the cost of keeping level at or even higher than they are now. | Wouldn't be enough time. | It wouldn't impact me directly. What it would mean is that more people in our community would go without coverage and thus we would have an even bigger problem with helping people to become more self sufficient and we would have many ill effects due to having more people without coverage. I can't imagine what many of these people could do to volunteer and most of them I've been in contact with need much more than job training to be prepared for work. |
1170 | My family received no assistance when my my husband was out of work earlier this year and my hours were cut. We tried with no help at all. We have worked here for over 40 years and never qualified for assistance when we needed help. | The support systems for low-income people in Kentucky is laughable at best. With the cost of living continuing to rise, there are going to be more and more sick, hungry, and homeless people in my city. | Wouldn’t affect me, but would affect my adult daughter’s and granddaughters. | it wouldn't impact me specifically but I feel this should not be a requirement. people have children, they spend time looking for real employment, go to school or otherwise engaged that would make it extremely difficult to work those hours. |
1171 | My family was on Medicaid when we first moved to Kentucky and were underemployed. It helped us get back on our feet and find full-time employment. | The uncertainty of these changes scare me for my daughters future. We have had no problems so far and I would hate for these changes to cause problems. | Yes - EMTs, especially part-timers, work varying hours. You get done with a patient when you get done, not when the clock says it's time to go home. I could easily have significantly more hours one week than another, while maintaining a steady monthly average. | It wouldn't impact me, but it would be nice to see people/patients that are able to work provide some work for the benefits they receive. |
1172 | My father has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease for 20+ years. Last year he became too medically frail to remain in his assisted living facility. This became evident after a series of medical crises, including a week in the hospital with pneumonia and a fractured hip. He cannot be safely left alone for any amount of time. Without Medicaid coverage, we couldn't afford his nursing home. And without the nursing home, he would surely not have survived his recent crises. | There are adults who cannot work 20 hours a week due to a disability. Not only that when I was on medicaid I was working over 20 hours a week and going to EKU full time. What we need is a living wage, but that's a different topic. This could stop community members from receiving medications. I work with people who have severe mental illnesses and ALL of them that I work with rely on medicaid for their coverage. Without medicaid they would not be able to afford their psych meds. | Yes - I would need to report changes at least once a week based on an ever-changing work schedule and call-outs | It wouldn't impact me. |
1173 | My father has non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Without Medicaid, he wouldn't have been able to receive medical care. | There are instances when coverage should be retroactive. A completed application and payment upfront sounds great however, not always feasible. The participant should apply and if the participant is eligible, coverage should be retroactive to when they applied. | Yes , I get paid monthly & it’s not a set schedule | It wouldn't impact me. However it could impact those who currently receive benefits. |
1174 | My father inlaw received care after a strok. We could not have afforded that level of care w/o Medicare. More recently, my sister has a catastrophic illness which would have killed her without Medicare. It matters. | There are no jobs in Eastern Kentucky. Why punish people who cannot find work because corporate greed has taken jobs elsewhere? | Yes everything is in flux now that I am a caregiver for my mom again now. It is hard for me to predict from one day to the next whether I can work or not. When I do work I am a substitute teacher and that income varies all the time. | It wouldn't impact my family directly, but I think it's a demeaning and condescending requirement. |
1175 | My father is unable to work due to various cancers. The fact that he didn't make much to begin left him no choice but to get government assistance. This has helped prolong his life so he may hopefully return to preaching and serving others. | There is a high probability that both would lose coverage either because of their inability to complete the paperwork or because they cannot work. Without Medicaid my brother will not be able to continue cancer treatment and care that currently improves his life quality. My niece without treatment for seizures becomes more erratic and unfortunately violent. She could hurt herself or others. | Yes I get paid twice a month therefore my hours on my checks are not always the same they constantly change. | it wouldn't really, but I think it is a good idea we all have towork |
1176 | My father was afflicted by polio. You can do the math on that one, governor Bevin. | There is no way most disabled Kentuckians can fulfill stipulated volunteering. | yes I would lose my benefits | It wouldn’t affect me directly but it might affect my sister. Until this year, she didn’t own a car. How can you fulfill these requirements if you don’t own a car? |
1177 | My father was wheel chair bound and deaf and I was caring for him and a chronically ill and disabled husband. If my father had needed one more day in the nursing home we would have needed assistance for that. | THERE IS NO WAY, MY FAMILY MEMBER CAN PAY $1000.00 DED, 100% OF THE PROVERTY LEVEL IS ABOUT $12,060.00, THAT IS $1005.00 PER MONTH, FOR MORTAGE, FOOD, UTILITIES,WATER, GAS FOR CAR, INS. FOR CAR, TAXES ON HOME, MEDICATION, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR ANYTHING. | Yes my employment status change regularly due to being a seasonal worker. More likely the new requirement would be a headache. What if you can’t reach someone to report the changes. | It wouldn’t but think many will cry that they don’t have a sitter or ride to employment but. Always had to provide my way and sitter and had nothing left over for my family to enjoy the extras |
1178 | My father would not get the medical attention he needs after a car accident that caused brain trauma would it not be for Medicaid. It was difficult enough to get him enrolled before these changes. I can imagine the turmoil and stress these changes that would cause. Applying for healthcare should NOT be this difficult. | There would be more uninsured children...children not receiving medical services when they need them. This causes children to miss school and endure sometimes medical and physical discomfort unnecessarily. | Yes my income fluxuates regularly. Sometimes my husbands jobs only last a week then laid off again. | It wouldn’t impact me, but it would impact those who need this insurance. How is someone supposed to look for work, take care of their kids, figure out transportation if they don’t already have the means to do so just so they can volunteer for health insurance. What if they are sick or disabled. The point is not to make their lives harder and give them more obstacles, they need less obstacles, less hardships so they have more opportunities to succeed. |
1179 | My father, who has worked as a farmer all his life, had a catastrophic life event that necessitated nursing home care. This came on the heels of our mother's death, which had eaten up much of the remaining life savings he had. Because of Medicaid, he is now healthier than he has been in years. | These changes | Yes our family income has times it goes even lower than it currently is. 10 days is not enough time. The mailing of these documents to your household takes to long to get there for this to be enough time also. | It wouldn’t, I work about 38 hours a week |
1180 | My fellow citizens, who happen to be less fortunate than I, have insurance and are treated like human beings. | These changes are bad for Kentuckians. Most people do not want to be free riders, they are just looking for a hand up. We should allow them access to healthcare so they can be healthy and eventually get back to work if possible. | Yes, as a freelancer my income changes regularly, and as farmers our income is always changing. This would be very burdensome to us, and we already struggle to keep up with everything we need to do. | It's a ridiculous requirment when considering that every person deserves affordable access to medical care and to deny that is shameful |
1181 | My former housemate would have died much sooner if it were not for treatment he received under medicaid. | These changes are doing two things. 1. They are creating more hoops and opportunties for people to fail to comply. Thus giving the government an excuse to kick people out of the program. We should be giving people ladders to coverage while mitigating and eliminating shoots. 2. Governments institutions should be effective, efficient, and equitable. These changes to medicaid will create a large bureaucracy that will not achieve any of these objectives. A system focused on ensuring compliance will be a huge waste of money. Please dont. | Yes, as a substitute teacher, my income fluctuates regularly. | It's an unfair request for something as vital as healthcare. If volunteer work was required for all benefits provided by the government - including and especially tax breaks for the wealthy - then we can talk about it. |
1182 | My foster son works as a dishwasher. His employer doesn't offer health insurance. Neither he nor I can afford to pay out of pocket for all of his healthcare. | These changes are fine. We are working poor who need insurance. We can afford and will happily pay co-pays as well. | Yes, as an in home childcare provider my income changes week to week. It would be a challenge to constantly have to update and report my income. | It's not possible! There is a lack of transportation, lack of economic opportunity, and huge attitudinal barriers, as evidenced by these proposed changes, that keep people with disabilities out of full integration and employment |
1183 | My friend Marie Braun is a very low income quadruplegiac entirely dependent on Medicaid for her health coverage. All of our area hospitals will treat patients who cannot pay. Without Medicaid they would have no way to recoup costs. | These changes are punitive measures against the poor. None of us want to live this way. I was an attorney who was laid off, so even the most educated of our state can find ourselves in need of Medicaid. Many of these changes put up barriers to families living in poverty and send the message that they are not valued members of society and are being punished for their socioeconomic status. | yes, because services are "pending" until proof is reviewed. I don't get the paystubs within ten days to upload and wait up to 30 days for DCBS to review, approved and release my pending status, then wait for MCO to update the information and have continue coverage. Then the next week, I have a change in hours and start the whole process again. | It's not supposed to I'm medically frail. I cannot work. |
1184 | My friend who never had access to health care recently got access. | These changes are unreasonable and would add to the overall costs of Medicaid due to the enforcement aspect. | yes, i am a farmer and paid sporadically. might get a check from a sale one month, then nothing for six months... | It’s a ridiculous expectation. Many days are absolutely exhausting just wrangling the bills, housework and personal care/caregiving. It would fall on the caregiver to make it happen. It’s impossible for either of these family members anyway. |
1185 | My friends life was saved as she battled stage four colon cancer. She is always working for those less fortunate and is a sting community member and mother to two great children, one of whom is in middle school. | These changes could force hundreds of people in my community out of Medicare. In turn this would put the burden back on emergency room doctors and nurses. | Yes, I am a freelance writer. Some months I make hundreds. some months thousands. I can report regularly, but don't know how these fluctuations will affect my coverage. | It’s only fair to have able bodied individuals to contribute to society. |
1186 | My friends were able to have insurance without spending their entire savings. They were able to go back to school and get a better job, with benefits. | These changes could keep her from being able to remain on Medicaid particularly the 6 month lockout requirement. | Yes, I am a student, and I have held many jobs and my income varies month-to-month by quite a lot. I would be unable to anticipate changes very far ahead of time, and often do not know how much I will make each pay period. I am employed on and off by my school and by temporary internships, etc. | It’s too many consistent hours. My disease is inconsistent and I never know when it will be too painful or overwhelming to leave bed. I might be able to comply if it was 10 hours a month. |
1187 | My girls had Medicaid as children due to special needs. One may need it in the future. | These changes could make it difficult for individuals who need it most to meet the requirements. Lapses in coverage would affect their ability to access needed care for physical health and mental health, including substance use treatment. | Yes, I work a contract job that caries in pay every month, having to report every change or difference would be exhaustive for me (especially given the difficulty of navigating the system correctly) | It’s very difficult for me some days. I have fibromyalgia and have flare ups to were I’m unable to even get out of bed some days. |
1188 | My grand-nephew is now 38 years old and has suffered from severe cerebral palsy since birth. He is dependent upon Medicaid coverage for medical care as well as for aides to assist him in personal care, which includes being fed. He does not have the use of his hands. Without Medicaid coverage, he could not survive. | These changes do not take into consideration the messed up Medicaid system including DCBS and all the.mistakes they make. The system makes mistakes even now that prevent people from accessing Medicaid. That combined with circumstances of life can be a recipe for disaster. | Yes, I would need up to 60 days. | It’s would be a great opportunity for exploring opportunities |
1189 | My grandchildren all have medical cards. My son has received opioid addiction treatment that has saved his life | These changes pretend to be simple fixes, but they ignore the reality of the people most likely to use this service. For example, if you are cobbling together hours from multiple jobs or your pay rate changes from one temp place to the next and based on the number of hours that you happen to get because you're paid on a sliding scale, reporting pay changes is not a straightforward issue. Likewise, being unable to pay a premium could easily arise if you have a dry spell on hours. They should be able to catch up when they can, not be kicked off for 6 months. It's cruel. These aren't policies, these are moral judgments about people who need Medicaid. It's a reinforcement of the idea that "these people" are lazy and dishonest. It's freely admitted in the Kentucky HEALTH document that we are a state struggling with poverty and a serious health crises. Instead of addressing the underlying issues that has caused the real wages of the people of the state to stagnant and even decline while the top 1% have enjoyed a 60% increase or to take steps to ensure that everyone has access to appropriate medical care, this plan just blames people for their poverty and makes accessing health care harder. | Yes, income for a home repair business can vary greatly from month to month. Some months we would struggle to pay anything beyond basic bills gas food, while other months we have extra and can put money into fixing the car or property tax for example. I need Medicaid eligibility calculations to be based on an AVERAGE, not on outr family income from week to week. | Its a insult to poor people. |
1190 | My grandchildren all have medical cards. My son has received opioid addiction treatment that has saved his life | These changes put an unnecessary burden on those in need. | Yes, it changes constantly and I would have no problem with reporting the changes in 10 days. | JUST pay people. We got rid of slavery, we believe in living wages, you gave incredible tax cuts for the wealthy (because you think these are the only one deserving the American dream?). I believe in fair taxation. I believe the drive is for cheap labor (volunteer) but nothing is done about the huge price tags on services, tests, etc. We have extreme inequities and the push is to get rid of middle class and lower middle class people. The tendency seems to be for an oligarchical culture. |
1191 | My grandchildren would be without insurance . Father will not pay child support for his children and would not carry insurance. He's still running free. | These changes will greatly affect many in the expansion population. I truly believe these proposed changes are meant to hurt and not help these individuals who are navigating life on very little as it is. It is evident to me that the governor nor lawmakers truly understand poverty. | Yes, it changes quite frequently as a contracted worker. I would at times qualify and at other times not qualify. This is a ridiculous requirement for individuals with such fluctuating incomes. | Keep from getting a better job |
1192 | My granddaughter'so pregnancy was a nightmare. She developed gestational diabetes, had to inject insulin shots per day, developed extremely high blood pressure, was hospitalized 7 times for more than 4 days each, with the last hospitalization lasting a month, until her first and only child had to be delivered by cesarean at 34 weeks because of distress of her unborn child. Her daughter was in the NICU for14 days and without insurance, I'm not sure either would be living. Her child was born in September of 2015. | these changes will make it hard for any single parent that is already working, and cannot afford insurance through their employment because they do not make enough. | Yes, it changes regularly. Requiring me to report changes within 10 days would not be the end of the world, but would certainly add burden to an already burdensome process. Trying to keep everything straight and remember to report that quickly would be difficult. | Litter, community pride, volunteerism |
1193 | My granddaughters mother at 23 finally got dental care for the first time since she was 12. My daughter received Medicaid while working a job that did not offer health insurance. I am a behavioral heath provider who sees clients that could not afford therapy prior to Medicaid. | These changes will make it more difficult for people to have access to healthcare. It is far more beneficial to have a healthy population than it is to try to pinch a few pennies now and end up with far greater costs with a sick population later. | Yes, it should be longer | Making people work or volunteer is against the very meaning of medicaid |
1194 | My grandfather is a retired coal miner and it helps cover his long term care costs as my grandmother is not able to care for him. | These changes will take coverage away from people based on a technicality instead of providing coverage based on need. | Yes, my income varies month by month. The 10 day limit would just add bureaucracy to an already difficult time. | Many already are involved; others aren't physically able. |
1195 | my grandmother benefited from medicaid in her 70s | These changes won't affect me in particular but I'm sure it will affect many others. Those that can, should work or volunteer to give back. But they should do that regardless. I think 10 days to inform community based services about any changes is reasonable. But like everything in life, there has to exceptions. Especially since you have to have at least an hour to be on hold anytime you make a call to any of the applicable institutions. I believe insurance is a right and every American citizen is entitled to good health care. | Yes, my status changes regularly, and when it does, that triggers my anxiety, and I becaome traumatized and my house becomes disorderly, and my fibromyalgia is triggered so I experience pain and fatigue and cannot get out of bed for several days. Sometimes friends come in to distract me and try to help me recover. Sometimes I do not dress myself or even stop trembling long enough to remember HOW to report changes for 3 weeks. So, that requirement would lead to me losing benefits, losing my fur family and home, and becoming temporarily institutionalized, after which, I would be homeless and would return to substance abuse or kill myself. | Many are already working |
1196 | My grandmother is 71, retired. She is lucky to have Medicaid which helps cover her doctors appointments for her health issues. | These changes would add much anxiety, financial hardship, and stress into my life and my family's. If I were to, for some reason, be locked out of health care coverage for 6 months - I honestly don't know what would happen. As a type 1 diabetic, I need insulin to live. Period. The cost of insulin alone is completely unaffordable, not to mention the two devices I wear at all times that help keep me alive. Not having coverage and me staying alive are not two things that can exist together. | Yes, my work is intermittently on-call so I don’t have a guaranteed income but it works well with my disease because I can choose work when I feel good and decline work when I am unable to work and still keep my employment status. I am unable to work in my chosen field which is massage therapy, and I am unable to take other jobs now do to not being able to sit or stand for long periods or bend over or carry anything over 20 lbs. | Many are not phycially or mentally able. Unless they plan to provide transportation, clothing,extra money for food and drink etc. while on the endever it would be impossible for many to do this. |
1197 | My grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer's, was able to receive high quality nursing care at the end of her life thanks to Medicaid, a cost that would otherwise have bankrupted my family. I also have many friends and students who have been able to receive care under the Medicaid expansion and have been able to receive preventative care and chronic disease management that they would never have been able to afford without the program. These services ultimately save all of us money by reducing people's reliance on emergency services and creating a healthier community overall. | These changes would affect the lives of my family members due to the fact that they would lose their insurance. | Yes, recipients hours and therefore income fluctuates each week. Report would need to be submitted weekly | Many low-income folks I know do not have reliable transportation, either do not own a car or often can't afford car maintenance. So how could they fulfill this requirement. Also in some communities I have lived in, there were not many opportunities to volunteer, not enough jobs were available or the persons did not have the necessary skills, and job training was not available. So some folks certainly could not fulfill this requirement. However, statistics show that the vast majority of folks on the Medicaid Expansion program already work, although for low wages. I think it is wrong to think most of these folks are not working or do not want to work. Another problem I've seen is that some people are really not able to work, for physical, mental, or emotional reasons, and they can't get a medical statement attesting to this for various reasons so they can't prove they are "medically frail." In general, it takes three years to get approval from the government to qualify for the government disability program! |
1198 | My grandparents are struggling to get their medicine without Medicaid. | These changes would be detrimental to low income people in my community. Medicaid coverage provides the only opportunity that many people have to see a doctor or receive medical treatment for preventative, long-term, and urgent health issues. | Yes; I have gone back to school and am only employed part time in a job with a contract that runs for one semester at a time. I would have to report a change in employment at least 4 times per year, at times of the year that are already busy with work, school, and family commitments | Many Medicaid recipients already work at least one job or care for children. This creates and unnecessary hardship for them. |
1199 | My grandparents retired MANY years ago, and are growing older. Over the past 2 years, my grandfather's healthier has declined dramatically. He has been put on oxygen, then taken off. He has had internal bleeding, blood clots, and so many other issues arise. He has to take many different medications in order to stay in a state where he is functioning in a do-able manner. Without Medicare/Medicade he would not be able to pay his medical bills, and would not be able to receive the medications he needs. Although this is a personal story, like many of the others submitted probably are, this system is needed. Could it be reformed in some way, yes; but there are so many who depend on this system to live. Especially out elderly, who have previously given so much to our communities. | These changes would cause life-threatening delays for my patients. | Yes. Even with a higher level of education, access to transportation and technology; at time I have not always met the deadline to report a change in my situation. To have a disruption in services, resulting in the need to reapply could cause loss of work time, as well as a potential health risk. | Many Medicaid recipients have children or disabled family members that rely upon them for assistance. How would those individuals be cared for if the Medicaid participant was not there? |
1200 | My grandson is a preemie. Due to lung problems he gets medicaid to help | These changes would deprive me of coverage and put my health at serious risk and allow my diabetes to go uncontrolled thus effecting my health, future employability and life. | Yes. I have several times gotten temporary work here at my school. It's difficult to get the notification in, to figure out what paperwork is due, and to get the right things to the right officials in the time period now--I think it would be very difficult to do in 10 days. I fear losing coverage because of this potential requirement. | Many of my clients have no reliable transportation or internet service. Working 80 hours a month would be nearly impossible for them; thus, they will lose medical coverage and their health will suffer |
1201 | My husband and I both chose jobs that help other people, but they do not pay big $$. Being able to have our health insurance covered by the Medicaid expansion has not only been a huge help to our family by allowing us to save money for a down payment on a house, but has also allowed us to continue in the jobs that we love and help other people. | These changes would either limit coverage or possibly cause family members to be ineligible for coverage, and with no other options they would be left without health insurance. | Yes. It depends on how many hours I am assigned to work per week. It is very frequently the case that a shift will be cancelled or added at the last minute. The requirement to report every change would be extremely burdensome. | Many people are unable to work for a variety of reasons, ie; transportation, physical problems. It’s despicable that older people who are almost ready to retire are forced to go back to work for healthcare. |
1202 | My husband and I both work full-time jobs, he as a skilled, self-employed carpenter, and me as an instructional assistant at a public school. Our family has been covered by medicaid for several years. We have been able to visit doctors when needed, have our teeth cleaned and cavities filled, and have received preventive scans, screenings, and checkups. Our quality of life has vastly improved during our medicaid coverage from what it was before. Also, my husband sustained a major injury five years ago, before we were covered by the medicaid expansion. His extensive injuries required a ten-day hospital stay, three surgeries, and multiple doctor visits. His care was covered under emergency medicaid for the duration of his recovery. If it hadn't been for that temporary coverage, our family would have been financially ruined and endebted beyond what we could ever repay. Because of the excellent care he received, paid for by medicaid, my husband is able to continue in doing the work he loves and in which he excels. Without the quality care he received, my husband would be an individual receiving permanent disability payments, unable to work, and further burdening the government, instead of being a productive member of society. | These changes would honestly make it almost as stressful to have Medicaid as it was without it. Having to commit 20 hours a week - on top of working 55+ at my actual jobs - to volunteering or job training is asking way too much, leaving me no time at all to actually... be a person. It ignores the actual issue at hand: it is not that Medicaid recipients are lazy, or not working, or not reaching high enough, it is that we do not earn enough to look for health care elsewhere. This is the fault of the employers and the economy and to punish people who are trying to just live their lives - healthy and happy - is really abhorrent to me. | Yes. And that would afverdly effect my right to medical cov erage | Many people can't find work with those hours on the bus line. |
1203 | My husband and I both work full-time jobs, he as a skilled, self-employed carpenter, and me as an instructional assistant at a public school. Our family has been covered by medicaid for several years. We have been able to visit doctors when needed, have our teeth cleaned and cavities filled, and have received preventive scans, screenings, and checkups. Our quality of life has vastly improved during our medicaid coverage from what it was before. Also, my husband sustained a major injury five years ago, before we were covered by the medicaid expansion. His extensive injuries required a ten-day hospital stay, three surgeries, and multiple doctor visits. His care was covered under emergency medicaid for the duration of his recovery. If it hadn't been for that temporary coverage, our family would have been financially ruined and endebted beyond what we could ever repay. Because of the excellent care he received, paid for by medicaid, my husband is able to continue in doing the work he loves and in which he excels. Without the quality care he received, my husband would be an individual receiving permanent disability payments, unable to work, and further burdening the government, instead of being a productive member of society. | These changes would increase medical expenses for those consumers who have insurance and pay for their medical care. Again raising the cost of medical care in the state while lowering the quality of the care the consumer receives for the money paid. | Yes. Changes in employment status are stressful and hectic. Adding to that stress by threatening people with loss of coverage for 6 months is an unnecessary burden, especially when loss of coverage could mean loss of life for some. | Many people would not have daycare for their children. |
1204 | My husband and I both work full-time jobs, he as a skilled, self-employed carpenter, and me as an instructional assistant at a public school. Our family has been covered by medicaid for several years. We have been able to visit doctors when needed, have our teeth cleaned and cavities filled, and have received preventive scans, screenings, and checkups. Our quality of life has vastly improved during our medicaid coverage from what it was before. Also, my husband sustained a major injury five years ago, before we were covered by the medicaid expansion. His extensive injuries required a ten-day hospital stay, three surgeries, and multiple doctor visits. His care was covered under emergency medicaid for the duration of his recovery. If it hadn't been for that temporary coverage, our family would have been financially ruined and endebted beyond what we could ever repay. Because of the excellent care he received, paid for by medicaid, my husband is able to continue in doing the work he loves and in which he excels. Without the quality care he received, my husband would be an individual receiving permanent disability payments, unable to work, and further burdening the government, instead of being a productive member of society. | These changes would make access more difficult, leading to a loss of care. Those with illnesses may wait longer to seek care, leading to emergency treatment which is more expensive than preventative care. | Yes. Creates more paperwork but necessary if I am receiving money from government | Many survivors who transition in shelter may not have the documents needed to secure employment immediately and the delay in re-ordering those documents may keep them from the "community engagement" aspect |
1205 | My husband and I have been married since 2007. He has chronic kidney issues. For the first time since we were married,thanks to the ACA, we have been able to aquire insurance. | These changes would make obtaining coverage more difficult on the average person, possibly preventing many who need better coverage from getting it. | Yes. Due to my medical conditions I have to miss days from work due to either appointments or sickness due to health. | Many, many people receiving Medicaid are already working so this makes no sense. |
1206 | My husband and I were uninsured for over 5 years. Before we lost our insurance my husband had suffered a heart attack. While we were uninsured my husband continued to have health issues related to his heart attack. We were able to get some assistance with Medicaid but our credit was ruined due to bills we were unable to pay because we were both unable to work due to his health and caring for our three children. Now that we are both covered by Medicaid our health has improved tremendously and we are able to see a doctor regularly. We are also able to visit a dentist every 6 months which has also improved our health. My husband now has a full time job and I am able to work part time and still be here for my children. | These changes would negatively impact the whole community by making it harder to access care and penalizing those who need it the most. | Yes. I am a consultant and my income changes drastically from month to month because of that. There’s no way I would remember to report such changes every month. | Maybe this will change their entitlement mind set, and help them to appreciate the benefits and not expect handouts. |
1207 | My husband had a liver transplant and Medicaid pays for his life saving medically necessary anti rejection drugs. Losing Medicaid would mean he dies because he cannot work and we could not afford them. I can support us in every other way but that so we do not require any assistance other than medical . | These changes would negatively impact thousands of low income people potentially costing them their lives. | Yes. I am a full time realtor and small business owner. | Members of my community would do without health care because of existing barriers of transportation and poverty with it's attendant lack of dental care and wardrobe would just deepen the ill health in my community. We need healthy adults to work and contribute. |
1208 | My husband had childhood cancer and was unable to get insurance due to pre existing condition. Medicaid paid for my son to have his appendix out when it ruptured. Medicaid pays for my monthly prescriptions that keep me alive. | These changes would not affect me or my family personally as we all receive insurance through our employers. It would, however, affect my rural Kentucky community where many citizens receive Medicaid benefits. While I do believe Medicaid recipients should have the opportunity to work or volunteer, this should not be required. I work in mental health, and see on a daily basis how many "able-bodied" adults are actually incapacitated for mental health reasons. I worry that that provision would cause those who are unable to work because of non-physical conditions to lose their coverage. Additionally, there are many reasons that an individual could experience a lapse in coverage. Failing to cover expenses during that lapse could be financially devastating for low-income families in my community. | Yes. I would have to report every ten days | Most are already trying, and the requirement will probably result in a "black market" for volunteer reporting and job training, created only for this purpose and not benefiting the community. |
1209 | My husband has a rare, recurring cancer. He does not work. I have a chronic disease and work part time. We would drown under medical bills without Medicaid. | These changes would not affect our family | Yes. I'm a hair dresser some weeks I make less and some weeks I make more. I don't have an hourly rate. Reports changes every 10 days is ridiculously unnecessary. | Most are unable to work at all |
1210 | My husband is a professor at a local state university. We have 5 child, some of whom have severe allergies (including anaphylaxis), asthma, and autism. Sadly, despite my husband's job, we are not able to afford insurance through his university for our children. The premiums and deductibles for needed medications (such as EpiPens) and therapy would bankrupt us. We are very thankful that we have been able to qualify for Medicaid coverage and hope and pray that coverage continues. | these changes would obligate my ungrateful family members to at least respect what they are getting | Yes. It wouldn't affect me, since I do not (and will not) participate in Medicaid or any form of socialized medicine, even though I qualify for such. | Most individuals do not think this would impact them; however, it does. These volunteer hours could potentially take away jobs individuals could have. For example, a small business owner has an individual volunteer to help clean up the store instead of paying an individual to do the job. That paying individual could have been your high school son or daughter. Instead, how about focusing on allowing individuals to take college or trade classes to better themselves in a study to equip them for a job which would in-turn allow them to gain employment with insurance in the future. This college/trade requirement would be in exchange for Medicaid (NOT college grants or student loans). |
1211 | My husband is an OBGYN in an underserved area. Over 80% of his patients are covered under Medicaid. He is completely for a single payer system. We need to go to government run insurance and soon, or you will lose him. | These changes would obviously disproportionately burden the poor and the sick, which makes these unconscionable. | Yes. Like many kentuckians, I must piece together a living with multiple past time jobs that change throughout the year. I do not have the internet at my house, so logging onto the already slow and lagging kynect website to update every time my employment changes (even though I'm still under the poverty line) would be an absolute barrier. I would no doubt lose coverage and be locked out under Bevins terrible HEALTH plan. | most of my clients could not participate at this level due to challenges related to their brain injury...fluctuations in daily functioning, limited access to transportation, need for 1:1 assist due to brain injury behaviors and cognitive challenges in these settings.. |
1212 | My husband is insured. I have benefited by being a therapist for a rural, non-profit mental health facility. I have seen my clients mental health improve, as they no longer worry about physical health. Due to having affordable (not "access to," but actually have) health insurance, their physical health has improved as well. | These changes would put a financial strain on my family member with medicaid. | Yes. Most of my assignments (temping) are less than ten days in duration. | Most of my friends could not work that many hours. |
1213 | My husband lost his job and we had no income of insurance. We were covered through Medicaid for 11 months | These changes, for the most part, would not affect us. They are changes which could help our state, however. | Yes. She is on call and her situation could be different every day! | Most of my residents could not participate due to disabilities and aging issues. |
1214 | My husband lost his job. No invome so we were covered through Medicaid expansion. | These changes, on the whole, are designed in a way that poor people with fewer resources, transportation issues, inflexible work schedules and child care challenges may have difficulties getting enrolled and staying that way with extra red tape. Providing a work requirement for the working poor to acquire coverage is mean spirited. But for the grace of God, there goes I. | You're again hurting the individuals who do everything to work and keep life together without adding something else. | Most of our patients on Medicaid already work, so adding additional requirements is unnecessary. Those that don't work often have other issues that don't quite meet the standards of debilitation (yet), but struggle with lack of transportation, access to jobs, training and family support to assist with childcare. |
1215 | My husband unexpectedly passed away and he was the main carrier of our health insurance. So now my three small children are on Medicaid because I can't afford a family plan with my part-time job. | These harsh new requirements would burden recipients, the medical community, behavioral health providers and the entire community bc less people in need would be able to comply. No one can understand the burden of poverty and lack of Medicaid until you have experienced it. | most of the families in my community are single mothers, they do not have time because of many obligations including raising up children who would need a child care place for mom to go volunteer some where. | |
1216 | My husband was able to access Medicaid through the ACA for a few months when he lost his job due to his employer moving out of the country. I also work with homeless men, helping them find housing, and now that many of them qualify for Medicaid, I daily witness men seeing their primary care doctors instead of the ER; being able to get prescriptions and take medicines that help them manage chronic health and mental health issues; and have access to substance abuse treatment. Their lives have improved dramatically and drastically due to this vital access to health insurance. Many of them have health issues that need to be treated BEFORE they can find work that could pay for a health insurance premium; and many of their lives do not have enough consistency to be able to meet standards to not get locked out for 6 month periods. Adult men are the hardest people to get to go to the doctor; reducing their access to preventative, cost-effective medical care guarantees an increase in hospital stays and unmaintained chronic health and mental health conditions. | These proposed changes would definitely add stress to our lives by making it more time consuming to get coverage. With all these new stipulations, I will be more worried about whether we are covered. | Most on Medicaid are disabled or children. | |
1217 | My husband was able to reverse his addiction and is almost out of recovery | These proposed changes would unecessarily block many people from the coverage they need to be healthy and productive members of our Commonwealth. | Most people I know with Medicaid already work. That's a pointless thing the state will waste more money trying to enforce than they will bring back into the state in taxes. | |
1218 | My husband was the sole source of income for our family of five while I returned to school to complete my master's degree. Without Medicaid coverage, I would not have been able to further my education and advance my career without losing health coverage or having to pay the penalty due to a lack of affordable insurance options. As my husband advanced in his career, now only my children receive Medicaid. One of my children has high functioning Autism and another child has been diagnosed with ADHD. Without Medicaid coverage, we would not be able to afford the habilitative services they need, including occupational therapy, so that they can be independent and successful in school. | These rules are extremely strict. The 10 Day period is far too short. | Most people not working on Medicaid are on disability for a reason. If they cannot work in the first place, why are we forcing them to work? This isn't sound common sense. | |
1219 | My husband went back to school to get his BSN, so our family of 4 living on one (my) income was extremely stressful. Our insurance premium was going to cost $800 a month, which is nearly all of my paycheck! It has helped us so much and relieved many sleepless nights. | They abrogate the fundamental human right to health care and make it appear to be something that must be earned. The will inevitably be detrimental to the poorest of our fellow Kentuckians. | Most people on Medicaid already work and/or go to school, but changing hours each week would make trying to keep up with the paperwork all but impossible for many. | |
1220 | My husband works full-time and is able to get coverage through his work but a family plan would have been half of his pay check. So, our children and myself are on Medicaid. I work from grant to grant but do not get paid well enough to afford health insurance. My son is not old enough to go to school yet so even if I worked full-time, we could not afford day care and health insurance. Once he enters kindergarten, I will re-enter the work force full time. In the meantime, Medicaid is vital to our family. I not only work part-time but I also lead a Girl Scout troop and am a PTO officer for my daughter's school. I contribute to my community with my time. | They are disabled, but do not draw disability...they depend on this for help medically.....also there are mental health issues involved | Most person I know on Medicaid have health issues or have applied for social security disability | |
1221 | My husband's company closed their stores and he lost his job AND his insurance. Because of his age, it was difficult for him to find employment. The ACA allowed him to obtain insurance and get the first check-up he had been able to obtain in years. It was then that we discovered his cancer. We were lucky that we were able to catch it early. If we hadn't had the Medicaid, we might not have caught it until it was much farther advanced. The Medicaid expansion saved his life. My son was born was Asperger's Syndrome and developed epilepsy his junior year in high school. His medication, without insurance, costs several hundred dollars a MONTH. Without his medication, his seizures are severe enough to send him to the hospital. The Medicaid expansion makes his medication affordable and with it, he is an honor student on full scholarship who doesn't have to fear life threatening seizures. I am disabled and receive SSDI. I work part time from home. This works for me since if my pain levels are too great, I can work from bed. My Medicaid pays for my medications that keep me alive and able to be as independent as I can be. | They create many barriers to care that would be unintended. Lack of transportation and lack of child care alone are substantial barriers for many qualifying people. | Most ppl don't drive or have a car to get to work and They are not s lot of Jobs in Eastern Kentucky, if you can work they should be paid $7.25 an hour ; | |
1222 | My kids are covered for their medical needs. My oldest is a type 1 diabetic. Without medicaid I don't know how we would be able to pay bills and afford her insulin/supplies. My husband and I both work and always have. | They may not currently, but you never know what the future holds. Presently, if members of the community benefit, then more should be done to help those who are in need. | Most volunteer efforts already have more help than they can use. My work patterns are irregular and I usually don't know what within 10 days. I already participate in job/career training. But a requirement that results in a 6 month lock-out, or more, would be devastating. The proposal is purely punitive and punishes Kentuckians that need, and seek out, assistance. | |
1223 | My kids attend public school, and i want all kids to have access to care To decrease spread of disease. Healthy people are able to work, attend school, care for families, and improve their station in life. My father has treated Medicaid patients for his entire career, and he sees better results with Medicaid expansion and CHIP. Medicaid doctor payments also make a portion of his income with which he pays taxes. | They put an onerous burden on those most in need. They appear unnecessary to me. | My business is always looking for volunteers to assist so it may increase the number of volunteers if they could pass the background checks required. | |
1224 | My late mother in law was able to get into a good nursing home the year before she died. When I worked for a Doctor, I saw many patients who, without medicaid, would not have been to get ANY medical care. | They will not | My clients are unable to work | |
1225 | My mom had a stroke while I was growing up. She wouldn't be alive without it and my siblings and I would have been homeless. She was a nurse. You can't tell me she didn't earn that benefit. | they wont go to dr when they need to, nor will they take their children, | My clients who want to work or volunteer or go to school are assisted with a this. Even the most successful can often not manage 20 hours per week as a result of psychiatric and physical health issues for any length of time. | |
1226 | My mom has received treatment for a knee injury and physical therapy. She needs more physical therapy, but has already run out of coverage. | They would adversely affect the communities across KY | my clients would be greatly affected. Most of the people on Medicaid have trouble working so this would be very difficult. | |
1227 | My mother depends on Medicaid and I depend on it to take care of her | They would lose coverage and sink back into poor health. | My community would benefit from people working. There is plenty of work to be done. Most of us want to work and contribute to our lives. | |
1228 | My mother has had mental illness for over 20 years and has opened my eyes to how hard it is to get by in this world when you are impaired. There are lots of people in this country who, for one reason or another, cannot keep gainful employment enough to support themselves. Helping the mentally ill who, even on medications, are still too unreliable to hold down a job helps the whole community - their families who worry about them, their neighbors, their children... | They would lose health care | My concern is that the system will never be up to date. This is an accounting nightmare. And, not enough placements. | |
1229 | My mother in law has been in a nursing home facility for almost 11 years-she worked her entire life -owned a small home -had some LTC for 3 years -advanced Alzheimer's has stolen her identity-we had to sell her home and all of her earthly possessions and liquidate what savings she had . She is diapered, spoon fed and now 100% on Medicaid -what will happen to her and millions of others like her??? | They would not affect me or my family unless I lose my health insurance. I think it's crazy that the very people trying to make it easier for corporations are the ones trying to make it so hard on folks that need public assistance. | My daughter already volunteers 10 hours a week with her caregiver at library and church... She would require more caregiver hours. Plus she is maxed out at those places ..they have no more hours they need her...and it took me years to set up those places... Most people are hard to convince to let a disabled person volunteer... They say no... How is the state going to provide them a place to go!!! | |
1230 | My mother is a mental healthcare provider in south central Kentucky and her practice is primarily made up of Medicaid recipients, many of whom are jobless or underemployed both because there are limited opportunities in their region for low-skill workers and because their health issues are complex and multifactorial. These people will go untreated if they lose coverage - which will make all of us less safe, will probably result in even more cases of drug abuse, and will diminish the patients' overall health outcomes. | They wouldn't effect my son's coverage but it would cripple Kentucky and I'm pretty sure that is our Governor's plan | My daughter homeschools 3 children...her husband is a full time minister. They have no extra time for more community engagement as they are already volunteered up to the neck! | |
1231 | My Mother is in a nursing home, yes Medicaid pays for some of it but Mom's check is used to cover a lot of the cost..she only gets to keep $40 a month...that does not cover her snacks, haircuts, clothes...so it falls on me to pay for her phone & any other items...I think she should be able to keep more than $40, this hasn't ever been raised to cover the cost of living increase... | This doesn't affect me or my family personally but I strongly feel Medicaid is abused and the able bodied should contribute in some way. However, current premiums, deductibles and/or out of pocket expenses are UNAFFORABLE for a lot of working people. | my daughter is too sick to commit to regular hours at this time | |
1232 | My mother is now a nursing home on Medicaid.. | This draconian and not of the "Christian " values th right claims to. hold. It robs the poor to feed the out of control appetites of the uber wealthy. It does not care for "the least of these". | My daughter would find this difficult. Stress is a large component in her mental illness. | |
1233 | My mother uses Medicaid. She was a stay at home mom for years, while my dad worked multiple jobs to support our family. He was declared medically disabled due to severe neuropathy in his feet and legs. Being on a limited, fixed income, they couldn't afford adequate medical coverage for my mother, whom is now also unable to work. Medicaid has enabled my mom to have insurance and get necessary medical screenings and preventative tests that she otherwise wouldn't be able to receive. I believe it is absolutely ridiculous that in our country, we are trying to deny medical coverage for anyone! In my opinion, basic medical care and coverage should be a right of all people. It's pathetic that the healthcare system has become a "for-profit" business. Families shouldn't have to choose between food and medical care and medical care for health problems should never be permitted to bankrupt a family. | This is a poor community. Many have worked all of their lives and have few resources for health care. | my family member is not physically able to work 80 hours. If she could she would be working now. | |
1234 | My mother was able to get cancer treatment | This Medicaid waiver would create many barriers for my friends and neighbors to access health insurance and preventative care. To thrive and grow, our community needs healthy people. By preventing access to health care, our families and communities will suffer. | My family members live 14 miles from any town and do not have transportation. | |
1235 | My mother who has worked her entire life would have lost her life if it was not for Medicaid. She retired with 250000 dollars. My father got sick before the ACA and they lost close to all of their retirement due to my father's cancer. | This will cause serious financial burdens on families who are already hurting. | My health and my husbands health would not permit us to do this along with we raise our 4 year old. | |
1236 | My mother would have benefitted after her assets were depleted by self-paced in the nursing home, if she had lived long enough. | This will kick thousands of Kentuckians off Medicaid and put up needless barriers to healthcare. In a state with some of the worst health indicators in the U.S., we should be doing everything we can to REMOVE barriers to healthcare and preventive healthcare | My job would be at risk. Why would an employer hire people if people were lining up to fill a volunteer requirement. | |
1237 | My mother-in-law has suffered from many chronic health conditions including a debilitating genetic heart condition and schizophrenia and is on both Medicare and Medicaid since she was in her early 50's. | This would be devastating to me not being able to get some healthcare would have me going to emergency rooms & not being able to pay for the visit. | My life is busy enough and it would be a barrier to prevent me from having access to healthcare. | |
1238 | My niece would not receive all the services she needs if not for Medicaid. | This would cruelly deny many people access to needed health insurance, | My mother does not drive and is a stay at home mom. Volunteer or work requirements could have endgagered her life if enacted years ago. | |
1239 | My parents received Medicaid coverage in their later years and it was necessary for their health issues. | This would drastically reduce access for many of our poorest citizens. | My mother has severe Alzheimer’s and not able to volunteer, work, or participate in a job training | |
1240 | My parents, who were self-employed for years, were able to get health insurance because of the ACA. They have minor chronic health conditions that they have been able to treat, and my dad has been able to have a hip replacement for a hip that was on the verge of collapse. How are you proposing one offers "verification" of self-employment? I don't disagree with the verification per say, but local government agencies are notoriously inefficient, and I have known them to lose submitted documentation. How can you ENSURE that such verification will be obtained and REGISTERED? The current system is overburdened. I don't trust it to manage the paperwork efficiently and effectively. | This would kick many people off of Medicaid coverage. Include my elderly grandmother that survives off of ssn. | My mother is only able to work a few hours each week. It would be difficult for her to be able to work 80 hours/month. | |
1241 | My partner and I run a small arts nonprofit in Louisville. We serve the children of our community and teach them to be better citizens of the commonwealth. Our household income is less than $50,000 per year. Without Medicaid none of our family would be able to afford healthcare, and our nonprofit would cease to exist. | This would limit my ability to do my job. I already work close to 40 hours/week as a self employed individual. | My mother is physically disabled/medically fragile. My brother already works full-time, but not a job that provides health care access. | |
1242 | My partner and I run a small arts nonprofit in Louisville. We serve the children of our community and teach them to be better citizens of the commonwealth. Our household income is less than $50,000 per year. Without Medicaid none of our family would be able to afford healthcare, and our nonprofit would cease to exist. | This would take away coverage from the most vulnerable of citizens and hurt Kentucky's overall health. Every concern listed in the previous question would return with a vengeance. Plus the sicker people are, the less likely they are able to work. Less people working means fewer people to fill the jobs we have open, less tax revenue. We are already in a hole and this is only going to make our workforce weaker. This does nothing but place a burden on poor people. It's lazy, uncreative, heartless policy. People needing mental health services or opiod treatment could be "locked out" for mistakes in paperwork. How can the Governor claim to be a republican and advocate for "red tape reduction" for businesses while INCREASING "red tape" for the average citizen? Sounds like he only cares about taking care of his business interests and not the people of Kentucky. | My parents could not complete engagement and do not understand computers enough to report it. | |
1243 | My partner has been able to access necessary medication to prevent severe tooth infection and severe, debilitating depression. | Those changes are abhorrent. Losing Medicaid, even temporarily, means I'd have to go off my meds. I wouldn't be able to work. | My patients would lose coverage and decompensate signifcantly. | |
1244 | My partner is unable to work outside the home, due to intense anxiety. She has been hospitalized over twenty times for bipolar disorder. Also, my son, now 38 years old, is schizophrenic. I have watched him become much more independent during the course of his years of disability. | Those without have enough stress in their lives. Imagine my friend, who had those 4 operations, living the rest of her life with those issues. | My sister is in a wheelchair and uses a walker. Needs assistance to get around. She is not deemed Medically Frail. | |
1245 | My patient benefit extremely from Medicaid coverage d/t high medication costs. | Though we are careful and diligent in the information we submit to validate our eligibility for Medicaid, mistakes have been made. Both by us, and state case workers. In these instances, had our perceived "failure to comply" resulted in a 6 month lock out from coverage, my children would certainly have been without 6 months of therapy and hearing aid coverage, but also been left in a terribly vulnerable position in the event of a medical emergency. And all through likely no fault of our own. | My sister is unable to work or volunteer due to disabilities | |
1246 | My sister has Alzheimers', in advanced stages, receives cae in a residential facility, receives medications through program. | To have health insurance I would have to volunteer 20 hours while I go through law school leaving little time to raise my child alone. I do not have the benefit of family to care for my child or another parent for him to spend time with. | My sister-in-law provides unpaid caregiving support at least 70 hours per week (10-12 hours per day), and yet, I am unclear as to whether this would be sufficient community engagement to keep her coverage under the 1115 Waiver proposal. The work she does is physically and emotionally difficult, and she should not have to continually justify maintaining her coverage on top of doing the work itself. | |
1247 | My sister in law is on Medicaid. She has diabetes as well as being disabled. She lives on extremely low income, and would be impossible to have things like dental coverage without the coverage. | To restrict Medicaid or add work requirements in any way implies that there are those in our community who are "deserving" and "undeserving" of basic healthcare. Healthcare is a universal right and we should be making it easier for people to get the care they need. The proposed changes are intended to prevent those who are in greatest need from accessing lifesaving care. | My son can't even be expected to work for one day. | |
1248 | My sister is raising all 4 of her grandchildren right now and without medicaid she could not do this. The children are 11, 7, 3, and 16 months. The 3 year old has learning disabilities that are sometimes overwhelming. She had to quit her job to care for these children with very little help from the state. Her husband is the only one working and they are renting a tiny apartment. Without medicaid and help from all of her family the children would suffer. I thank God for medicaid coverage because of the help that the 3 year old is now receiving. Please NO MORE PAPERWORK. My sister has her hands full right now and the paperwork to verify everything is overwhelming to her, because of the delays of govt. paperwork, she is in serious credit card debt to care for these children. It is a sad situation her daughter and son-in-law are in jail for drug abuse. | Too many people who need and reply on this coverage would be left with nothing. No help, no medicine, no doctors, possibly no life. | My son cannot see good enough to work a job. This would be extremely hard. | |
1249 | My son (7yrs) has ASD and epilepsy. He is on a Medicaid Waiver program and receives necessary services and medications we wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. My other son is currently a foster child that we are planning to adopt and has Medicaid health coverage. | totally devasting | MY SON DOES NOT DRIVE, WOULD BE A HARDSHIP. | |
1250 | My son and I are both on Medicaid and we both have asthma. In January of this year, my son was admitted to the hospital for 48-hours because an Upper Respiratory Infection exacerbated his asthma. It was the single most stressful week of my life and having to worry about how we would pay for a 48-hour hospital stay, when we can already barely scrape by every month, would've made it so much worse. We wouldn't have been able to afford to pay for the care he received and we are still, to this day, so thankful that we had Medicaid to fall back. For me, I am currently undergoing treatment for oral thrush, which I came down with as a side effect of my asthma controller. I have had oral thrush for four months, I have undergone five treatments for it and thus far haven't seen any relief. I'm currently waiting on a referral to see an Infectious Disease Specialist to treat it and, if I didn't have Medicaid, my family would've already paid out well over $1,000 just for one of the five medications I've taken in an attempt to treat it - for my family, that is an INSANE amount of money, something that would set us back for several months. Because of Medicaid, I have dental coverage for the first time in my life. I had health coverage off an on throughout my life, but I've never had dental coverage and I have taken every possible step since I received it to take the best care of my teeth My sister and my nephew also have Medicaid and they're in a similar boat, except my sister is a single mother and my nephew has autism. Because of my nephew's medical condition, my sister isn't really able to hold down a job - she needs to be available to pick him up from school if he's having a rough day, or to take him back and forth to therapy. She also is barely able to scrape by on a monthly basis and relies on Medicaid because she can't afford any other medical coverage. | Transportation to and from volunteering agencies is impossible for some especially those living in a rural community. They can barely get a ride to grocery shop as it is | My son does okay in a sheltered workshop. A real job or volunteer experiences without direct supervision by someone who understands his challenges simply wouldn’t work for him. | |
1251 | My son gets his infant wellness visits and vaccines. I am able to get treatment for a pre-existing condition. | Two words: Astronomically and Negatively | My son is developing his business. It will net him a decent income at some time. A 'community engagement' would take him away from his goals. | |
1252 | My son has a Medicaid waiver, which allows me to care for my chronically ill child in our home. My brother also became very sick last year, losing sight in one eye and partially in his other and spent months in the hospital with pancreatitis. He is unable to work and is fighting for his social security right now, with no income and the ACA saved his life. | Unable to financially meet my grandparents needs | My son is disabled so this would not affect him. | |
1253 | My son has a severe mental illness. We are in the process of applying for Medicaid. | Unable to make premium payments. Unable to work. | My son struggling with health and mental health issues will find this extremely difficult, or impossible. Yet, he will not easily meet the requirements for being medically frail, or otherwise exempted from the requirement. | |
1254 | My son has Autism (level 3) and requires constant care and multiple therapies. He also has epilepsy and Celiac and requires a lot of care for these issues as well. Medicaid covers the cost of multiple therapies and specialist visits that our family (despite both parents working full time jobs) could never afford. | Undue burden on Medicaid recipients to have lockouts, periods of time where coverage lapses etc. Coverage lapses will mean inability to access medications and as a result many more people will become actively symptomatic and seek treatment in the ER or worse, be incarcerated. | My son would not be able to fulfill this requirement for the same reason he is not able to work. | |
1255 | My son has autism and benefits from a waiver program. I am not opposed to wiping out fraud but I do believe that some individuals are not capable of working, hence the need for the waiver. We work to build community skills but many of our children are medically fragile and vaccine Injured. I would be open for extending the reporting time period as it can take weeks to speak to someone regarding updates. People with disabilities may call for 10 days and then they would be penalized for inadequate support at the DCBS level? Extending to 30-60 days would be sufficient considering lag times and lack of support for individuals. My son is making huge gains and I hope to have him off of the waiver and participate in a college program. We work hard as a family to support his progress and the waiver doesn't cover the specialists he sees. However, it provides behavior supports that are invaluable. | Very dangerous! | My two severely developmentally disabled adult sons will not ever be employed. Making their care team prove that over and over is an unfair burden. | |
1256 | My son has Autism and he has the Michelle P. Waiver. He recieves ABA and other services with this waiver. It has been life changing for my son! | Volunteering. Many volunteer agencies don't offer 20 hrs per work a week, | My work varies all the time - last minute cancellations by clients, a sudden need for different hours so it's difficult to plan anything. I never know if my posted schedule will remain the same or not. I'd have to figure out something very flexible along volunteer lines, but even volunteer work isn't so flexible. | |
1257 | My son has autism and receives services under the Michelle P Medicaid waiver. Since waiver services are considered optional for states, any cuts to Medicaid threatens his services, which allow him to live, work, and socialize in his community rather than a segregated setting. | We are all on Medicaid. Me, my partner (a licensed social worker), and our two children. | Myself, not at all. But able folks should help or repay benefits received in some way | |
1258 | My son has Autism so we have benefited greatly! Therapy has been critical for his development. I think parents with disabled children children with autism and other disabilities should be excluded from the 20 hour week. We already have numerous therapy to attend doctor's appointments. If anything we should have to show proof a therapy visits and doctor's appointment visits | We could not get all of the needed interventions and my child would probably need assistance as an adult | Myself,it does not but many other Yes, as many may be caregivers to some. Also there are some people that may not be in the position to get to a work site or even volunteer if they have small children and no child care available to them after daycare closes at night | |
1259 | My son has Autism, ID and other challenges. Without Medicaid, we could not afford his therapeutic summer camp, his therapy, and to pay skilled persons to stay with him after school while we are still at work. | We may lose coverage. | N/A I don't received Medicaid. But I LOVE this idea. Everyone has something to contribute to our communities! | |
1260 | My son has been kept alive by having mediciad, this at this time doesnt pertain to him as he is a disabled minor but that may change in the future. Also when unemployed my brother was able to be insured for the first time ever and sought healthcare. | We need to do things to lift up lower income people up to create more opportunities for them - not take away what they barely already have. If the proposed changes happen, thousands of people will be in immediate health danger - then emergency rooms will be packed. Also, about 20% of people on Medicaid are full-time caretakers for sick/disabled family members. These people are not able to go out and seek employment because they are needed at home for care of their family. | N/A disabled | |
1261 | My son has benefitted from substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment. | We no longer need assistance, but many working poor families do. The stresses are great for these folks, who may forget to make changes. They don't need to work added unpaid hours away from children- which may keep them from needed paid work. Why do we need to keep asking poor working people to justify their needs when they perform the jobs that keep our economy flowing? | n/a retired | |
1262 | My son has coverage,but both my wife and I are disabled,she is not eligible for Medicare for 2 years,but because Our income was $15 over the limit you traitors cut her Medicaid off forcing her to spend $181 a month for medical and dental coverage or be fined by Obamacare on our income tax,we barely get by on our disability checks as is and I will vote against everyu traitor currently in office ,we both worked for 40 years before I was critically injured in a work accident and she has genetically inherited hip and joint problems that | We pay for this as taxpayers. It would basically be stealing from those of us who pay into it. I want that to go to someone who needs it. I don't want them to have to slave for it. It's already hard to qualify... Let alone keep it for any length of time. They tried to cut my mom off two weeks after she was discharged from the hospital. She hadn't even started physical therapy... And she never got a chance to. | N/A since stay at home parents are exempt. Otherwise I would have to pay child care. | |
1263 | My son has cystic fibrosis. I have a full time job but it is impossible for me to EVER cover the copays. I'd go bankrupt and then I would have to watch him suffer without proper care. | We will lose our home to pay medical bills | N/A to me. I think it is a good idea to a point and - if there is work available. if we are going to put this provision in place than the government would provide the work opportunities (similar to the WPA of the 30's) so people could fulfil their obligation (and be paid as well) | |
1264 | My son has drug issues -without Medicaid he wou get no health care at all | We work two jobs already with a lack of rest and time for family 20 hours a week of community service would be like have another part time job which with our already full and part time would me having 2 full time jobs. | NA | |
1265 | My son has had insurance for the past 5 years because of Medicaid. I am a single mom and his father is disabled and doesnt work. | We would barely make it by financially if at all. Both my parents are disabled and aging and on their low income wouldn't be able to afford medical care and food. | na | |
1266 | My son has it. We would be bankrupt without it. He has behavioral issues and has been hospitalized many times. Because we have it we are able to maintain a home for him when he gets back instead of losing our home to pay medical bills | We would drown under medical bills without Medicaid. We would not be able to afford our mortgage, utilities, and other basic needs without Medicaid. | NA | |
1267 | My son has kidney stones, asthma, allergies, sleep apena, problems with his ears and adhd, my husband has high cholesterol and has had 9 strokes, i have carpal tunnel, nerve or sensory damage, ibs-d and chronic pancreatitis. If we didn't have Medicaid we wouldn't have anything we couldn't cope with the issues or cost | We would find it hard to live in Kentucky and stop going to a doctor regularly or the ER during an emergency. | NA | |
1268 | My son has Medicaid coverage. Because of his coverage he has a safe place to go during the day while I am at work. Without this coverage I would have had to quit working in order to stay home with him. Since his father is no longer in the picture (he couldn't deal with having a disabled child) I would have had to go on Welfare. The Medicaid coverage has helped cover his medication and other medical expenses as well. | We would not be able to afford the care our children need. | NA | |
1269 | My son has preexisting conditions and under the ACA he was able to Getz Medicare. | We would not be able to go to the doctor at all or recieve our medications each month. All children should be able to go to the doctor. | NA | |
1270 | My son has preexisting conditions and under the ACA he was able to Getz Medicare. | We would not be able to meet the 20 hour per week work requirements and would therefore lose coverage | NA | |
1271 | My son has the MPW. We do not know what we would do without it. These waivers offer hope for employment, and decent housing. | We would not have insurance if we had to pay premiums up front. | Na | |
1272 | My son is a 5 year old non verbal autistic child. When he got diagnosed we where locked into my insurance for the better part of a year and my employer did not cover his therapy. He would have had to go without it. Therapy helps him to learn how to function daily like a "normal" child. | We wouldn't be able to afford living. We would lose everything to make sure she has her insulin.All of our money would go to that and we wouldn't be able to provide a home or very much food for our family. My brother is also type 1 and wouldn't be able to afford insulin and support his family. | NA | |
1273 | My son is on a Medicaid WAIVER for an intellectual disability (since birth) & after our private insurance pays, Medicaid picks up the remaining balance. He utilizes COMMUNITY BASED SUPPORTS (CLS & behavior supports) and EPSD/THERAPY (speech & OT) which offer him a "hand up" to meet his goal of one day being a productive/employed citizen. | We wouldn't be able to afford our son's medical care that they need | NA | |
1274 | My son passed at the age of 23 in 2003. He had a 2 year old son at the time of his death. My grandson's mom was struggling at the time and could not find a job which included medical coverage. My grandson was on medicaid during this period. His mother obtained a degree and was able to find a job with insurance. My parents hard working and paid taxes all their life. They got poor guidance from a financial director and as they aged their money was depleted. They also helped out my ill brother with medical costs. He did not quite qualify for medicaid so a lot of my parents money went towards his medical bills. Both of my parents received medicaid insurance while in long term care. Keep in mind that my son, my parents and my brother ALL paid into the system for MANY years. | We wouldn't be able to go to the doctors because we wouldn't have money to pay the bill afterwards and our kids wouldn't be as health as they ate today | NA | |
1275 | My son receives Medicaid through an Waiver program for Autistic children. The Waiver makes it possible to get my son the help he needs to ensure he will grow up to be a contributing member of society. As a child, he can learn how to become successful. | We, at present, are the ONLY leading nation that does not fully believe that healthcare is a right. I believe it should be. I believe we ALL deserve the same healthcare as Matt Bevin and his family. | NA | |
1276 | My son was born at 26 weeks gestation, and at only 940grams. Without Medicaid, we would've been left with life crippling debt, as his medical bills totaled over one million dollars. When my husband unexpectedly lost his job, Medicaid was there for us during the transition between work. Without Medicaid, we would be homeless. | Wed be without. | NA | |
1277 | My son was born at 26 weeks gestation, and at only 940grams. Without Medicaid, we would've been left with life crippling debt, as his medical bills totaled over one million dollars. When my husband unexpectedly lost his job, Medicaid was there for us during the transition between work. Without Medicaid, we would be homeless. | Well I know it certainly would affect me. I am a freelance housekeeper who negotiates how much I am paid which isn't really a lot and I only have one employer who has yet to call me in. | NA | |
1278 | My son was born at 26 weeks gestation, and at only 940grams. Without Medicaid, we would've been left with life crippling debt, as his medical bills totaled over one million dollars. When my husband unexpectedly lost his job, Medicaid was there for us during the transition between work. Without Medicaid, we would be homeless. | Well, I'd have to quit my job, sell everything I have, to care for her. So not just my aunt, but myself and my family....would probably be homeless. And die. | NA | |
1279 | My son was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. We were told he would not survive the first 24 hours. 31 days later we took him home. He is a wonderful six year old who is incredibly smart, funny, and active. However, due to complications from his arrival and subsequent nicu stay he had sensory processing disorder, executive function disorder, speech apraxia and more. None of the secondary conditions are terrible individually but collectively they require on-going therapy and management. Even with private insurance we couldnt cover all the costs. Medicaid covers the difference and ensures we can ensure he is well cares for. Although that is a considerable effort and cost now it will set him up to be a successful contributing member of society. | Well, my mother would die--and that's the short term. Who knows what would happen in the long term? | Na | |
1280 | My son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. He is able to receive therapy for this and also see a counselor for his emotional issues. His allergies are so severe that they cause hearing loss, so he gets allergy shots once a week. My family could not afford theses services without Medicaid. | Well, overworking sick people and taking advantage of the poor will definitely not have a positive impact on my neighborhood. | NA for me | |
1281 | My son was in rehab for addiction he received Medicaid coverage during a time that his health was in the worst shape it has ever been in. The health care he received during this time I believe saved his life. He is now 4 years sober working and has his own health insurance. | Well, some would die with out their medications | NA on me, but impact on family and friends. | |
1282 | My son was injured and had to have bilateral knee surgeries. My family could not have afforded his care, even though my husband and I both work. $9/hour with no paid leave is not a living wage. We're very thankful for Medicaid and employ lots of preventative health measures in our lives to be healthy. | Well. If I lost my heathcare I Or my son are more likely to die. | Need for child care would make it very difficult; grandparents babysit too | |
1283 | My son who is disabled and receives SSI has his adult day program and medical copayments paid through KY Medicaid. | What will happen if you can't afford the premiums? What are we to do if we lose coverage for 6 months? | Need help with cost if a babysitter | |
1284 | My son who suffers from mental illness received coverage at a crucial time in his life. It probably is the difference between homelessness and his current status of having a job and an apartment. | What will happen to me and my husband if we need nursing home care? | Negatively | |
1285 | My son will rely on Medicaid as an adult with a developmental disability. | When enrolling for healthcare, there are typically other stresses that are occurring in people's lives. Access to this healthcare should not be so discouraging. It sends the message that KY does not want to help its residents. It is a selfish, unnecessary move by KYgovernment. | Negatively | |
1286 | My son, age 27, works 2 part time job & is a part time student. It has enabled him to afford care for such things as sinus infections & other minor ailments. | When I conceived my first son, I worked 40 hrs a week at an animal hospital that would not offer me insurance, although they provided insurance to other staff members. I agreed because I had graduated from college into the recession. I desperately needed a job to pay my student loans and live. I continued to work even after I found out I was pregnant, and planned to work after the baby came. However, around my sixth month, I started to faint. After several trips to the hospital, my doctors decided my blood pressure was just to low. They wrote my employer a note stating that's i could continue to work as long as I could sit. Standing causes my blood pressure to drop and falling and hurting myself when i lost consciousness was dangerous. My employer refused to give me a stool. They couldn't fire me or force me on maternity leave because I still wanted to work. So the company placed me on unpaid medical leave with no garuntee I would have a job to return to. The very next week they filled my position, and told me I wasn't being fired but my job was filled. I couldn't apply for unemployment, because I wasn't unemployed or fired...technically. So I resigned. Without my income, we coundlt afford to live where my husband worked. So we moved back to KY. My husband went back to work at a hotel he had worked at while in college. We still weren't offered insurance. So I went on Medicaid. I delivered my son two months after being approved. After my sons delivery i started looking for work. No one would offer me insurance or a wage that would cover child care costs and still have money to help pay the bills. I never went back to work. I became a stay at home mom. All my prenatal care for my second child was covered by Medicaid. My husband worked two jobs, and we still didn't have insurance. Under the new changes, neither of my children's births would be covered unless I worked a job that offered no insurance and made only enough $ to pay for the childcare costs while I worked. By the time my husband worked two jobs and I worked 20 hrs a week, we would make too much $ to even qualify for Medicaid. | negatively | |
1287 | My son, who has Medicaid, has been diagnosed with mental illness, is unable to be socially active. Psychosis can be triggered by social stress and working could be danger to him or others. | When you are ill and in dire need you cannot wait 6 months, and if you are disabled you can't work and not even likely to be hired part-time. | No | |
1288 | My special needs baby is thriving because of the care he receives. | Where do you want me to begin? Let's penalize the elderly, children, poor and women (disabled too) by implementing more rules or requirements to get/keep coverage. Stop this and listen to your consitutents not the bozos in DC | No | |
1289 | My student's basic medical needs are met enabling them to receive care or therapy services (OT, speech, etc) that impact their success. | While these changes would not affect me today it would have been very difficult when I did receive Medicaid. Due to my self employment verifying income can be very tricky and would have made it hard for me to get approved. | No | |
1290 | My twin sisters have PKU and are required to be on a special diet and take medications which cost approximately $20,000 per month per twin. They are truly disabled and without Medicaid they would not be able to comply with their special diet. This would harm their brains and reduce their ability to function in society. | will not be able to afford my medications | No | |
1291 | My uncle who has been in very bad health for several years. Medicaid helps him get the medication he needs to survive. | With no healthcare and we got sick, we would more likely have to go to an e.r. and rack up medical bills we could never pay off , miss work because of illnesses that could have been avoided by preventive care. | No | |
1292 | My understanding is that we all benefit from health care availability for all not just in Emergency rooms. | with out Medicaid I would die | No | |
1293 | My wife and I needed Medicaid to help us get proper care for her and our children when they were born. I was always employed and often worked two jobs but needed that help. My wife's mother needed Medicaid when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness at 60. Without it she wouldn't have had proper end of life care. | With regard to mandatory work/volunteer hours, there has been no provision for support for volunteer entities who would be tasked with providing community engagement hours for persons required to complete same. Even the cost of background checks for volunteers would be prohibitive for most non-profits. With regard to "lock out" periods, there has been insufficient education on both sides about how this would affect participants and no provision of support services for applicants without access to computers to maintain enrollment, or with challenges to access (whether those are wifi, reading ability, or physical access to work required to obtain funds to pay premiums). | No | |
1294 | My wife and I work part time and we could not afford health care without Medicaid. | With these changes many of the families I work with would have to decide between being present and active in raising their children, and having healthcare. In a personal way, as an independent contractor, my income is always changing. It is difficult to keep up with reporting it. Sometimes I am on medicaid and sometimes I am not. Sometimes I should be on medicaid, but I do not report my change of income because it requires so much energy to stay on top of, and I end up paying out of my pocket for that. This system needs to be streamlined and more effective. Providing more assistance rather than less. I had a lot of success with the Kynect system. And have had SO much more trouble navigating healthcare since that was taken away. I had been so proud that my state was one of the states to expand medicaid! But, this is taking so many steps backwards. I am really ashamed of Kentucky right now, and I am disappointed that our governor is not putting his people before his own interests. | No | |
1295 | My wife has been able to start a new business and leave her old employer because she was able to find health insurance on the marketplace. | Without access to these services, people will abuse the emergency rooms, or just die. | No ! At least 30days | |
1296 | My wife has Crohns disease and there is no way we could afford her medication without Medicaid. | Without his continued ability to seek treatment he would risk losing all the progress he has made | No at all | |
1297 | My wife has had type one diabetes since she was 14. When we moved back to Ky, the expansion of Medicaid made it possible for her to get the best care that she needs to stay alive. It was the first time since I've known her that she didn't have to ration her insulin and work extra hours to cover the cost. We were dealthly afraid of the healthcare reform because with our limited income while she is a student again, we would not be able to afford her healcare under these changes. I believe that healthcare is a basic human right and needs to be more accessible, not less. People shouldn't be penalized for having trouble navigating a complicated system and governor Bevin and senator McConnell should be ashamed for putting themselves and the wealthy over those of the middle and lower classes. We are all healthy until the day we need care. And once that happens, and it happens to everyone, it shouldn't make your life a living hell and cause you to lose all of your savings and live pay check to pay check. | Without his waiver he couldn't get ANY private insurance with the proposed changes and bringing back preexisting conditions. Even if we could get him private insurance, it would only cover 6 months/year of his therapies of which he requires once/week, which is still well below the recommendation. | No direct impact but the positive impact on the community would indirectly impact me and improve my community. | |
1298 | N/A/ | Without insurance I could die. I have watched many friends die bc they didn't have insurance. It is a bad, scary feeling. | No effect | |
1299 | Nearly 20% of the Warren County population is covered by Medicaid. Given the high rate of poverty and racial disparities in Warren County, Medicaid is essential to guarantee access to health care. | Without it, my family would be without insurance and it would negatively affect our health. | no I am unable to engage in the community on a regular basis, as I use a wheelchair and cane | |
1300 | Nearly half of my patients would not get the care they need without their Medicaid coverage. | Without Medicaid I could not afford my daughter's inhalers or my medications. I need it. | No I currently work 40 hours a week. | |
1301 | No insurance at all before - not affordable | Without Medicaid many people are going to die!!! Is this what you want??? | No impact | |
1302 | No one in my family has Medicaid | Without Medicaid, I have no doubt that many more people would ask churches for monetary help--which we simply don't have. | No impact for me but where will they volunteer? Who will pay for the background check ( a barrier to employment for some)? Who will supervise and keep track of their time? | |
1303 | None | Without Medicaid, my mother would not go to the doctor and would very likely experience serious health complications. This program saves a lot of money upfront by identifying/preventing major health issues for many people. | No impact for me personally but if none of these are easily available to people in rural areas without transportation, the requirement is just unreasonable. | |
1304 | None | Without medication many will go to harder street drugs to keep out of pain... | No impact on me | |
1305 | None | Without my medications I will die. Many others would face the same fate. | No impact on me. I feel like so many would not be able to keep up with this and would lose their coverage, we need a better way to engage recipients. | |
1306 | None | Without these services my son would be isolated and not reach his full potential as an independent adult. He would be more reliant on social services as an adult. He would not be allowed to participate in activities that typical children his age participate in, like summer day enrichment camps. His CDO worker has helped him attend these. | No impact to me. I am retired with heath coverage. If I was working 40 hours a week at a low paying job it would be detrimental to my family life. | |
1307 | Not long after our coverage began through Kentucky's medicaid exansion, our family went in for a routine eye exam. It was during this exam that my healthy, 28 year old husband was diagnosed with pigmenary and open-angle glaucoma. Through this program we are able to monitor his condition and receive the medicine needed to control his eye pressures. Kentucky's expansion of Medicaid saved my husband's eyesight. | Without these services my son would be isolated and not reach his full potential as an independent adult. He would be more reliant on social services as an adult. He would not be allowed to participate in activities that typical children his age participate in, like summer day enrichment camps. His CDO worker has helped him attend these. | No impact. | |
1308 | Nursing home coverage once my parents ran out of money - which didn't take long. | Without these services my son would be isolated and not reach his full potential as an independent adult. He would be more reliant on social services as an adult. He would not be allowed to participate in activities that typical children his age participate in, like summer day enrichment camps. His CDO worker has helped him attend these. | No impact. I already meet the work requirement. | |
1309 | Once I became eligible for Medicaid, I was finally able to get a screening colonoscopy at age 62. I was 12 years over the recommended age because I could not risk getting hit with a bill for thousands of dollars when I was paying for private insurance and had a high deductible. The doctor's office had explained to me that the coding would be changed from preventive to surgery if a polyp was removed. In the event surgery was performed while doing the colonoscopy, I would have a bill to pay. It would not be fully covered by my insurance plan. When I had my colonoscopy, a polyp was removed but I had no bill to pay! | Without these services my son would be isolated and not reach his full potential as an independent adult. He would be more reliant on social services as an adult. He would not be allowed to participate in activities that typical children his age participate in, like summer day enrichment camps. His CDO worker has helped him attend these. | No impact. I stay busy. | |
1310 | One baby's life was saved | Work of volunteer is the least difficult--all other additions are onerous | NO JOBS HERE USELESS JOB TRAINING WHAT VOLUNTEER WORK!!! | |
1311 | One doctors visit and some therapy | Workimg in the medical field my clie ts would be dirrctly affected by these changes. Seceral patients have a very hard time recievong help needed due to Medicaid or insurance guidelines,forcing them to return home and out of therapuetic care earlier than needed. This pits my patients at risk for readmittance to long term care or hospital stays due to dexreases therapy coverage. | no personal impact, but many of these people are struggling as it is, making life harder will not benefit anyone | |
1312 | One of my children (my oldest) used to be on Medicaid and I was on Medicaid during my pregnancies. It helped tremendously because the cost of healthcare in this country is ridiculous. Without it, me or my children could have suffered greatly. | Working for a non-profit HIV clinic, these changes mean major cuts and obstacles for our clinic and patients. | No personal impact. That could be difficult for people to participate if they have no transportation | |
1313 | Our adopted daughter was under Medicaid before we finalized the adoption and placed her under private care | Working people who are getting Medicaid coverage because their work does not cover them and they don't make enough money to buy coverage | No reliable transportation and my health would be a problem with consistency. | |
1314 | Our benefits have allowed me to stay alive. I have serious health issues. Before we were on medicaid, I didn't buy my medicine because I couldn't afford to. I've worked my entire life and now have health issues. Before medicaid, my children had no medical care at all. Most people are like me. We are not deadbeats who need to be shamed. | Would have no health insurance | no transportation means no community engagement | |
1315 | Our community has benefited by ensuring those in need receive the care and assistance they need. | Would put more financial burden on my family | no transportation to and from these volunteer , job training, or work. Who is going to pay to get me there. I can not afford the cost. | |
1316 | Our community of individuals with down Syndrome have benefitted throughout their lifetime. This includes additional therapy or helping with community employment opportunities. These are things that traditional insurance cannot provide assistance for and most things people are not able to afford on their own. | Wouldn't affect me, but my daughter and her family will lose some of their coverage and the costs would sky rocket. | No transportation, couldn't do. | |
1317 | Our daughter has autism and uses Passport to provider her therapy. I recently have been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases and would not be able to afford the medical bills that have come with that this year. | Wouldn't be able to afford half their medicines or doc bills that they need to be and stay healthy | No, but it would many people who work part time and do not have regular hours or those who have jobs where they can pick up a day here and there depending on demand. You also have to have a skill set or literacy level that will allow you to volunteer, get a job or participate in job training. We have so many "broken" systems which already do not fit the abilities or capabilities of low income and vulnerable populations. This state does not even have 24 hour rapid transit so you can get to any job in the middle of the night if you can find one, or get home after the buses stop running when you cannot afford a car. | |
1318 | Our daughter is disabled and has Medicaid. | You will be putting people out of the street by doing this. It is not godly or the right thing to do | No. I believe it would provide great benefits to the community and the individual. | |
1319 | Our daughter separated from her spouse and has a 3 year old child. She has a full-time job and we provide childcare. Her job does not provide medical coverage, even for full-time employees, and her income is insufficient to cover medical coverage. She is 26 years old and aged off our group coverage. She is taking steps to find higher paying job with benefits so she can afford medical coverage and childcare. If she didn't have Medicaid she would be uninsured. She sees this as temporary help with medical coverage, and although she would qualify for food stamps and other benefits, she chooses to pay for what she can and not apply for additional assistance at this time. | You will end up further harming poor people with this type of legislation. | None, but for those earning under a livable wage, working two jobs to put food on the table do not have any time to volunteer, it would add stress, less family time | |
1320 | Our family moved to Kentucky from Australia while I was 6 months pregnant. My husband was in school full time and working. I received quality care for myself and my children during this time. If I had not received good care, my child could have been still born due to a rare condition I had developed during pregnancy. Medicaid saved his life and allowed our family the opportunity to improve our financial security. My husband is now a nurse who works in the ICU and I teach at a local middle school. | You're using them to punish the poor but we live in punishment. None of us wants to be here. You're going to kill some of us with changes like these. | None, I currently work. | |
1321 | Our foster child has Medicaid and this is the first time he has consistent health care. | I would lose my mental illness treatment and lose my psych medication which I desperately need | none, I work full time | |
1322 | Our oldest son was 20 months old when our second son was born. I had stopped working to be home with our children. A week after our second son was born, my husband lost his job. A week after that, we learned our children were hearing impaired. We would go on to have yet another son who was born hearing impaired. Though my husband and I are both working, our children still qualify for Medicaid. Simply put, had our family not had Medicaid coverage, our children could not have possibly had as sound a start to life as they have had. | I would lose my treatment and my psych meds I so desperately need | None. I am an employed individual with commercial coverage. | |
1323 | Our son has Down Syndrome and has a Michelle P waiver which enables us to hire someone to work on community based learning with him. It's a God send. He benefits from the direction and is developing independent living skills. | I would not be able to pay for food, therapy, and other things my son needs. My health would suffer because I wouldn’t be able to care for my own medical needs. As the sole caregiver, we would be reliant on more social services as my own chronic conditions would not be managed. | None. I am not a Medicaid Recipient. I know people that would qualify to keep thei r benefits ts and they would. | |
1324 | Our son was diagnosed with autism in 2015. We were spending $5000 a year out of pocket to cover the therapy he was receiving. The therapy services he has received over the past 2 1/2 years have been incredibly beneficial in his growth and development. The Medicare coverage he has received this year has helped our family tremendously, especially with our out of pocket rising to $8000. | I have no idea what I would do without the coverage for my son. | Not | |
1325 | Our son, who is disabled and suffers from a variety of health issues, was once a young college student with a bright future. Triennial neuralgia and chronic migraines robbed him of that future. We were paying out of picket for all his medical appointments and his medications. Thankfully, he was deemed disabled by a judge and now has medical coverage through Kentucky Medicaid. His medical costs are covered, and we are able to live without the heavy cloud of medical bills over us. | It would keep people off Medicaid who shouldn't be on it | Not able to do this | |
1326 | Pays for my wife's medications. Clinics expanded, new ones popped up. | Expensive copays or monthly premiums would take away money for food | Not all individuals are capable to work - paid and volunteer. Both disability and least restrictive environment are continuums. We should respect this. | |
1327 | People are being taken care of before they're in crisis. This helps all of us and also our hospitals. | No vision or dental would be harmful to preventative care. | Not applicable to me, but I think many individuals would find this an impossible requirement, and I think the administrative burden associated with keeping track of the work requirement is unrealistic. | |
1328 | People are getting healthcare now, sometimes for the first time in decades. We are seeing improvements in overall health and don't want to lose that momentum. | Not applicable to me, but unless a person with a SUD is in treatment, they would not be able to meet this requirement or have the professional supports needed to navigate this complicated new system. | ||
1329 | People are getting the health care they need. I believe had my dad had access 5 years ago, he would not have died from complications from gall bladder surgery done by the VA. Medicaid would have saved his life. | There is no legitimate reason to impose more hardships on people that already are struggling. Companies do very well in Kentucky and should have to contribute to the communities they do business in. They don't mind reaping the rewards, so they shouldn't mind paying for them. | Not applicable to me. I am fortunate that I have coverage through my employer. I do not agree with adding this requirement for Medicaid recipients. Why is the assumption being made that these individuals are lazy and taking advantage of the system??? | |
1330 | People aren't dying due to lack of medical care/coverage. | Not applicable. | ||
1331 | People can focus on life issues such as taking care of their kids and parents as well as preventive care for themselves | These changes are causing our patients to not come to appointments due to the copays, unable to pick up prescriptions, repeat dental infections due to lack of dental care. They can't make it to specialists they need to see due to no transportation. So very sad. | Not at all. I have a full time job and pat time job. Up till recently I also had two other prn jobs. I believe in working to support myself. I don't like to have others take care of me unless it's absolutely necessary | |
1332 | People especially in my area have finally had the opportunity to get care they need for sometimes the first time in the life | I believe my agency would treat people and not be reimbursed due to the changes suggested. We have an ethical commitment to treat clients in our care. The loss of a medical card and inability to back date coverage would mean that the agency won't get paid. Co pays would have a similar result.The reimbursement rate is quite low for the Greater Cincinnati area ( we are paid $102/hour of therapy in OH) and there is no cushion for such expenses. Eventually we would have to limit the number of Medicaid clients we accept. | Not at all. It is mean spirited. | |
1333 | People in my community not suffering and dying from treatable diseases because, without Medicaid, they couldn't get the care they need is a benefit to my community. It should stop there, but apparently - that's not enough. So, I will also say that Medicaid reduces strain on emergency services that uninsured people have to fall back on when they can't afford regular medical care. It makes far more sense to provide regular care, in a non-emergency setting. Not only does using emergency services tie up needed resources that would be better used for people with a true critical issue, funneling people into the emergency for their regular care mean that they are only stabilized and sent away. The core issue is not resolved. So, they need to come back again and again, in many cases - when a simply maintenance treatment would vastly improve their lives and be more cost efficient. In terms of having a community with a healthy economy, it is important to remember that most non-elderly adults using Medicaid already work. They work at jobs with uncertain hours, they work at jobs that deliberately keep them just below the full-time employment status so they don't have to provide insurance, they do temp work. Their ability to be at work, when they are needed is profoundly affected by their personal health and the health of any for whom they are a care-giver. Our businesses need employees that can show up to work, as consumers we need to be able to rely on those business to be able to staff to meet our needs. | People would not do preventative care and would end up in the ER more | Not every community has job opportunities for all of its citizens. Volunteer work is possible if the government also offered "job coaches" to help these workers to be successful volunteering. | |
1334 | People receiving health care that are otherwise unable to do so, NOT DYING FROM LACK OF! | The ways that this is going to affect my family is that my daughter, who is working while raising a family, would be required to possibly pay more for her benefits. | Not for me personally, but again the client population I work with are often not capable of maintaining employment and have not yet been awarded disability. | |
1335 | People that haven't been able to go to doctor in years are finally able to take care of themselves. | Individuals need and want to have self-respect, pride in being a productive part of our community. These changes will help get them there. | Not many rural opportunities. Would have to find volunteer situations an hour away from home. | |
1336 | People who are healthy can participate in work, and pay taxes. | Not me personally, but I feel the community engagement requirement, and the entire Kentucky Health 1115 waiver is egregious and classist. | ||
1337 | People who have additions have been able to get treatment. | I could lose coverage | Not me personally, but it creates a sense of coercion which tends to sabotage and discourage people from pursuing more meaningful and productive engagement. | |
1338 | Please DO NOT TAKE AWAY MY HEALTHCARE I AM A DIABETIC AND I HAVE SEVERE HEART DISEASE I CANNOT PAY FOR DR VISITS TESTS OR MY MEDICINE PLEASE STOP THIS | Children and older people would not get needed healthcare. | Not me personally. However, some of our most disadvantaged truly end up having to take care of themselves as a full time job. No one with a disability should be forced to neglect themselves in order to meet a non personalized and non-supported work or education requirement. | |
1339 | Poor people are covered | Making people accountable is good all around | Not me--but for others in my community they may be impacted if they have serious medical issues, such as extreme obesity/high blood pressure/diabetes like my uncle, mental illness, or substance use disorders. Sometimes these situations are not seen as an exempt medical issue because of judgments we have in our society. These individuals would be without medical coverage when in reality, they need it the most. These individuals would also have the most difficulty in finding or obtaining a job due to their health status. | |
1340 | Pre-emptive healthcare - Seeing specialists for Diabetes, Auto-immune Hepatitis, Hypothyroidism - all the tests and the meds that come with having those diseases. | If recipients have no income they cannot afford to pay. | Not me, but it would affect others negatively | |
1341 | Pregnancy | Not me, but my nieces are too medically fragile to work in this capacity. | ||
1342 | Preventive care is so, so much cheaper and more effective than waiting until a condition is complicated or chronic. Health is an investment; if persons potentially on Medicaid lose their health, they are far more likely to be shut out of the labor market permanently. | My father and mother are both frail and cannot work. They are on a fixed income and cannot afford premiums or copays. | Not much. I already do those things, but for some I know it could be difficult to achieve. | |
1343 | Preventive care! It saves us all money when people don't have to use the ER as their doctor. | Communities and individuals will suffer thru these changes. | Not personally applicable, but many people on Medicaid are already working full-time and it would be burdendome to take on 80 more hours. | |
1344 | Preventive health is the very best way to keep people healthy and save money in this country. An appreciation for life and the life of others should always be a top priority. | Biggest problem I have is losing transportation | Not personally, but transportation can be issue. No on li c transit | |
1345 | Previously I worked in several medical officeschool as a billing supervisor. The opportunity for health care greatly improved with the expansion of medicaid. These are hard working community members who fell between the poor and those who can afford large premin costs. To me that benefit alone is wonderful. To work full time and not be able to afford health care is a baffling problem to have | This would mean I could not keep my doctors appointments and keep taking my medications that help keep some of my symptoms under control. I worked for the commonwealth of Kentucky almost 20 years and was forced to sign a layoff template for the health department system and then was forced to draw out my retirement in order to survive and keep my house. Please don’t take away my health insurance too. | Not realistic and a nightmare of red tape! | |
1346 | Provided access to health care for the most in need and children | Numerous health problems keeps them from working because of being sick and missing work. Awaiting court date for disability. | ||
1347 | Provided coverage to uninsured individuals and people with mental health issues | Okay 20 hours a week but what if you get sick and are unable to get 20 hours a week in do you lose your Medicaid. Once employers know that they will hold it over a persons head having them work in unsafe or bad work environments. It is not a good situation already being pushed to limit by needing these hours for SNAP. | ||
1348 | providers are receiving payment for services | My community would be devastated if Medicaid changes are made. We live in a community which has a great number of mentally challenged adults, and taking away/changing their insurance means they will once again stop coming to appointments, stop taking medication, which will increase the hospitalization rates. | One of our local farmers who receives health care coverage through Medicaid has described how the new requirements for income reporting do not match the way that they account for income on their family farm. For this family, although they run a farm business that accounts for the family's full income, it appears as if they are unemployed with implications for work requirements and mandatory community service hours. The uncertainty puts a lot of unnecessary work on farmers and can cause folks to lose their health insurance. | |
1349 | Provides better care then some health plans through jobs | Only the reporting would be a problem due to the unusable and expensive Heath website. | ||
1350 | Provides coverage for the most vulnerable of us. In my own family it has provided coverage for those that are disabled. | There would be no help for these people who are incapable of holding a job. Also, if they did become gainfully employed, they would still not be able to afford copays and charges. | Our area does not have public transportation Most people with little to no income can manage this requirement in my area of SE Ky. | |
1351 | Provides coverage to those who can't afford insurance and leads to preventive care which leads to better health. | These changes would prevent my family and community from being medically evaluated. The family members are on a fixed income and after bills are paid for the month, there is hardly any funds left. | Our clients who are ill and\or disabled would find this to be impossible. | |
1352 | Provides coverage to those who can't afford insurance and leads to preventive care which leads to better health. | Allowing for some changes (more focus on misuse) would allow those who do need it to benefit from its intended purpose. Focusing on the problem and not the solution would be key to understanding how to move forward. | Our daughter is not capable of volunteering. | |
1353 | Providing basic medical care coverage for low wage earners enables them to stay well enough to keep working. A healthy workforce benefits both the business climate and also relieves stress, worry and the suffering that individuals who have no coverage often encounter when faced with medical issues. Finally, decent preventative care and management of chronic illnesses is far cheaper than only relying on emergency care. | Our family already meets all of the necessary requirements, but from past experience with benefind and other medicaid systems, I'm afraid the extra requirements would just create lots of extra issues and wasted time reporting everything. | ||
1354 | Public goods -- such as affordable, accessible health care -- are an integral part of any healthy functioning Western democracy. Kentucky relies upon Medicaid much more than most other states. The Kentucky HEALTH proposal will cause an enormous amount of suffering. | Would place some services out of my reach | Our family member is a child. | |
1355 | Public health needs to be supported. Transmitted disease does not care if you have insurance or not. We need to make sure our entire community is healthy. It is also the most sound economic option to make sure that people who are economically the most fragile to have preventative care. They have the least ability to invest money when there is a health care problem, so preventing them before they start is essential. | I would have lost my job because she needed 24/7 assistance with everything, she did not have funds except Social Security $750/mo approximately. I was 1 of 3 children who lived in the same town. The other 2 live out of state. | Patients who are in poor health and therefore on Medicaid, will be worse off. They will need to expend money for transportation when they are volunteering. | |
1356 | Public Schools in Kentucky are able to bill school nurses to Medicaid. Under proposed rollbacks school systems like mine can lose as much as $300,000 a year resulting in a loss of those jobs and resources as well as care in schools for children who may not have care at home of for first aid in schools. | Many of my students would be unable to receive necessary medical coverage with this draconian measures. | People don’t just not work because they are lazy. Often jobs don’t pay enough. Acting like people need this requirement to have the motivation to work is demeaning. | |
1357 | Quality of life, participation with the community, economy and happiness occasions Medicaid participation. | Due to the waiver a provider is able to serve those with disabilities in a setting that betters their quality of life. There are not many providers to serve all those with disabilities. The community would suffer due to proposed changes, individuals and providers. | People I serve are not working for a reason. Every single person who walks through my door has a goal to go to work and become self-sufficient. It isn't that they are lazy; they are sick. If they could work, they would. That is why they need the Medicaid services - to help them get back on their feet. If they had this requirement, a few may be able to do it; many would lose their coverage; some would just lie as they would see no alternative, as they rely on the Medicaid services to move their lives forward, or just survive. | |
1358 | Received antibiotics when had internal infection | If clients were punished for going to er then it would effect the ones who rarely go because they would think they would they be penalized and they would be the ones to suffer and not the ones to abuse the system. These questions should go to the people who actually work in this field and know how the system works | People in my community generally do not have internet access to work with this requirement. We have few jobs available and absolutely no place to volunteer They have no transportation | |
1359 | Recent example: my daughter needed an emergency appendectomy. She was diagnosed in one hospital, transported by ambulance to another hospital, and received emergency surgery and stayed in recovery for a week afterward. If we weren't covered by Medicaid, I would have never been able to pay off these bills. I work full time, just graduated from college, and I am just managing to stay on top of my student loan payments. I eventually hope to buy a house and car (currently, I rent and walk), so NOT destroying my credit as a result of a medical emergency was nice for my entire family. This is just one example of how Medicaid has helped my family. I've also received a number of dental fillings, preventative screenings, vaccinations, and general treatments for illnesses. Being able to visit the doctor before an illness progresses to the point of emergency keeps me out of the ER and prevents me from going to work/school sick because I can't get a doctor's excuse. | Many fewer people will be covered and their health will suffer. | People of low incomes may have transportation issues. How are they to arrive at their assignment? | |
1360 | Reduced demand on emergency rooms for basic care in the community. | We would have to skip medicines because we are unable to afford it. We would be much sicker because we would not be able to afford doctor visits. I do not reliable transportation, losibg that benefit would hurt due to missing appointments. | People on Medicaid that I know already are working if they can, those who aren’t can’t. | |
1361 | Refugees have been able to access needed medical, vision, and dental care soon after their arrival in the United States. | The community would be better served by decreasing the mailings to Medicaid providers and most especially-Medicaid Recipients! I continue to get expensive flyers and mail about Medicaid and I've not been on it for years. The system is flawed, but someone is getting paid tons of money for printing stuff thrown in the garage. Move that money to support providers WHO don't commit fraud! Provide better services, people go to the ER because there is a shortage of providers, who don't want to see your recipients!! Why? There is no incentive! No co-pay, no consequence for no-shows, and they can fill their schedules with paying patients who do HAVE to pay! Bottom line, there is no other choice but the ER for urgent care when the doctor's schedule is backed up for months and new patients--forget it! | People should work or at least participate in job training to receive tax payer dollars from those who work to pay for the program. | |
1362 | Saved two family members lives. | People that need more on-the-job training would be able to access it | ||
1363 | Saved us ton of money. Diagnosed with sickness and couldn't afford Treatment until we received Medicaid. | The proposed changes would mean the end of my otherwise productive life. | People who already receive assistance are required to put in volunteer hours. How can you add 80 more hours to that? When would they work on GEDs, look for jobs, care for their families? | |
1364 | Saves my son's life every month. | Many people with substance use disorders (SUDs) are homeless, low income, and/or unemployed, making it an unreasonable barrier to pay premiums or copays. Left untreated, SUDs cause a person’s life to become unmanageable, which includes paying bills, so these requirements would likely result in most people with SUDs losing coverage. In the midst of the Opioid epidemic, loss of access to treatment is likely to result in even more fatal overdoses, along with additional expense to the state for jail, prison, foster care, and lost wages/taxes due to unemployability. | Personally, I could not fit 80 hours of volunteering into my life because of the time I need to be at work. Kentuckians who don't have access to transportation, and/or who live in communities where there really isn't anywhere to volunteer would be shut out of this and thus risk loosing their healthcare. | |
1365 | Seriously? People with coverage can get treatment before it becomes life threatening. The cost to visit a doctor as opposed to a ER room visit. Treatment for chronic pain as opposed to buying street drugs. Healthy children and elderly. | I DO NOT support placing obstacles in the way of poor people in receiving health care! Bevin's proposed changes create a whole new level of bureaucracy that will accomplish little. The only thing I would support is a very small co-pay (e.g. $5-10) at the time of service. This will discourage unnecessary medical visits. | Personally, it wouldn't | |
1366 | Several families in my church have had health care for the first time in years, despite being fully employed. They work in lower wage jobs and typically at places that don't offer care unless you are full time. One family works two part time jobs, so no one qualifies for employer health care. Without the expansion, they would have to pay everything out of pocket. | Persons who are mentally and physically unable to work are being hurt by these requirements as they are often not able to "prove" their disability without having access to medical treatment to generate their records | ||
1367 | Sick prople are receiving care, people are not directly going to the er for sniffles for fear of being denied treatment. My sister is able to afford insurance. | please see previous answer | ||
1368 | Sick prople are receiving care, people are not directly going to the er for sniffles for fear of being denied treatment. My sister is able to afford insurance. | Family member would not be able to access needed services. | Possibly due to the fact that my son tires easily and has to prevent becoming heated. | |
1369 | Sick prople are receiving care, people are not directly going to the er for sniffles for fear of being denied treatment. My sister is able to afford insurance. | See above | previously answered | |
1370 | Sick prople are receiving care, people are not directly going to the er for sniffles for fear of being denied treatment. My sister is able to afford insurance. | The most vulnerable members of my community would suffer if these changes went forward. | Relatively easy | |
1371 | Sick prople are receiving care, people are not directly going to the er for sniffles for fear of being denied treatment. My sister is able to afford insurance. | I would have no access to my doctors | reporting will be the interesting piece of this | |
1372 | Since its inception Medicaid has helped Kentuckyans. | I don't want the people of my community getting squeezed more than they are by a bunch of rich lawyers looking to cut taxes for their rich friends. | Research shows most recipients already are working. Unnecessary & cost increased re: monitoring. | |
1373 | Since receiving Medicaid I have been diagnosed with diabetes and severe sleep apnea and also had two surgeries. I dread to think where I would be at this time without this insurance. Would not have agreed to the testing beforehand. | It is wrong to not help the poor or the disabled or those who are ill. | retired. transportation would always be an issue for older people | |
1374 | So many more people have coverage and can see a doctor | The community I am from there is no work available and surely no places to volunteer. Even if there were places the people do not have transportation . More sick will have to use the er for any care without health care coverage will cost all members of the community You must be healthy to function | Right know my son is not able mentally to participate. | |
1375 | So many with mental illness now have coverage where they didn't before. | Changes proposed in the 1115 would deny health care to folks who need it. I am especially concerned about limiting behavioral health services for individuals with SUD. Addiction impacts the entire community and presents safety concerns. | Right now I am exempt because I am in the medically frail category. If 80 hours per month of work were to ever be added as a requirement for me or anyone else similarly situated it would clearly be not only an unreasonable requirement but I think the word "insane" in its most obvious meaning would apply. | |
1376 | So many working poor have no insurance but do not make enough or have employers to get other health coverage. So these people get no preventive health care, show up in the ER with advanced disease and require more health care Others are trying to get jobs but due to no insurance cannot get needed screening to acquire the jobs, ie the man desiring a CDL so he can work as a long haul trucker, which we need but due to past health issues needs more than a quick exam | My family member would have some skin in the game and help them to use the medical care responsibly and like it was their own money paying for it and might help them move off of the Medicaid plan. | Right now I am watching my sister die a slow and painful death due to chronic illness that she can’t access adequate health care for and adding a work requirement would be cruel and speed her demise. | |
1377 | Some of my elderly friends have benefitted from Medicaid | I work in a free medical clinic. Most of our patients work and make just over the income limits for Medicaid. We also have patients who are kicked off of Medicaid. Changes to Medicaid will increase our patient load and some patients will not be able to get treatment due to shortage of services. | Right now I have 2 young children. I believe those that are capable of having more children would find a reason to keep having them just to avoid the work requirement. It's sad but true. | |
1378 | Some of my elderly friends have benefitted from Medicaid | In the past it would not have affected my wife (when pregnant) or our children. I would have been required to work and pay a small premium. It's necessary and I support it. | Right now we also receive SNAP benefits because I am unable to work. So, if I am required to work for insurance then that would impact our food benefits. I can't receive child care benefits because I am married, so that's another issue that would arise. We simply cannot afford to pay for health insurance or have me out of the house working because we can't afford to pay someone else to raise our three children. | |
1379 | Some of my elderly friends have benefitted from Medicaid | Rural areas would find increasing roadblocks to complete the volunteer work as transportation and opportunities are scarce. Additionally, who will provide childcare for the 80 hours? How will this affect those with jobs? This is asking people to "work" aka volunteer extended hours beyond the over 40 many work in order to receive basic healthcare. | ||
1380 | Son is adopted from state of KY and has Medicaid as a supplement. | We have so many people in our community that "fall thru the cracks" They work hard but can not afford quality health insurance | Rural KY, where do you plan to put these people to work or volunteer, the local IGA, come to rural KY and we can show you what real poverty looks like. | |
1381 | State of KY. Covers 500,000+ people due to Medicaid expansion and generated 45,000+ related jobs | see my previous comments about patients I have worked with. | ||
1382 | Stepdaughter & two adult children. Her kids are working. | see previous response | ||
1383 | Support services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy for children or adults. | Hopefully, these changes would cut down on people running to ER to get out of working. I've seen this with my own eyes, as I work with women who live in a transitional living facility. They fake sick, run to ER, and get fired from their job. They do not have a co-pay so they do not care to run this ruse. | Seeing as how I prep my mother for dialysis 3 days a week, drive her to and from treatments and work (since she no longer drives) and have to be available in case of an emergency.... It would be tough to do these requirements. | |
1384 | The ACA has helped citizens of Kentucky, but also the economy. We are getting healthier workers. Taking that burden off employers is a benefit. | Simply meeting the requirement would not, since I am newly certified to work in my new career and I'm in school for the next level of training and I volunteer a lot - but reporting these hours would be a pain, and I already have enough on my plate to accomplish my goal of financial independence. | ||
1385 | The ACA Medicaid expansion has literally saved my life more than once. My kids would probably be without a mother because I would have refused treatment like I did when I was without insurance because of the inability to afford even to see a doctor. | Eliminating transportation would ensure that many people would be unable to get to their health appointments. Taking away vision benefits will actively harm school-age children as well as people with eye conditions that require constant monitoring. Taking away dental care will more than likely kill some Kentuckians due to bacterial endocarditis, pneumonia and/or sepsis due to infected teeth. Forcing people to choose between menial jobs in depressed areas or their healthcare will most likely mean people will drop their healthcare. The "rewards" points they want me to accumulate cost the state of Kentucky more than if I just go to the doctor when I need to, instead of all these "routine" tests they want me to rack up. | Some agencies do not have the time or structure to provide supervision for volunteers | |
1386 | The community has benefitted in reduced illnesses and even premature death from medical crisises ranging from flu, sprais/strains, cronic illness, cancer, vascular, mental health, and opioid additions. | People would not be able to get the quality care that they needed for mental health or substance use disorders. | Some families have no access to transportation or childcare and the volunteer work requirement would be difficult. | |
1387 | The decrease in unpaid medical expenses due to uninsured requiring expensive medical care that they are unable to pay for and could have been prevented with proper preventative care. Those unpaid medical expenses are passed on to those of us who do pay for medical insurance. | I'd be less likely to see my physician or continue the needed medication if I no longer had medicaid. | Some months there is enough work or volunteer hours, but other months when it snows or it is cold it is harder to get out and do things. Its harder to find volunteer things that are fitting. | |
1388 | The entire state has benefitted immensely - approximately 400,000 residents have finally received necessary health care. I'm sure this has helped to decrease health care costs in general. If someone receives routine and preventative care, then costly hospital admissions are avoided. | My grandson who has emotional and intellectual disabilities has also suffered from a brain tumor. Recently he was unable to get dental care becuse of the loss of benefits. He hass SSI and Medicaid is his only healthcare. I am on social security and I can not pay for added costs. It is outrageous to place more hardships on citizens. People are working multiple low paying jobs and still can't get health care. | Some people are physically unable to work. Make a physician's note required to opt-out of work. | |
1389 | The expansion has helped so many newly covered families obtain health care they would not have received. The community is slowly becoming healthier. | Enforcement of restrictions or eliminating certain coverages will cause hardships on families, may increase risk factors and harm families/ communities long term | Some people can't work a part time job because of scheduling requirements at home or a disability that the state doesn't deem serious enough to negate working. If people can work they'll work. It's just more of this administration assuming everyone is lazy and stupid. | |
1390 | The family member receiving MC would have experienced poor or no health care if this program was not available to them. This would have jeopardized their overall health status. | I've been told by DCBS Workers any changes could severely impact my overall health in adverse ways and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. | Some people in the community are not able to participate in job training or volunteer due to health problems | |
1391 | The general health of the community affects all of us. Knowing that people are getting the medical care they need means less strain on taxpayers and less strain on the entire community, trying to care for those who cannot get care. | It would place unnecessary burdens on individuals, essentially penalizing them because they are poor. | Some relatives may lose coverage if this requirement is implemented due to health, caretaking, and transportation problems. | |
1392 | The general health of the community benefits us all by not having to cost transfer from indigent free care, as well as the general well being of the community lifts us all. | I won’t be able to pay premiums or co-pays. Many individuals, myself included, live paycheck to paycheck. I have only 40$ for groceries for the month. Imagine a family with children living on 40$ a month for groceries. Where are they going to pay a premium? They can’t, so they will be left without insurance. I need insurance because of my condition, but I’m not “medically frail” enough by state standards. Yet I struggle without treatment. This change would make it, again, impossible for me to work or be a contributing member of society. | Some rural communities, where many medicaid recipients live, do not have enough jobs for everyone. Many of these persons also have no transportation to get to a job. | |
1393 | The general health of the community benefits us all. | Less ER visits better hospitals | Stop penalizing the poor | |
1394 | The individual is not insured through an employer and could not afford private insurance. Although it has been used infrequently, it has been a lifeline. | i would much rather my tax dollars pay for people to receive necessary medical care and associated services (like transportation to treatment) than pay for more staff and infrastructure (computer systems, databases, non-clinical initiatives, etc.) designed to kick people off medicaid or add barriers to receiving medical care. | that impact doing regular job. | |
1395 | The majority of my county are covered under some form of Medicaid. | It would produce a barrier to receiving health care and Mental health services as well as dental and vision. Most that are on medicaid need the coverage due to not being able to afford private insurance. Children and Elderly individuals may not receive care needed or prescription medications. | That is a lot of time that I honestly do not have. I am involved in my community, but few people have 80 hours a month for that. | |
1396 | The medicaid expansion saved my mother's life, literally. She's not yet 65, but hadn't worked or had medical coverage in over a decade, and the expansion allowed her to see doctors and receive diagnosis for a heart valve misfunction that had probably been the source of issues she's had for decades. She is scheduled for surgery, and the doctors are planning to move up the timetable because of the instability this proposal has generated as to what will be covered, who and how. I am not in support of any cutback that removes medical coverage from people who are poor. Ever. | my children wouldn't be able to go to the doctor. and for the vision and dental my children wouldn't be able to visit those doctors either | That is a PROBLEM waiting to happen and another level of bureaucracy that is totally unnecessary. How do you decide /manage that? Seems a means to simply punish those who are disadvantaged. | |
1397 | The people in the community are healthier! They get the care they need for illnesses that have been untreated for far too long. | Myself and my children would no longer have insurance coverage. | That is the government's problem. Are they spending more money to provide those opportunities? Businesses won't hire if everyone is volunteering. | |
1398 | The poor, chronically ill elderly who need skilled nursing care at end of life have greatly benefited from having Medicaid. They are able to receive needed and appropriate health care to improve quality of life and keep them from ending up in our emergency rooms or dying alone! | The changes would eventually boot me off of Medicaid all together. I can no longer get glasses nor dental coverage now. This is wrong in my opinion this system was made to help the less fortunate. Not all who use this system abuse it. It is wrong for someone with wealth to change a government plan that is made to help the less fortunate. | That would be difficult if we have any physical ailments | |
1399 | There are far too many Kentuckians without healthcare coverage or with inadequate healthcare coverage. Medicaid coverage is the least that can be done and, in my opinion, should be further expanded. | That would be impossible with many ailments most people have. | ||
1400 | There are many elderly in my community who worked low paying jobs who rely on SS and Medicaid to pay for medical care. | All of the above services, information, treatments, preventive treatments, none of that would have been obtained due to lack of money. | That's a ridiculous question. | |
1401 | There are people in my community who would not be able to afford medication for themselves or family members without Medicaid. Luckily, I am employed through the local school district and receive insurance through work or I would not be able to afford health insurance for me and my husband. As a teacher in a low income area, I see students and families everyday that use Medicaid and would not be able to afford insurance otherwise. | The ER will be overwhelmed with sicker people that didn't get preventative care because they had no coverage. The state will still have to pay indigent care or the hospitals will fail. This plan makes separate classes of Medicaid recipients, how is that equal treatment under the federal law? Penalties for going to the ER will just make people afraid to go. What if that indigestion is really a heart attack and they don't go because there might be a penalty? Punitive processes do not uplift people they just beat them down. | That's like 2 weeks of work considering 40 hours in a work week...that is impossible...there is not that many hours in a month...unless you never sleep!!! | |
1402 | There are people in our community that. Weds this coverage bad,not able to work , disabled,mentally disability and people that cannot pay the price of insurance. | You can't work of you are sick. You can't get treatment for hardly any condition without insurance. Insurance for many families is the difference between bankruptcy and survuval. | That’s two weeks of time I cannot use to find a job or do odd jobs for $$ to eat | |
1403 | There are people in our community that. Weds this coverage bad,not able to work , disabled,mentally disability and people that cannot pay the price of insurance. | Being disabled while being able to work (but with limited options) could result in me losing access to healthcare due to an inconsistent ability to work/volunteer 20hrs/wk. Losing medical care would result in being further disabled and less able to work. If people lose access to healthcare and do not have preventative care or are unable to manage health conditions this will result in greater cost & burden on the healthcare system down the road. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Also, more analysis needs to be done to ensure any benefit from proposed changes would outweigh the cost of monitoring & managing the additional programs/guidelines. | The "community engagement" requirement would likely penalize those with limited resources such as computer, transportation, etc. which would in turn cause them to lose coverage. The loss of coverage for many as a result would drastically reduce our ability to provide medical/dental services for those in need. The long term impact could force Community Health Centers to close which would terminate employment for many healthcare providers such as myself. | |
1404 | They now can go to dr. | The administrative reporting and paperwork needed to record 80 hours / month is going to put the burden on front line staff of nonprofit organizations that are already stretched thin. | ||
1405 | This coverage is essential especially for handicapped individuals. I don't mind paying taxes so these people can have coverage | my wife can't work | The CE requirement would be impossible for some of the individuals to begin to reach, due to significant intellectual and physical disabilities. | |
1406 | This coverage is essential especially for handicapped individuals. I don't mind paying taxes so these people can have coverage | I cannot drive due to numbness in my feet. Without this transportation assistance, I couldn't go to any doctor appointments or medically necessary tests. | The community and the individual working will receive the benefits. | |
1407 | This coverage is essential especially for handicapped individuals. I don't mind paying taxes so these people can have coverage | Not everyone fits in one basket. Each case is unique. I see nothing for individual cases. Some will fall through the cracks and lose their lives over cuts to healthcare. That’s not helping anyone. | The cost to the State to monitor would raise taxes. | |
1408 | This coverage is protection for our most vulnerable citizens - children, disabled individuals and the elderly rely on this coverage for necessary medical needs. | As a nurse case manager for Medicaid I have seen already where those without dental insurance were unable to get the dental they need it prior to having heart surgery. Without dental being restored she would have theoretically lost her life. Which does not help the health of Kentuckians. Charges to the poorest of her Commonwealth is singling these folks out and unfair. I would support some sort of increased tax for those of us who could pay to help these who are mostly the working poor. This plan is very difficult for case managers to wrap their heads around around. The reality is there will be many members Not able to keep up with the requirements. And losing their help and lives because of the inability to go to the doctor without transportation. There are many personal stories that I as a case manager him aware of | The is just ridiculous. Most nonprofits do not have the time or resources to offer volunteer opportunities such as this. | |
1409 | This coverage supports the elderly, children, underprivileged and women in my community. Leave this alone or better yet, go to a one payer program and stop supporting Pharma and the insurance companies | In my community, there's a mentally disabled man who has the demeanor of a young child, like 8 years old. He lives in a sort of halfway house in our neighborhood and his caregivers make his doctor's appointments as needed, but have to stay at the house to watch over the other residents. But he knows when the big white truck (it's like a shuttle bus) comes to his house, that it's time to go to the doctor, and he knows exactly what to do in order to see the doctor and return home safely. How would he get to the doctor if his transportation was taken away? The caregivers don't manage his money for him, so I don't think he could take a cab, or even be comfortable enough to go in one. So while I don't personally use the transportation benefit, I know someone who would be directly impacted by the loss of this benefit. | The majority have health issues that cause them not to work. Others have young children to take care of | |
1410 | This is a much needed program for the low income families and disabled, however as an insurance agent in Kentucky, I have seen many, many people enroll in Medicaid that should not. I've seen doctors that signed their children up. I've seen people that honestly just don't want to get a full time job so they can continue smoking marijuana, and tell me that is the reason flat out when we were on the phone so they don't get a job, and more. However, I think the 20 hour a week volunteer work is unrealistic. It would be nice, but unrealistic. | Accessing online My Rewards programs in order to earn vision and dental benefits would prove very difficult for my family member who has very low digital literacy, and would be impossible for the many clients we serve with Limited English Proficiency (in Louisville, our language needs go much beyond English and Spanish). Many clients we serve would be unable to keep up with the multiple online accounts or even easily pay monthly premiums. | The man above doesn't volunteer cause he spends all his time touring or practicing his craft. Doesn't mean he is lazy or doesn't want to volunteer, but the work requirements would be pretty detrimental for this guy. | |
1411 | This issue is quite simple- access to health care for all Kentuckians will reduce long term costs because people will be healthier. | Some aren't able to pay premiums, yet alone trying to pay co-pays when you visit the doctor. Most people have doctors they have to see on the regular. This is all sue to most of them being on fixed income. Then the requirement to do community service. What if they're a felon? Then most places wont allow them to even volunteer. Then if you don't submit your info you get locked out of health coverage. That's not sustainable for the population that really need coverage. | The reporting would be difficult for my family member who is on Medicaid. She works for an individual with Dementia who needs assistance and companionship. Her hours fluctuate, she doesn't have automatized payment, and her digital literacy is very low. | |
1412 | Those that are "in need" and at rock bottom and trying to climb out, use Medicaid. | The requirement overlooks a variety of highly specific circumstances which might prevent an individual from reasonably fulfilling it. It's also slave labor by another name for something that is a human right. The United States, a leader of the free world, has trailed behind developing countries in health care, and it is because of cruelties like this which suggest that a human being is only valued by their labor. Again, there should be mercy, forgiveness, and a capacity to evaluate each case individually in health care. | ||
1413 | to me it gives them access to be able to get their medical needs met with Medicaid, some individuals will not go and get care knowing they will have to pay and don't have the extra money to do so. | If these changes took effect it would mean I would go back to being uninsured and become more of a burden on medical system then currently | The requirements for monitoring this will involve expensive, unnecessary, government bureaucracy that will mean even people who comply with the law will be locked out of Medicaid. | |
1414 | Twice now, once r/t bedrest and pregnancy with twins and once r/t being off work from injury - I was able to take advantage of Medicaid coverage during the period of financial crisis. I am thankful for the help I was able to receive during this time because it really made a difference for me and my children. | People would not be able to get the appropriate treatment. They wouldn't be able to afford the care and they would not be able to get to their appointments. | The so-called work requirement is yet another punitive move by the state---ill/disabled people should not be forced to "earn" the right to health care! | |
1415 | Was able to have my son go to a pediatrician for well visits and get vaccinations, the dentist, etc. | The state going to ensure there are the opportunities in every city? | ||
1416 | We all benefit when the least able among us are taken care of outside of emergency care. ER care is very expensive. A lot of it is taken care of when Medicaid is robust and problems can be addressed before they are urgent. | We would not go to the doctor | The theory sounds good, but how do you implement it and verify? It sounds like more bureaucracy that anyone wants to deal with. | |
1417 | We all benefit when the poorest people have this benefit so expensive care in emergency rooms is not the only alternative for the poor and sick | Adding more financial pressure to citizens is counter-productive when seeking better 'health outcomes' | The workforce is desperate enough without trying to cram a bunch of really poor people into the mix, telling them they can't have healthcare without joining the workforce. | |
1418 | We are able to get the medical services that we need. | It allows for people to be more self sustaining and an opportunity to be productive citizens —- not as a “drain” on state coffers as the governor’s plan seems to imply. | There are individuals that are not able to work. The medically frail process is extensive and time consuming for all parties involved and add another step in providing care to the person. Also, those not deemed medically frail do not always have the means to find employment and gain employment. Although volunteer is an option- it often takes funds to volunteer, such as transportation for the rural communities. | |
1419 | We are ableto get the help health worse that we need. Especially having 3 children who are medically ill. | It creates barriers for hardworking, low-income community members to access health care. Seems it's designed to make sure they fail. It's an unnecessary and costly bureaucracy. If the state is so concerned people are taking advantage of the system, then set up a bureaucracy to reduce fraud and abuse, rather than penalize those playing by the rules. | There are many people enrolled in school, disabled, or who care for small children or elderly family members who would be left in an impossible dilemma. | |
1420 | We are indirectly benefited by having a healthier community. | We would have a healthier community | There are no places to do 80 hours in my community. I do not have transportation to do this. | |
1421 | We are low income and self employeed. Expanded medicaid is the only way my husband and I have health coverage. It has allowed us to get mental health assistance and have a much needed surgery. | Kentuckians do not need the Governor to bestow dignity on them. The people affected by this waiver already work, and creating vast amounts of red tape does nothing to improve their lives or health outcomes for the state. 1115 Waivers exist to improve Medicaid, not to transform it into a work program or to create barriers for the most vulnerable among us. | There are people on Medicaid because they physically cannot work. Requiring that they work would defeat the purpose of providing insurance to people who would otherwise be incapable of having it. | |
1422 | We are only as strong as our sickest person. By expanding coverage we are creating access for thousands of people so that they can get the health care they need. Personally, when I had Medicaid, I was able to explore my employment options and interests while patching work together. Having Medicaid relieved the stress of not being covered. Medicaid helped me get to where I am today. | Many people in my community are unable to work or volunteer due to health problems. Withholding their Medicaid coverage will only cause their health problems to worsen, which is not good for anyone. | There are persons with conditions that those requirements are impossible to meet. | |
1423 | We can get insurance coverage!! | I have tried to work part-time and have others take care of my son but he wasn't taken care of properly the waiver enables me to be able to stay at home with my son and take him to all of his appointments and be his caregiver | There are times where I haven’t been able to find work or have been more sick. I think it’s unfair, unless there was a way to show attempts to look at jobs or a dr note proving I am sick. I think this would be better if the covered had proof of active job seeking. Otherwise, those who are working, will easily meet this requirement. | |
1424 | We had to deal with my father's Alzheimers for almost 12 years and my mother required extended medical care for the last 14 month of her life. | Many of the people I provide services to would not be able to stay safe and live successfully in the community if the access to care, limits on care, copays etc were implemented..most already are "barely making it or barely hanging on" and this would cause many to fall through the cracks or end up in dire situations affecting safety. | There aren’t enough social workers to keep up with the paperwork that would be generated by this requirement, therefore it is a waste of time. | |
1425 | We have 4 children adopted from foster care who receive Medicaid as backup to our health insurance. It has covered all of their dental care as we don't have dental insurance. Also one of the 5 has significant mental health issues which have required hospitalization, partial hospitalization and residential treatment. Medicaid has covered both residential treatment stints which our insurance wouldn't approve and parts of the hospitalizations that our insurance has denied. Without the Medicaid hard to say what could have happened to him or to the family when he's been a danger to himself and others. | I found the process of even getting information on premiums, how to pay, when and where to pay, to be extremely frustrating and difficult--and I am well-educated and used to dealing with bureaucracy. Every time I tried to get answers before this about how my family would be affected, the people on the other end of the line did not know and did not know where to point me for answers. If these changes go through, I am greatly concerned that I would accidentally miss a payment and lose Medicaid for my whole family. I am even more concerned for others on Medicaid who don't have the advantages I have. It really seemed like the whole set up was designed to "accidentally" kick people out of coverage by making things confusing and difficult. | There aren’t jobs for many communities. | |
1426 | We have been able to have reliable, consistent coverage without owing doctors hundreds of dollars or without having to cut back on food and heat money in order to see doctors for chronic conditions or random sicknesses. | I won't be able to get to Dr appts, I'll be one to slip through the cracks as I don't usually have access to computer. My 24yo vehicle is in bad shape so transport to any work is unreliable. Health issues make me unemployable (pain, reduced activity including sitting or on feet hours at a time, balance problems, medicine I take, future surgery, lots of Dr appts). I'll be totally homeless by Sept | There is no way I could volunteer or work and still be able to take care of my child. I would be out more money to hire a babysitter. | |
1427 | We have coverage | Work requirements as now drafted do not adequately address how a person is to find work in high employment areas. Nor does it address how a person can obtain training to get a job if one is available, but they do not now qualify for that job. When a person lacks private means for transportation and public transportation is not available, how can they get to a job or receive training? The test for medical fraility is far too rigid. A person must be well enough to be a dependable employee, and not need time off for frequent medical appointments or to recover from frequent bouts with illness. The answer is long term improvements to the Kentucky economy, and realistic expectations of what a person on expanded Medicaid is able to do. | There is not enough jobs in my area to cover everyone or volunteer services. So people like me with a disease that's unpredictable can't work. | |
1428 | We have coverage now and we didn't for years before. Preventatives be care is vital and most neglected by the uninsured or underinsured. | There's not that much time left over!! Do I give up sleeping? | ||
1429 | We have custody of our nephew and 2 nieces who have Medicaid coverage, and without this coverage, we would have had such significant costs involved in their care that we would likely have not been able to support them without it--which may have meant that they would have had to go to a foster home instead of staying with family with permanent custody. | There’s no way I could make that happen with my current health. | ||
1430 | We have medical coverage. I have worked and paid taxes for 24 years and just got heathcare. | These things should be part of the program. When tied to eligibility, with lockouts it doesn't change the fact that I will still need critical health care. And I have no confidence that the administration requirements of such a complex program would fail. | ||
1431 | We have not had much money due to the difficulties of my mother being of an older age and having a very difficult time finding a job. She has done countless interviews and has multiple masters degrees and has so far been unsuccessful. Due to that, we have had limited income. I have not been working because I have been focusing on doing well in high school and will be going to college soon. Medicaid has paid for eye glasses for me, dentist appointments, medical appointments, podiatrist appointments, and chiropractor appointments. This has been a major relief for us because we would have not been able to afford these essential things otherwise. | My husband and I are the middle class who pay a fairly high percentage of taxes. We are paying in the hopes that people who need medical care can get the care they need. We are NOT a third world country! People should be able to get CARE THEY NEED! We don't pay taxes to see bureaucrats get richer! Why the hell did corporations get huge tax cuts??? So we could take away services from people who need them? Bottom line...we CARE! Government needs to start caring again! | They have tried this requirement with welfare to work projects and were not successful. | |
1432 | We have three children, adopted from the state, who have medicaid. Two have medicaid waivers because of their disabilities. | If all of these changes were to take place, providers are the only ones that will be affected. Medicaid recipients will find a way around the requirements. This waiver will only create more work for providers and make it harder for them to get paid. | This 80 hour requirement would impact on an adult with children at home. Talk about health conditions, such requirements would place an adult in greater danger to one's overall health and the ability to properly care for children at home. Call this a "My Rewards" program is so demeaning to those who are forced to comply to wealthy legislators who have never confronted with a personal financial crisis. | |
1433 | We have used the coverage as secondary insurance for our adopted sibling group | There would be a lack of individuals able to keep their benefits due to being unable to meet all of the new requirements. This would result in an increase in untreated mental health and substance use issues, as well as medical conditions. Consequences of this are wide-ranging. From an increase in mortality rates, to an increase in ambulance and ER usage by individuals who will be unable to make the payments associated with this costly service. | This does not apply to me but to my friends, who are handicapped and cannot get to places for jobs | |
1434 | We haven't directly benefited | Most of the people I work with (adults with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder, and experiencing homelessness) would not qualify for the "medically fragile" waiver, although they are really quite vulnerable, which is how they ended up where they are. They need support and encouragement, not more bureaucracy to jump through. They are not currently capable of navigating a complex system, and they typically have no income with which to pay premiums or co-pays. This would mean, either already stressed providers would look the other way and provide services anyway, or would be forced to deny services to those most in need of assistance. In the worst case, people would lose medical coverage. Many people would just give up, remain homeless, put more strain on the system, or resort to criminal activities to just survive. This new system may help some become more empowered, but for the people I work with everyday, it would more likely mean lack of access to needed services, and an increase in poverty, homelessness, and crime in our community. | This idea could be great; however the issue is making it a MANDATORY service. I do not have any time at all to myself as I am heavily busy, as most are. I would only be able to do maybe, and definitely a maybe, ten hours a month with my schedule. If I had a child, and everyone does nowadays, I would not be able to make those ten hours work. If I had a child and no vehicle, and millions of single mothers do not have vehicles, then I would not be able to make it. There are billions of things that could get into the way of this. Let me ask you this, would any official anywhere in this whole nation attend 80 extra hours for anything at all outside of work, possibly school, and possibly caring for a child? This is INSANE, and you reading this know that very well. You have a brain, don't you? | |
1435 | We would have been unable to afford quality care for our children, if we had not had Medicaid and Kchip. I work a full-time job and a part-time job and my husband works part-time. However, our kids qualify for state coverage because of our income. one of our children has medical problems that require specialized care at a children's hospital and the family plan insurance policy through my company is so expensive that we would not be able to afford quality care for the children without help even with working all the jobs mentioned. My husband and I are on the plan with my company. It makes me angry to think that the government would take this away and jeopardize the health of our child, when we are working so hard. We are certainly not lazy or unemployed. | Transportation is necessary for her she has difficulty walking for long periods. | This in NO WAY addresses the fact that they want more people working. | |
1436 | We would not have any coverage, my daughter has had several hospitals stays and now requires daily medication which is very expensive. | I have no income due medical illness and cannot pay copays | This is a good thing, but it needs to be administered properly. People caring for small children or disabled family members need to be exempted | |
1437 | We're a family of teachers and my daughter has a disability. When we used to have the waiver, it was our secondary insurance and covered everything that our private insurance did not. The waiver allowed us to get the care my daughter needed from any specialist, regardless of insurance exclusions and limits. And we did not have to go into medical bankruptcy to provide her the care she deserves. | This is just not possible for working parents or people who are unable to work. | ||
1438 | Well it certainly helps considering we're pretty poor and have medical bills sometimes. Hospital trips, knee injuries, ect. | The red tape and unreasonable regulations would eliminate many people who otherwise would be eligible for Medicaid. | This is not the group of people whose work or volunteering would be beneficial to anyone these or under-educated and sick people I think if we need more volunteers and workers we need to compensate the middle class that are paying high taxes perhaps I could volunteer and you reduce my tax rate by $1,000 this year and let me volunteer a few hours somewhere here in my community | |
1439 | Well my husband could get coverage. We are no longer at risk of bankruptcy for not paying medical bills for an emergency, or our child's immunizations, or for my child's $78.00 medical "consultations" our doctor charged us for (they were simple questions I asked the pediatrician and got charged later for). | You would have patients/citizens forced to make tough decisions. Decisions that they may not even be equipped to make. I feel like there is potential for crime increase too, if people are forced to make financially tough decisions without the means to provide...i.e. theft. | This is paramount to SLAVE labor. You are asking them to work. Most already do. If unemployed you are asking them to volunteer 20 hours a week at select places approved by the state during hours they need to be looking for work. It’s a catch 22. And if they get sick miss work they lose their medical coverage. No there has to be a better more thought out plan. | |
1440 | When any community has a very high number of residents at or below the poverty line, denying healthcare to these individuals is heartless, but it can also negatively impact the health of an entire community. . | My husband who does work would be required to do community service to make up difference in the hours required. He is 63 years old. | This is ridiculous | |
1441 | When he/she reached the appropriate age. | This is ridiculous. Who in the world has time for 80 hours a month to be required? | ||
1442 | When I had no insurance, the local clinic signed me up. It gave me lifesaving medical care. I went on to get employment and start my own business because the ACA saved my life. | Many would habe to choose between food or medical care. | This is the most concerning to me. As I answered in previous questions, I don't have time or energy to work a job or volunteer. With my own health issues to take care of I also take care of my disabled husband and my family. I have tried to work in the past and It always lands me in the hospital because I can't handle it. | |
1443 | When I lost my job and was in nursing school several years ago, my children were able to have medical coverage. I was also able to receive benefits when an unplanned pregnancy happened. Medicaid provided the opportunity for my family to still receive quality healthcare when I was able to secure a new job which provided insurance. Without Medicaid, I don't know what my family would have done. | this is very difficult to manage - and I cannot schedule an emergency | ||
1444 | When I lost my job for 4months we went on Medicaid. It has helped tremendously. | Parents will not seek medical care for their infants, children and adolescents, thus sicker children will present to their doctors or ERs | This requirement would be extremely burdensome. I am a full-time student who works multiple jobs to put myself through school. Adding anything else to my schedule would fail to recognize that I'm already doing everything I can and working as hard as I can to be a contributing, productive member of society. | |
1445 | When I was a business owner, I had to drop maternity coverage because I couldn't afford it. My husband and I got pregnant and I was able to take advantage of Medicaid during that time. | Drying up the teat for the deadbeats would lessen our tax burden. | This requirement would unfairly target vulnerable people who often times have very difficult circumstances. Most people on Medicaid already do work. Many people would love to work more but are caregivers to various family and friends. This targets a vulnerable population and could be very detrimental in the long run. | |
1446 | when I was a full-time student I depended on Medicaid to provide coverage for myself and family. Now, I have children who are adults, newly graduated from college. However, their employers do not provide health insurance since these organizations are very small non-profits. Additionally, my children cannot afford to purchase health insurance other than Passport/Medicaid since they don't earn enough to be able to afford the premiums. | We would not be able to go to the doctor and get medication for chronic diseases | This surely could be problematic for some people, depending on their physical and mental condition. | |
1447 | When I was a graduate student and working full-time as a contractor, I had health coverage thanks to the expansion of Medicaid. | This was implemented for the Ktap program and it worked out well what is the point of adding the same program to Medicaid | ||
1448 | When I was in labor with my son our Medicaid was cut off the night before. I had been in the hospital and hadn't had a chance to call and get our affairs in order due to my extreme condition. I was able to call and get our insurance set back up speaking with a phone operator between contractions. I had a healthy baby boy and the stress of having insurance coverage was the last thing on my mind due to the quick and easy ways medicaid is readily available to those in need. I ended up getting gestational diabetes that never subsided due to the pregnancy I had with my son. My Medicaid already doesn't cover all of my supplies like it used to due to changes made by republicans who don't care about working poor. I cannot afford anymore charges and be able to keep a roof above my families head. | These changes would add additional hurdles and unecessary complexity to a system that should be easily accessible and offered to every person. People shouldn't have to endure ailments because they are unable to afford the gouged prices of medical care. A healthy population is an effective population. | This will impede individuals ability to secure work because that is about 20 hours a week. | |
1449 | When I was part time and finishing my degree, Medicaid let me keep up on my annual well woman exams as well as my visits to the optician so I could see. | The needs of our population are multiple and merit the need for Medicaid coverage. | This will not impact me, however, for vulnerable citizens, the job choices are limited, and turnover is often exacerbated by their unstable living situations and limited support systems (housing, transportation, cash flow, family demands, etc.). Many, many folks on Medicaid are already working, but due to a dire lack of “living wages” they can not afford health insurance. | |
1450 | When losing a job, this is what you can turn to. It's very important that there is that safety net. | This will not impact me; however, according to reports, most of the expanded Medicaid recipients are already working, but do not receive “living wages” and/or health insurance benefits. Many work 2 and 3 jobs just to try and pay for basic living expenses (I.e. rent, food, gas, utilities). Of those that aren’t working, a high percentage are either disabled, or taking care of others. There is only a very small percentage who do not fit into the above categories, so creating this requirement is foolhardy, in that a very expensive system is required to be established for a small number of folks that it would actually affect. | ||
1451 | When my Dad lost his job, we ended up going on Medicaid. This helped take care of our family during this hard time. We rebounded, and moved off the program, but I think this is a vital program which helps Kentuckians in hard times. I since went onto college and make a very healthy salary. I am proud to support my neighbors by paying taxes and think that Medicaid should be available to everyone who needs it. There is a limited number of good jobs that provide health insurance, and I believe that it should be the role of government to keep people healthy enough to contribute to society. GOP efforts to reduce the number of people Medicaid would cover by putting onerous demands on applicants does not play well among my peers (aged 20-30). Republicans seem more and more willing to hurt the poor and help the rich, and efforts and surveys like this one do not help the Republican image. | Health insurance allows for a better quality of life for all people. However, in Kentucky we are currently facing an epidemic with drug addiction reaching even the smallest of communities. The Medicaid expansion allows for these people to get the long term treatment they need for recovery. | This would be a most unfortunate burden for people struggling with poverty and other social challenges. | |
1452 | When my daughter came back from Thailand and she was without a job and living in Kentucky, she applied and received Medicaid. The process was simple, the people helpful, and she was able to stay on birth control without interruption. | This would be a significant impact on the serious mentally ill. Behavioral Health Professionals work to have clients willing and able to do volunteer work and to obtain jobs but is a small percentage who can achieve this after significant time in recovery. | ||
1453 | When my daughters were 2 and 1, I chose to go back to school to get my degree so I could create a better life for them. I had to get on public assistance in order to do that though. My oldest daughter waa sick all the time and without Medicaid, I dont know what I would have done. I graduated with my degree when they were 5 and 4 and I have a great career now. Medicaid was vital for me then. I can't imagine making it through that time without it. | Hopefully, the changes which I support would result in lower taxes, or at least prevent an increase- thus allowing me to keep more of my own money to use for my own choice of healthcare; prevention; nutrition; and quality of life. | This would be difficult raising 2 kids and working. I wouldn't have the time then also would have to find childcare since my kids are under 3 years of age. | |
1454 | When my ex-boyfriend was unable to work he applied for Medicaid because he couldn't get insurance through an employer but needed dr visits for health issues. It was hard to find a dr that would take Medicaid but once he got the support he needed it greatly improved his quality of life. I can't imagine what would have happened if the Medicaid program had bogus requirements that there's no way he could meet. | If Medicaid were to cut dental and vision, many people in my area would not be able to go to the dentist. They would not be able to get their teeth fixed. Good teeth help them find better employment. When you are not in pain, you are also able to work more regularly and it also prevents drug issues (dental pain is horrible!) I am ineligible for SSI due to my past work as a teacher. The Medicaid system does not recognize my disability pension. I am having to work to keep my Medicaid and get the medical frailty diagnosis. Many people are in the same boat. We need healthcare. Being rural and without adequate jobs and transportation will prevent others from fulfilling the work requirements. Healthcare is a right. | This would impact the clients that I serve; many of the parents that I work with have difficulties but are not eligible for disability services; they often struggle to function on a daily basis in a positive way and would not be able to do the community engagement requirement; then in turn this would further disadvantage them because there insurance and therefore mental health services would be taken away. It's like hitting someone who is already down, you could say. | |
1455 | When my grandfather retired in 2008, his preexisting conditions prevented him from being able to have access to my grandmothers insurance. He's been on Medicaid for 10 years now, while retired and disabled, after paying into it since he was 14, and would die without this coverage. He is clearly unable to work, he volunteers at his grandchildrens school to pass the time, but has given all he can and deserves to be taken care of. | It would cause my son to lose his medication and eventually go blind. | This would negatively affect me. I am already working but my hours fluctuate greatly. | |
1456 | When my mother was dying Medicaid enabled her to have good and respectful care. | This would not directly affect me but many clients who would be unable to meet this requirement many due to needing to care for children with mental health needs | ||
1457 | When the ACA first came into effect I was covered by medicaid, I hadn't had medical insurance in several years. Turns out I have Barrett's esophagus which is a form of pre-cancer. I am 25 now and because of the detection of BE 2 years ago I have my GERD under control and have medication for it as well. I was also able to get birth control through my doctor to help with painful cyst. | My 81 yo mother in law does not drive she uses the Medicaid transportation without it she could not go to her appts also co pays and premiums are not goid because most people are on limited or no income this would only cause undue stress for these already struggling | This would not directly affect me but would make it harder for my clients to keep coverage. | |
1458 | When unable to meet exorbitant prices of health care premiums, we were able to qualify for medicaid | Without dental or vision insurance, there are thousands of people who will suffer. Children and adults alike. This isn't a frivolous perk, they are as basic of a need as medical coverage. | This would not directly impact my family because my husband and I are both full-time students, but this requirement seems ridiculous. I’m sure most Medicaid receipients will be exempt for one reason or another. | |
1459 | While I was pregnant my unborn child had a fetal cardiac disarrythmia which was caught when I went into labor at 28 weeks of gestation, this requires hospitalization and I had to change to a maternal fetal medicine Dr and see a pediatric cardiologist during my pregnancy. She requires a cesarean since her cord was wrapped 2x and her heart disarrithymia. I couldn't have afford her NICU care or the treatments during the pregnancy. Thanks to the treatment I received and she received she is a heart healthy 7 month old who is constantly on the go! | Without Medicaid medical, dental, and vision I wouldn't be able to survive. The changes would prevent me from getting the care I desperately need, losing it would end my life | This would not impact me as I am not a recipient. I work with people who are on Medicaid and I see the difficulty many have with getting employed or even finding volunteer work. I am particularly concerned about people dealing with these requirements in rural areas of the state where there are less resources, lack transportation and there are fewer jobs. | |
1460 | While I'm aware of many dozens of situations in which members of my communities have benefited from Medicaid, closest to me are the dear friends who've benefited from access to care for their children with disabilities or/and special needs. Other dear friends received access to mental health care at a dire moment in their lives. My elderly parents currently benefit from Medicaid. They are all unbelievably hard-working. | If people are able and fit to work, they MUST WORK for the coverage. I have to work. Not working sets the standards for entitlement, and raises our taxes in order to pay for their benefits. This entitlement mind set needs to stop. | This would not impact me personally as I work full time. This could have some positive impact for some but could still end up hurting others. It just needs to be well thought out and looked at closely by people who actually understand the people and population who are going to be affected by this and not by those who have no understanding. | |
1461 | While we don't get Medicaid we do get ACA coverage and it has impacted me positively as a small business owner. When I worked out of the home I was a social worker and saw lots who benefited from coverage. | This would not impact me. It would impact many of my patients who are disabled or unable to find and maintain stable work due to mental illness. | ||
1462 | With coverage, we get peace of mind. The easier it is to get send keep coverage, the less stress we have. Medical coverage is essential. | This wouldn't impact me. | ||
1463 | With out Medicare, many people would have no insurance. A good friend of mine, who is retired, struggles to afford medication she needs for diabetes and the resulting problems such as Having to have part of her foot removed as well as problems with her eyes and heart. | Taking away our dental and vision has already had a negative impact on my family. We’ve had to cancel eye doctor appointments because we can’t afford to pay the bill. | Those who can already do. It's just a tactic to create an obstacle to much needed services. | |
1464 | Without expanded Medicaid I fell thru the cracks. I made to much to get help, but not enough to purchase insurance. I need the medicaid expansion to help with my prescription cost and all other aspects of treatment such as doctor appointments and test. Without it I will have to do without and could possibly die, leaving my family without a mother and wife. | Transportation is a barrier to be able to volunteer. | ||
1465 | Without financial help, people would turn to "other' means to make a living. Not all of them legal. This can be a problem now, but with these restrictions it would be worse.The benefit for the community would be less crime. | Medicaid is not a luxury. At best, it provides on the most basic coverage. There is nothing to be gained by making it more complicated and less helpful for recipients. | transportation is a problem even if to disabled | |
1466 | Without it I couldn't possibly afford my expensive medications, which literally keep me alive. | Transportation is a problem in most of KY. Volunteer positions and work is not available in the rural areas. | ||
1467 | Without it I would have died from Crohn's disease | Transportation is a very big barrier for many. If they are required to volunteer, who will help transport them? We are setting people up for failure. | ||
1468 | Without it my daughter or myself would not have insurance | Transportation is difficult in rural areas. Not many places will take volunteers without background checks or uniforms. | ||
1469 | Without it, my mother would have absolutely no coverage. She cannot travel to work, and she cannot afford coverage out of pocket. | A lot of people will lose coverage. | Unable to do this, not only because of my physical health, but my child and all his appointments, therapy, etc would prevent this for me | |
1470 | Without Medicaid coverage my husband and myself would not have had insurance because the cost for insurance is so expensive we couldn't afford it. | I am not financially able to provide dental and vision insurance for my child. Please keep Medicaid the way it is. | Unable to work | |
1471 | Without Medicaid I couldn't get my Thyroid, PCOS and other medications. My husband couldn't get his breathing medication and our Autistic son couldn't get his therapy or medicine. | Unable to work. | ||
1472 | Without Medicaid, I would half a million dollars in debt. (70% of bankruptcy is medical bills.) After 29 years of being privately insured, I suffered a terrible accident. I don't know what my recovery would be like if I had massive debt that destroyed my good credit. Medicaid has helped me get back on my feet. I am so grateful. My sister has Medicaid. | As a physician here in Eastern Ky. we considered Medicaid and Medicare the premium third party payors. When people are caught in an endless loop of poverty with all its attendant problems, Medicaid is a true life saver. Until you have worked in this environment, you can't know how access to health care keeps a community going, in the face of every other horror it has to face. I had a patient who walked 3-4 miles to our clinic for his Medicaid financed health care. Because he was intellectually challenged, he had not gone far in school. There were no jobs he could walk to. He couldn't afford a car, nor drive one if he had one because he didn't have a license. He didn't have a way to drive to town to take the driving test. What would Bevin's ideas done to this man, who through no fault of his own was stuck forever in his life, but without complaining, somehow made it work? | Unknown | |
1473 | Without Medicaid, my nephew would not have been able to have brain surgery to remove cancerous tumors. Actually, he would not have gotten the test needed to detect the tumors. He might actually have died wuthout the treatments he received. | These changes will kill many Kentuckians who are limited without transportation, no insurance to buy crucial medicines and see drs-if we want to help Kentuckians, we have to give them what they need....jobs, medical support, and the understanding that they are valuable to us! Protect the People! | very difficult for low income citizens who have so many issues to deal with folks | |
1474 | Without medicaid, we lost our home. We had to file for bankruptcy for thousands in medical bills. | This would put a burden on my family because my mother would not be able to afford medical coverage. It would leave us scrambling to try to find a way to afford everything she needs. Some people would have no help. | VERY reasonable! If the state is supporting me, I need to give back. | |
1475 | Without, many of the people in my community would not be able to afford health care. | I am concerned that people will not be able to access the care they need due to cost, transportation, and not understanding how to keep up their coverage. | Volunteering brings pride and self-worth | |
1476 | Working on my degree, my children qualified for the whole time. One of my daughters was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis during this time (she was only 9!) Without the physical therapy and medications, which were paid for by the medical card, she would have lost the use of her hands. We all have insurance through my employer now. Without that degree, I would have still been working minimum wage jobs and without that medical card, I wouldn't have been able to go back to school. | Know several hard working folks on Medicaid. Their employers limit their hours so they can’t receive benefits. | Volunteering is a good idea, particularly if these folks need something to do or skills to learn, but I believe health care should be there regardless, and many on Medicaid that I’ve known, really couldn’t volunteer much that I could think of do them actually needing help with self care. | |
1477 | Would not have medicines or healthcare without medicaid | Way too much to keep track of...Most of the time just trying to make ends meet without figuring out if they've worked/volunteered for 80 hours. | ||
1478 | Yes. My sister, who is 61 would not be alive without it. She was a professional librarian who worked all her life until she developed severe thyroid condition that eventually made it impossible for her to work a regular job. | I believe asking able-bodied citizens to participate in some type of community engagement would create a sense of responsibility and ownership for these individuals. Being actively engaged with the community may lead to better employment and may ultimately reduce the need for Medicaid expansion. | We already work full time. | |
1479 | I am a single father of one. I do not get any financial assistance from the ex. I have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, ITP, and a recent heart attack. I am trying to make change my lifestyle to a healthier system. Currently, I work full time and still struggling to make ends meet because of days missed because of either health conditions or Office visits. These days off lower my income and I am battling paying just our basic needs. Adding extra charges with my medical card is just adding more money I have to try to use. I understand there needs to be a change but I believe these changes are asking for too much. | We are both employed | ||
1480 | Medicaid coverage has been an essential lifeline for thousands of people in my community of Paducah Kentucky. | We are disabled, mentally and physically, and we are limited in what tasks we can and can't perform. | ||
1481 | Visits to dialysis clinics, eye problems corrected or worked with. Macular degeneration and glaucoma. | I am a mental health professional and have many patients who would have great difficulty meeting the new requirements. The largest concern is this would result in loss of insurance and loss of treatment, creating more problems. | We are sick.... It would kill us. | |
1482 | 90% of my community are Medicaid recipients. We need a healthy community. | We struggle just to get by in financial in our day to day living. The extra burdens from these changes will destroy us finically. Health care should be A Right not a privilege for the wealth. My daughter can not drive because of health issues. How can she get transportation if I am a work? She has a rare genetic condition. My adult son has a working diagnosis of autism and is diagnosed with anxiety and high blood pressure. We need these benefits to survive. | WE cant afford the administrative burden to allow folks to volunteer at our organization and our folks don't always feel well enough to do this consistency. | |
1483 | 97 Year old grandmother. | We hardly can walk or stand. Hardly drive! If we can't work why would we be able to volunteer! Really!! | ||
1484 | A community suffers when people are not taken care of. Crime, drug use, etc is a consequence of desperation and poverty. People who are taken care of and supported with compassion and opportunity make great citizens and members of their communities. The whole point of coming together to form a society and government is to create a better life for EVERYONE. Greed is a vulture that will destroy this nation-history literally tells us of what happens when the inequality gap widens and people become desperate. These proposed changes are cruel and will have disastrous consequences, ultimately costing more in terms of economics and community destruction. A true example of the law of diminishing returns. | these changes could effect my community in negative ways. The elderly can not afford co pays and neither can single working mothers. | We have one vehicle that my husbands workd 7-4 in. We are in a very rural area where volunteer work is few to find. | |
1485 | A family member was able to receive treatment for a life-threatening illness because he was able to receive coverage. | In the community I believe the changes would make a negative impact. Especially to the clients who are using Medicaid for services such as mental health, substance use and other related issues. Non profit organizations and other community help programs will struggle with this. | We work at least 50 hours a week each and have 2 kids. I’d like to spend some time with each other. | |
1486 | A friend was able to have a colonoscopy, during which polyps were removed. Could not have afforded it on own. | If work requirements are implemented I would lose my benefits because I have two small children and my husband is an over the road truck driver. It is not feasible for us to enroll them in daycare for me to work or take classes. Also we don't have access to Internet at our home. | We work more than full time as it is it would be very hard to find any time that's not taking away from somthing else to volunteer that many hours. | |
1487 | A friend with ovarian cancer was able to get coverage even though she had a preexisting condition. A family member was able to have coverage while in treatment for drug addiction. | A loss of dental and vision coverage would have a major impact on general health in the community, especially dental. | What counts? Caring for my mother? Picking up trash along the street for a couple of hours? Mowing the neighbor's lawn 'cause they're ancient, too? | |
1488 | A healthier community. The fear of not being able to seek medical care due to lack of money is a huge contributing factor in the despair of any population. Fear and despair are the main contributing factors in a variety of social ills, including addictions and domestic violence. | My sister is caring for her four grandchildren while her daughter is in jail for child neglect from opioid abuse. My sister had to quit her job to care for these children because they were so young, one is a baby and one is a special needs child the other two require counseling and medicine for ADHD. The special needs child requires constant care and trips to the hospital three times per week. Their medical/dental/vision benefits are constantly being turned off for no apparent reason and my sister then has to add more trips to the government offices to get the benefits reinstated. This happens at least once a month. She had to call the dentist 173 times to get her oldest grandchild in for an appointment for braces as her teeth are very crooked. Her husband is the only one working full-time now and they are over $30,000 in credit card debt to keep these kids in clothing and food. At one point they could no longer pay their rent, so her sister in law took out her retirement fund and bought them a house so they would no longer have to pay rent. After this the government then cut their food stamps from $400 a month to $100 a month because they no longer had a “rent expense”. Without the government insurance they would be destitute. There is no way they could afford the medication that each of the four children requires plus the vision and dental for the children. They would just have to do without. This is wrong, there has got to be a better way to fix Kentucky’s budget issues! I do not blame governor Bevin for trying to find ways to save our Kentucky economy. Past feckless spending has gotten Kentucky in a terrible financial hole and something has to be done. I do blame our legislators who are not HELPING him find a more creative way to get this done! We should all work together to help the children of Kentucky be the best in the nation not the worst. I am a nurse and an instructor at Western Kentucky University, Nurses and nursing students would be more than happy to volunteer to help out anyway they can if given the chance. Kentucky has great hidden resources we just need to find creative ways to utilize them. | What if you have health concerns or risks? | |
1489 | A healthier society is a more peaceful and productive society. | Dental and vision care are essential services for basic health and quality of life. They are not luxuries that only certain people are due or that people on Medicaid need to "earn." We already experience a high demand for free and charitable dental care here; any changes to Medicaid should ensure that more people receive dental benefits, not fewer. | While I do think that community engagement is worthwhile, some communities lack a variety of opportunities for Medicaid recipients to fulfill this requirement, so it may negatively affect Medicaid recipients. | |
1490 | A healthy community is a fundimental need and it is less costly one. | It would not affect me directly | While I would not be directly impacted by the requirement, indirect impacts would include fewer children getting regular services. Many of the parents of the children I work with have limited availability due to family or other needs, and they have very little free time, even if they are not working. This requirement would make it even more difficult for them to come to appointments. Additionally, many of these families already have difficulty accessing transportation to medical appointments, so I foresee a great amount of time being spent merely trying to get to and from these community engagement requirements. | |
1491 | A healthy community means a healthy economy. That's good for all of us. I believe that supporting access to equitable health care for all Kentucky citizens demonstrates our compassion for our fellow citizens who struggle each day with disabilities, poverty and/or unemployment. | We wouldn't have good dental or vision plans. Right now my husband is on a temp service and we do not have the option to have employment insurance. | While it would not effect me directly, many disabled people in our community would not be able to meet this requirement. | |
1492 | A large number of people in my community would lose access to medical services that improve their quality of life | I reside in a rural community with no affordable public transportation. | While this sounds like a reasonable thing, the truth is that many people who need these Medicaid benefits are already engaged in meaningful work activities, or they have legitimate reasons why they cannot do so. | |
1493 | A more healthy community! | My oldest soon needed mental health counseling and we can’t afford visits. | Why? There are no jobs in the area we live in. | |
1494 | A whole lot really I’d probably couldn’t survive without it. | The changes that Governor Bevin is proposing reduces the Medicaid expansion that has allowed poor and low income Kentuckians to receive the health care that they desperately needed. The changes that he has petitioned for will hurt the most vulnerable in our State. | Wil;l not. I am required and on Medicare. | |
1495 | Able to have requested tests run by doctor, providing answers to medical issues. | Under these changes, people would lose coverage, which could mean untreated health issues which would impair work performance and ability to care for themselves causing more problems for everybody. | Will not | |
1496 | Able to receive their prescriptions and obtain regular physicals to stay on top of any potential health issues. | Reduction in coverage will adversely affect the homeless and poor in our community. | Will not impact me. | |
1497 | Able to return to work; able to have coverage during cancer; able to have surgery to return to work. | we just plain out could not do any of the fore mentioned at all | With a new baby, this requirement will be next to impossible. Who is going to watch the child? Who is going to pay a sitter? This work requirement is just flat ridiculous. Most people already work. Let’s increase minimum wage and pay people a livable wage then most problems may be solved. | |
1498 | Able to see a physicians and other providers to stay healthy which reduces a barrier to maintaining employment. | With many having to pay for daycare for their children it would cost them too much. | ||
1499 | Access to care | With to 2 special needs daughters at home. It would be impossible for me. I have no help with their care. | ||
1500 | Access to health care appointments and prescriptions. | My pay would be drastically cut if I have to take my employers insurance. I couldn’t afford that | won't impact directly | |
1501 | Access to health care from specialist. | Wonderful it would get participants out among others and not be so centered on self. Volunteering to help others is needed and an asset to community. | ||
1502 | Access to health care who would otherwise not go to the doctor | Work requirements in Medicaid are illegal. They do not promote Medicaid's objectives. Medicaid objectives is "providing medical assistance" . Work is not listed as one of the requirements in Medicaid in order to be eligible for Medicaid assistance. How can the Secretary create a whole new eligibility requirement of his own without it first going through Congress? Kentucky's wavier is supposed to promote Medicaid's objectives. A demonstration of promoting health is not the same thing as providing medical assistance to low income people. Denying health coverage will not help people find a job. Giving people Medicaid coverage not only helps people get jobs, but could also help them keep theirs job as it will keep them healthier. When they are healthy, they have the ability to work. How can kicking people off health care give them this ability? Ohio has reported this finding in their Medicaid expansion study. | ||
1503 | Access to health care, dental and vision for more preventive care | All Kentuckians deserve access to medical, dental and vision care. The measure of a society is how it cares for those who cannot care for themselves. Medicaid provides this care for a number of Kentuckians and should continue doing so without premiums, co-pays, monetary penalties, lock out periods, and “work” requirements. | Working 20 hours extra a week just to have health care, and pay premiums on top of it is RIDICULOUS. Many of us already have 2 or 3 part time jobs and work extra to support our families. There is not time to work extra. And with childcare costs?!?! How is that going to work? | |
1504 | Access to healthcare enables people to participate in the economy. | Medical care would be cut of to those who are most vulnerable, costing taxpayers more money and resulting in death for many. | Working and barely making ends meet already. | |
1505 | Access to healthcare is important for preserving a healthy community. Access to healthcare helps decrease disease within the community thereby creating a healthier city/state for my family to reside in. My father recently passed and was the provider of the health insurance for both parents. My mother will be accessing medicaid coverage soon to help provide her with the care she needs moving forward. | Wouldn't be able to afford medial care | Working in mental health, most of our clients are not capable of working or volunteering 80 hours a month. We would lose many clients due to them not having coverage. Mental health is very important for the whole community. | |
1506 | Access to healthcare, particularly preventive care is vital in improving the health outcomes for Kentuckians. All of Kentucky loses when people without access to health insurance of any kind are forced to utilize the emergency department or try to live with chronic, treatable, preventable illnesses. The expansion of Medicaid in Kentucky has resulted in access to healthcare for many people who have always worked but have been unable to afford their employers' healthplan or work in a job that doesn't offer healthcare. To lose the momentum that is building as people living at the poverty finally are able to appropriately access healthcare would be a crime. | These changes would have a negative impact on my community. I can foresee people being "locked out" for forgetting to re-enroll or for not paying a premium they cannot afford. Also, not everybody can utilize technology to navigate the KY HEALTH web site, which is also problematic. I can foresee people dropping off rosters as a result of not being tech-savvy or for not having access to technology in the first place. | Would affect my son in few months. Is attending college.. | |
1507 | Access to the doctor when sick without worry about impact on other family budget needs. | If you impose co pays for services you are taking money away from people's who live on a fixed income. People depend on their money to last them a certain time frame. People need their money for living expenses. I was on a fixed income and I know how hard it is to make the money stretch. | Would be good | |
1508 | access to wellness & preventative screenings and check up services, access to contraception and information for preventing unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, access to breast exams and mammograms, access to teeth cleanings and x-rays and preventing gum disease. Having annual physicals and blood tests to catch anything "early". Flu shots and vaccinations. | no way to Dr appointments ,no case management services, not able to pay co pays or premiums. I do not make enough money o9n SSI to cover living expenses and now pay for these services that should be free or covered by our insurance . | Would be very difficult. My grandson is a special needs child. | |
1509 | Accessing needed services both physical and behavioral health. | no transportation, no way to pay co-pays or premiums.... | Would be willing to participate | |
1510 | Actual health care sought . Medical and psychological care. Not burdened with spiraling debt. Able to obtain medications and get to appointments if they qualify for transportation assistance . | People who need Medicaid are already struggling. It is heartless to make peoples' lives more difficult. | Would effect my clients greatly. First of all 80 hours is a lot of time. There has been no global effort by the state to assist agencies to develop or support volunteer programs. Programs that would be needed to meet this need take a lot of time and therefor money to supervise. Getting a part time job just means you have enough money to decrease or eliminate any benefits you may have. So it puts you behind not ahead. Also there are many reasons clients can't work that were not covered in the guidelines to qualify for medically frail. I believe this requirement will greatly reduce people's ability to have health care. | |
1511 | Addicted daughter was able to have medical coverage for treatment, she is now in long term recovery. She was capable of working more during this time and would have been good for her to have been forced to. | no transportation ... No case management services. .... no way to pay co-pays so now we will not go to the Dr or ER . | Would have to pay someone to look after my grandchildren | |
1512 | Adult day center | Having your teeth rot out or wrecking the car 'cause you can't see is inhuman! Stop messing with a good thing and instead help get folks off drugs and back to work. | Would impact my daughters. One already works full-time and has two young children. One just got out of school and is searching for a job and is also considering getting a baccalaureate degree. | |
1513 | Adult day participants | Would let me see hopefully a sense of purpose for people rather than a handout. | ||
1514 | Affordable doctor and dental appointments. Not having to worry about not having enough money to take care of my health! | Removing dental and vision coverage is ridiculous. They are both integral to wellness of the whole body. | Would make it more difficult to help get my family out of poverty. | |
1515 | affordable Health and dental care unavailable, otherwise | Many people will suffer and possibly die. The blood will be on Bevin's hands. | Would not affect me personally since I already work. But again, this is creating another level of bureaucracy - who is going to track this? Who is going to monitor? I DO NOT support this requirement. | |
1516 | After and during my illness I could not get needed Treatment. When I got Medicare, doors began to open. I seem to be getting some of the care I need. I don’t have family, and would not have a place to live. | There are too many changes to list, but it would have disastrous side effects on our health up to and possibly including death | Would not affect me. | |
1517 | All individuals should have access to health care. Financial and physical/mental health status, and transportation should not be barriers. | changes to make able bodied people more invested in their health care is a good thing... it will hopefully help keep the program solvent a little longer | would not affect myself but I feel it would give folks some self confidence and possibly provide them with employment in the future. | |
1518 | All people deserve health care | Have a limited income (retired) and also take elder mother to many doctor visits. | Would not affect us, but....could affect those with severe handicap or those who don't have access to child care. It's transparent....another excuse to deny health care. | |
1519 | All three member of my family are currently on Medicaid. My husband and I are both full time students and are therefore unable to work. We depend on Medicaid for health purposes. | working in mental health has shown me how important Medicaid is. These clients can not work or volunteer 80 hours a month. Most of them rely on the transportation provided to come to appointments. | Would not impact me and would negatively impact Kentucky. An unrealistic and again, financial burden, on the state. | |
1520 | Allowed me to stay home with my disabled wife | Requiring layers of bureaucratic hoops is intended for one purpose - to knock people off Medicaid rolls. This added bureaucracy requires more tax dollars that could be used for Medicaid services. Estimates that 95,000 to 275,000 people will lose their Medicaid eligibility means these people will simply seek health care services in their local ERs, increasing costs for all citizens & straining the resources of small, rural hospitals that won't be able to recoup the costs of providing care through their ERs. | would not impact me personally --- if this were a way to earn enhanced benefits and not setup to maintain routine/standard benefits, it would seem more desirable. | |
1521 | Allowing those who cannot afford it medical coverage | Our family would be devastated by the proposed changes. My son who works would still qualify, but he is already stressed out by trying to make ends meet on very low wages. He is terrible at paper work, and even worse at making deadlines. He would likely be dropped because of not being able to jump through the hoops the proposed changes require, in spite of being able to qualify... My other son is already suffering from anxiety and depression. The uncertainty of how this all plays out is already impacting his health. Should the changes actually be implimented, we fear his situation will worsen, making it even less likely that he will recover to point of being able to work again. The proposed changes will have a huge impact on Kentuckians like these young men, as well as the health care system trying to treat them. It will cost the Commonwealth much more in the long if the proposed changes are adopted, versus continuing the Medicaid expansion as it is currently. | would not meet the requirements 3-4 months for year working on a farm. | |
1522 | Allows my child with disabilities to have access to health insurance. | Loss of vision and dental services can lead to worsened overall medical conditions. For example, an infected tooth can lead to a brain abscess which is significantly more costly to treat than a tooth. Lack of vision coverage can lead to delayed identification of conditions like diabetes and other conditions that can cause vision loss. Conditions such as these increase the likelihood that an able bodied person becomes disabled. | Would not personally impact me, would impact our clients at my job therefore causing me more work at my job. | |
1523 | Almost every child and adult in my neighborhood has medicaid. Many lives were much improved with access to preventative care. | Cutting Medicaid services will greatly impact this population by limiting access to transportation, therapeutic services, case management services, peer specialist services, psychiatric services, general health care, and medications. Co-pays will result in clients being unable to afford access to the services that help them manage their mental health symptoms. Without access to these services relapse is likely, which can lead to hospitalizations or incarcerations, which are always more costly than the preventive services. | Wouldn't directly. But WHERE do you expect people to find places to volunteer or work if they don't have a car? Plus I'm not convinced that there is 10-hour-a-week volunteer work available in every community. Who would track these hours? Again -- how is that a good use of taxpayer money? | |
1524 | Although my family and I have been fortunate not to have needed these services, I have been aware of many families who have benefitted from services. | It would aid the medical professionals that are overworked because the Medicaid recipients go to the dr or ER without regard because they are not financially responsible for the bill. | Wouldn't impact me, but would definitely impact some family members. | |
1525 | Anything we do to keep our community healthy will help to decrease utilization of healthcare services and associated costs. Healthy people do not cost as much money to care for or insure. | First, the counties that have higher unemployment don't have enough jobs, so expecting the unemployed to suddenly be able to work 20 hours weekly seems silly. I guess State Government could hire some folks to track the volunteer hours! And the poor staff at the volunteer agencies, now they will have to be turning in reports of volunteer hours instead of their original mission. | Wouldn't impact me. It would affect many who suffer from addiction, mental health issues or other medical issues that may make it difficult, if not impossible for them to do this. | |
1526 | As a behavioral health clinic manager, I have witnessed first hand the benefits of Medicaid Expansion. A large number of consumers, who previously were not eligible for insurance coverage, were able to access behavioral health care under Expansion. We have been able to reach larger and more diverse populations and provide more intensive services than prior to Medicaid Expansion. | Community would suffer | Yes | |
1527 | As a case manager working in community mental health every person I work with on a daily basis benefits from Medicaid coverage or, having medicare, would greatly benefit from having Medicaid in its stead. The services Medicaid allows some of the most disadvantaged in our communities to access is in many cases the main reason these people are able to live a fulfilling meaningful life. | Yes because I am not able to do so. | ||
1528 | As a case manager, I see everyday how my client need Medicaid to survive and without could not access medical care at all. they would wind up costing taxpayers more money by needing hospitalization or longterm inpatient care | Burden would increase on safety net providers and services, healthcare received would be more sporadic and frequently less effective due to breaks in care. Individuals who need to improve health and focus on becoming well will likely lose health coverage intermittently --- the fiscal projections assume a certain number of months of lost coverage for the Medicaid population. | Yes, I would have to enroll my children in daycare to meet the requirements. | |
1529 | As a citizen of Kentucky, I support Medicaid in general. However the state cannot afford to continue subsidizing costs to people who should be able to transition off public assistance | Obviously as the primary caregiver for four children, my friend is not able to put in work or volunteer hours, nor could she afford childcare if she did. Taking vision and dental screenings away from her family or making her coverage more difficult to use just makes life harder. | Yes. If I can't find work, how will I work? I have many family who cannot drive and live 15 miles from anything resembling civilization. How can you have community engagement when you can't get there to engage? | |
1530 | As a citizen with multiple sclerosis and not able to work full time, Medicaid provides me with the coverage that is needed to pay for my treatments and doctor care. | I believe that I wouldn't have any insurance again if there's the changes Bevin wanted, I can't afford the other insurance | Yes. I would not be able to work at all if I had to fill these guidelines. Causes slave labor | |
1531 | As a community therapist, I see families that benefit from Medicaid coverage for their children everyday. I also see families being enabled by the Medicaid benefits and for that reason, I am for making those "abled bodied" individuals to go to work. | We are the poor working class. We work but barley survive. We are not asking for a hand out. We pay into Medicaid with our taxes.. we don't mind paying premiums given the cost listed is very minimal. However the worm requirements would hurt me. I camt work bc my daughter is disabled. I worked until she got sick. We never had government assistance til she got sick bc I had to quit my job. We travel 5 hour round trip to get to her specialist. Without glasses I'm al.ost blind. I need vision coverage to help with the cost. I would neglect myself so my kids have what they need. The 6 month suspensions would hurt us terribly. I don't have a computer to do the only test. I specs alot of times at the hospital with my daughter so it would be hard to keep up with all the required things and the suspension would make it even worse bc this is a very stressful time of my life. I worry daily if my daughter is gonna live. I often forget about turning in bills and documents bc of the stress. Not having Medicaid would make that even worse. Without Medicaid my family, the worming poor will suffer. My kids and my spouse and I would suffer greatly. We wish we didn't need the government's help and it's hard accepting that we do. Please don't take the Medicaid expansion. | You are talking again about penalizing people who cannot reach a place to volunteer, work, or job training. If they have no income or transportation to get to these places, they cannot do what is required. How about the families who have 3 little ones at home to take care of in addition to no transportation? Have you identified how much it would cost that family to get child care for those children? Could they find time to look after their children without CPS saying they were "neglectful" while holding a job or volunteering (again, without any pay to pay a babysitter?) I thought the U.S. was having a decline in birth rates that they were concerned about as there would be less people to pay taxes. Now you want those same people to work instead of having babies? | |
1532 | As a graduate student who was over the age where I could be on my parents' healthcare plan, Medicaid provided essential healthcare coverage while I finished my studies. I have had chronic yeast infections for years, and Medicaid allowed me to treat these quickly and efficiently, which was beneficial for both my short-and long-term health. Additionally, having Medicaid meant that I could devote even more time to my studies instead of worrying about working extra hours to pay hundreds of dollars to a premium each month, which allowed me to graduate with honors and obtain secure employment directly after graduation. | Too many to put in this small space. | You cannot be engaged in the community and work 80 hours per month if you have no transportation, no money to pay someone to transport you to the community engagement; it is not right! | |
1533 | As a mental health professional for college students, I have seen many college students benefit from being on Medicaid for a period of time...they are eligible to access healthcare if their parents are not able to provide insurance for them | You have to look at the requirement for the community engagement requirement. Some aren't able to do it because state of KY haven't seen them as medically frail. Some aren't pulling disability or anything but they aren't able to work. Some aren't mentally able to work, but they are not drawing disability or have income coming in. Some don't have the funds to catch the bus due to fixed income or no income. | ||
1534 | As a mental health Therapist at a large Community Mental Health facility, I have seen an enormous increase in people of all ages accessing mental health services, therapy, case management and medication which they were not able to access before due to not having insurance. Social workers and therapist work hard at helping people in recovery from drug addiction, help those access community resources so that they can access appropriate medical care, housing and food services. Children and adults who were without beneficial medications to reduce symptoms related to a mental health disorder, were now able to get them and that, along with therapy, helped reduce symptoms significantly. | Young people I work with are not capable of doing this until they reach a healthier mental/physical condition; especially those who are homeless. | ||
1535 | As a psychologist, I work as an outpatient mental health provider offering help to clients suffer from debilitating severe mental illness. The vast majority of these individuals have been homeless and are unable to work. | |||
1536 | As a self employed person, I do not receive healthcare benefits from any employer. Medicaid allows me to maintain health coverage. | The students in my neighborhood in Covington rely on these benefits. What is wrong with our government? | ||
1537 | As a self-employed person with illness, and chronically ill children, I have benefitted from Medicaid; my chronically ill family members have used this coverage throughout their life; my children who have chronic illness and expensive medication would not be alive if not for at least the medication coverage. Employer plans charge large co-pays, even more now, for life saving medications. The incentives could be for losing weight, changing lifestyle, and decreasing the need for some medications. As a mental health professional, who does NOT accept Medicaid, the problems involved in training providers, and the fraud, and not getting paid makes this insurance not attractive to help the most vulnerable populations (children). | If I ever needed it again and found myself in a similar situation, these changes would place undue and unnecessary burdens upon the beneficiary. | ||
1538 | As a shelter advocate, a large majority of our clients have Medicaid. | Medicaid pays my adult disabled son's Medicare premium & for his medications. I hear of the possibility of changes affecting the waivers that provide these & other services. I'm concerned about that. | ||
1539 | As a single mother of 3 I depend on the health care coverage for my special needs children. | |||
1540 | As a social worker who cares for patients in the most vulnerable populations, I can bear witness that many people who rely on Medicaid coverage would become even more vulnerable and fragile/frail without the limited benefits the coverage provides. If we fail to provide adequate baseline care, more patients slide into medical crisis, which is not only horrible to contemplate on a personal level, but also becomes extremely costly vs. basic preventive care. | One of my sons who is on Medicaid expansion is not well-equipped to handle red tape. He works almost full-time by the way. The changes would probably end up de-enrolling him--and many others like him. | ||
1541 | As a totally disabled person medicaid has helped pay many bills I could not have paid. | We’d like to have affordable premiums back. We are small business owners and it would help us to have affordable rates. | ||
1542 | As a young girl, I was covered through these benefits. That helped me to become who I am today, a tax-paying middle-class worker. | I would not be able to see my doctor, take the medications that I need, get any where, and live in depression. | ||
1543 | As I was laid off for the past year, I was still able to get my treatments and prescriptions. All was provided for me. That has been helpful, and should continue for me and others that are in need. | I wouldn’t be able to work and get me eyes checked or buy my classes or have dental work done | ||
1544 | As part of my job, I visit homes of community members on Medicaid. I have seen Medicaid help enable financial and health stability. It is VITAL that everyone in our community has access to care, even if they can't work or drive. | A healthy community is a happy community. | ||
1545 | Because of all the Republican led attacks on any universal/AHC health coverage the Medicaid program provides a safety net for the vulnerable the disabled the poor the elderly The Republican scorched earth policy of defund/cut all medical plans that provides aid is at behest of medical insurance industry The industry wants to interject junk high premium poor coverage policies that force policy holder to pay for certain services high copay Republicans fixated on voucher system Republicans are not interested in full coverage medical programs/insurance plans | These proposed changes would have a devastating effect on my family and Kentucky. It seems as if the work requirements are a way to kick thousands off healthcare. Making hoops to jump through to keep coverage in the hopes that we will make a mistake and then our healthcare can be taken away. I do not have a car and live in a small rural town that has no public transportation so I have no way to get to a job and NO money to buy a car and car insurance. Taking away the medicinal transport will also be deveatating for my family. If Kentucky does reinstate the work requirements if will be seen as a cruel punishment for the poorest Kentuckians. | ||
1546 | Because of the Medicaid expansion I was able to have healthcare coverage for the first time in almost a decade | Personally I would die. | ||
1547 | Because they cannot afford regular premiums on insurance | |||
1548 | Been able to receive preventative and intervention care that would be more costly down the road without it | I also have friends currently on Medicaid. One takes medication for a chronic condition, and also uses the dental and vision benefits on a regular basis. She goes to school full time and also works two jobs to make ends meet. Like most Medicaid recipients of expanded Medicaid, she already puts in more than 20 hours a week, but does not make enough to afford health insurance. | ||
1549 | Before Medicaid expansion I had no insurance, so my health was very bad. It has improved some with the medicines but still I struggle health wise. But if they take away my Medicaid I will probably be even worse health than before I had no Medicaid.I have no car so it's hard even to the Doctors, but my son helps me get there most of the time. But there are others who are worse than me and they really need help too. I think the Medicaid expansion has been a really good thing for Kentucky. It has helped the really poor and gave people health jobs that helps Kentucky.The poor people need this, please have a heart and help us. | I would have to choose between utilities and rent and healthcare. | ||
1550 | Before the expansion I could not afford my expensive medications and often did without which often led to emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Without these medications I cannot survive. My husband is disabled and draws SSDI and the judge said that I cannot draw SSI because he draws SSDI. I was a stay at home mom and raised my family and now I take care of my disabled husband. I don't have the time or energy to work or volunteer. I wish I could, but I just can't. | |||
1551 | Being a Veteran I don't use medicade as of yet. | Coverage has provided excellent medical coverage allowing her to live her best life. | ||
1552 | Being able to have affordable health care coverage for a young child of a single parent. | We have worked all our lives then my husband had 2 heart attacks and several surgeries we needed help and Medicaid was there for us but we don't make a lot on disability and can't really afford co-pays and premiums and people get accidentally kicked out all the time to not have Grace period would leave them with no help if you want to take care of your citizens how can you drop there health coverage there dental and vision it's truly a horrible thing to be so rich you can't put yourself in my shoes Mr.Bevin it can happen to anyone enjoy your 2.5 million dollar Mansion | ||
1553 | being able to receive necessary health care reliably improves quality of life for everyone. | I am in a medically frail category. For now, it looks like the changes wouldn't affect me as much as some others; however, it is still frightening because I don't know if later on Bevin or the legislature might attempt to make changes in coverage for those in my category. | ||
1554 | Being able to see doctors for the first time in several years. | |||
1555 | Being sick and poor puts an individual in a horrible situation. Having access to medical coverage saves lives; which is a fundamental human right. | By putting more restrictions on coverage you will make it more difficult for eligible vulnerable populations, like children and seniors, to get and stay enrolled. | ||
1556 | Ben able to see a Dr without a copay and get medicine without a copay | A lock out could mean death for me. How do you tell what is a non emergency ER visit? I'm not a doctor. Also, the website is purposefully buggy to make it impossible to report hours worked and changes so that you get locked out. | ||
1557 | Benefits Eastern My economy | |||
1558 | Besides myself many in my community have been able to get much needed medical care, dental care, and vision care that we couldn't get before. | My friend with cancer cannot work! She already does volunteer work when she can, but requiring a certain number of hours is ridiculous. | ||
1559 | Better health | |||
1560 | Better health care received. | I would go blind, lose my legs and teeth. Not only that, I would probably have an car accident if I drove for long periods to my doctor’s appointments when my sugar gets to high or to low. | ||
1561 | better health for everyone= less visits to ER | I don’t understand how any community would be improved by making life harder for those who are already struggling. | ||
1562 | Better health makes a better life for community members. It is wrong for each person not to have access to appropriate medical care. When there is coverage, medical personnel and facilities receive payment for services. This keeps medical costs for the rest of us lower as well. | The work requirements are not going to help because most who are on Medicaid have mental and really bad health to begin with or they wouldn't be on Medicaid. Most people who are on Medicaid don't have a car. Most people on Medicaid don't have much Education so they only gonna get really low paying jobs that don't go anywhere, just a dead end job. The pay is not steady, works hours go up and down so they would lose the Medicaid anyway, which is what they want it to do. My heart really hurts for everyone on Medicaid they are scared just like I am that they will lose the Medicaid. And won't be able to get medicines and go to the Doctors. Please help us. Thank you. | ||
1563 | Both my mother and my brother, along with MOST of my hospice patients (I am a hospice social worker) have greatly benefited from the Medicaid expansion, including dental and vision. | |||
1564 | By knowing that our fellow citizens can receive needed medical care. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. | We wouldn't be able to use our health care a | ||
1565 | Child of drug addicted mother. | I have clients on the ABI waiver who would significantly be affected by these changes if put in place. | ||
1566 | Children received life saving medical care during a medical emergency. | My husband won't have all of the coverage he needs which affects myself and our 3 year old. That will lead to more expensive hospitalizations including ambulance services (because my husband won't be able to drive without his vision coverage that helps him get an exam and glassed) for me because my husband won't be able to help me the way I need him to if he can't see. My husband is also taking care of several of his extended family members who would otherwise be put into nursing homes. If he can't drive over to help them they will need to go into nursing homes. There are several people depending on him. These changes take away necessary services and require a silly rewards program that a person taking care of several family members has no time for. It's unfair to impose these changes on people like my husband. | ||
1567 | Clearly the number of people provided with health coverage in KY has increased dramatically. This enables more people to seek the routine health care they need rather than wait until the chronic condition is out of control. Providers are better able to manage chronic conditions, educate, and hopefully reduce the later complications that can occur from lack of treatment. I believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. | I want everyone to have access to good healthcare. | ||
1568 | Clients can get much needed services. Many clients need help obtaining the services they need. Case management services should be readily available especially for clients who are limited intellectually | Research is solid on the negative impact of mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders. Limiting access to services will decrease well-being and decrease ability to work. By requiring premiums but not copays, there is "buy-in" for the recipient but still access to services. | ||
1569 | Clients can get needed services and access to healthcare | I am personally not concerned about the requirements, but I do not think they are ethical. I believe, especially in the midst of the opioid epidemic, that we should not be making coverage more difficult for people to obtain. The changes also will hurt our medical providers (dentists, eye doctors) who will lose patients. Kentucky might not be a favorable place for professionals to practice medicine or dentistry. | ||
1570 | Common decency has been served by assisting the poor. | People will not have ability to get care | ||
1571 | Community has benefited from Medicaid due to limited household income and not affordable private healthcare coverage | |||
1572 | Community members have been able receive services needed including mental health services. | We will have to lay off employees because people won’t be able to get the services they need | ||
1573 | Community members were able to receive health care they could not otherwise afford. | By asking for money to pay for health care from those that are living check to check you are asking them to do with out. They can’t miss work when sick because they can’t afford to go and they spread their germs to those of us who can’t survive getting sick. | ||
1574 | Community members who are able to obtain adequate medical care are more productive to society at large | Without access to medical detox, substance abuse and mental health treatment, many more children will end up in foster care—at taxpayer expense— which has a negative impact on children and families, as well as on state finances and the state’s reputation with regard to child welfare. | ||
1575 | Community members working low income jobs have to access health care. | |||
1576 | consumers with behavioral health issues can get services they need. | Have not worked in 2 yrs due to illness. | ||
1577 | Coverage for daughter with breast cancer. Granddaughter needed physiological care and medication which if not for medical she would not have received without medicaid. | I would rather pay for my mom's medical costs than have able-bodied people take advantage of the system. It was put in place as a hand UP to people truly unable to care for themselves. It has become a hand OUT. Not to mention that KY is broke... the state cannot just keep paying for everything when we are able to do it ourselves. | ||
1578 | Coverage for those working at fast food and other service related jobs benefits the whole community. 1. It stops the spread of colds, flu and other communicable illnesses to general population. 2. By treating Common illnessses it improves attendence at schools and work. | |||
1579 | Currently able to access both preventive and active need health care and treatment. | Charging a premuim / copay would be a barrier to several of my client's ability to receive the services they need - living on an incredibly small fixed monthly income, there isn't a lot of room in their budgets for the multiple medications and services they need to stay out of the hospital. Other people in the community fall in a gray area - not officially "disabled" but not able to complete the work requirements and so would lose coverage, and resume using the ER for basic medical needs that have escalated rather than the more cost-effective PCP. | ||
1580 | Currently, my Aunt of whom I am the POA, has paid down all of her financial resources and is now on Medicaid in Assistive Living. | Some would not be able to afford insurance otherwise. They might end up losing their benefits and would be unable to get medical help | ||
1581 | Dear Secretary Azar: These comments are in response to the 1115 Waiver submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As the State Representative in the 44th House District in Kentucky, I would like to provide some insight into how proposed changes would affect my district, a middle to low income, working class area. Specifically, I would like to address how work requirements, premiums, lock outs and co-pays would impact working families and individuals dealing with substance use disorders. Since the adoption of the federal expanded Medicaid program in Kentucky, many of my constituents have medical care coverage for the first time. A large number of them work in skilled construction fields – fields that are necessary to our economic growth in Louisville, but can be very seasonal and inconsistent in work periods. A prolonged rainy season or very frigid weather can keep them off the job for days or weeks. Maintaining the required 20 hour work week will be impossible. Individuals who work in the service industry – retail, restaurant and hotel jobs – will also find it difficult to maintain consistent hours from week to week. Over 80% of Kentuckians covered by Expanded Medicaid are working – full or part time, in school and/or caring for other family members. The vast majority of those not in those categories are looking for work or unable to find employment due to mental health, behavioral health, or intellectual issues – or, just a lack of jobs that require the level of skills they possess. Kentuckians eligible for Expanded Medicaid are very low income individuals or members of very low income family units. Their ability to pay premiums and co-pays is very limited. In Louisville, the number of health care providers who are willing to take Medicaid patients are decreasing – if providers are going to have to “eat” the co-pays that recipients are unable to pay, I fear the number of providers taking Medicaid will skyrocket. Recipients are likely to have little or no access to computers and internet services – making the reporting requirements difficult or impossible. Some recipients will fall off the rolls simply because they cannot comply with the reporting requirements, not because they are not fulfilling the work hours. Like most of Kentucky, my District has been hard hit by the Opiod Epidemic. On a personal note, my family lost a young family member to this terrible disease. I know, too well, how difficult it is to navigate the substance use disorder treatment system. I have been told that recipients, who are in intensive treatment, will fit the “medically frail” designation and will not be required to meet the work requirements, premiums, etc. while they are in intensive treatment. Having experienced this world, I know that getting into treatment is difficult with long waiting periods, intensive treatment is short term and nearly everyone with this disease relapses several times before achieving long term recovery. Individuals dealing with opiod addictions are also more likely to contract Hep C, HIV and other very deadly and expensive to treat medical conditions. Their chances of securing employment are slim, due to drug testing and criminal records. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and family Services predicts and budgeted for 96,700 adults losing coverage. Many Kentucky economists estimate the number to be closer to 175,000 to 297,000 adults losing coverage due to the proposed changes to the Expanded Medicaid program. Under federal law, the primary objective of Medicaid is to make “medical assistance available” for all eligible low-income populations, including the expansion population (42 U.S.C.1396(a)(10). Experimental waivers may be approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services only if the waiver is likely to promote the objectives of the Medicaid Act. The proponents of this waiver are being intellectually dishonest in their assertions that these changes will increase access and improve the health of Kentuckians. Kentucky’s Expanded Medicaid program is working. It is working to make Kentuckians healthier – more Kentuckians are getting their preventative services and are changing their health care habits to include an appropriate medical home. Nonemergency ED usage is coming down. Adults are receiving appropriate vaccines, like flu shots. It is working for Kentucky’s healthcare provider industry. Kentucky’s rural hospitals are becoming economically stable. We added 12,000 healthcare jobs in the first year of the expansion with more than 40,000 more expected by 2021. I am certainly in support of programs that support Kentuckians in securing jobs with living wages and benefits, but using the threat of losing vital healthcare services is not the way to achieve that. Please deny this 1115 waiver. Sincerely, Joni Jenkins State Representative Kentucky house District 44 2010 O’Brien Court Shively, KY 40216 (502) 447-4324 | My medical conditions would worsen and I would most likely end up repeatedly hospitalized because of not being able to pay for prescription drugs I need to treat my medical conditions. | ||
1582 | Decreased illness in the community, due to increased access to medical care | I am for changes. I do not believe it will hurt my family other than losing transportation for my brother. Folks who are "generational abusers" need to have a wake up call and realize they must put forth some effort to receive benefits. I see too many able bodied people who claim no income yet have more expensive cell phones than I can afford and covered in tattoos and piercings, which are expensive. Its time for change. | ||
1583 | Dental and vision access and health care | They would not affect me or my family as we are blessed to have medical coverage through my employer but they would certainly affect my community. | ||
1584 | Dental benefits | As stated above, many of our most vulnerable mentally ill clients would lose their coverage and become acute as their medications would lapse. I think it would not benefit anyone to have these individuals without treatment of any kind or to need hospitalizations. | ||
1585 | Disabled people can’t often work. | |||
1586 | Due to financial issues at a certain period of her life it was very helpful for her to receive Medicaid coverage until she could get back on her feet and to work. | |||
1587 | Due to heart attacks and back surgery I had to take disability, it was tough to live on . I finally retired from my job and started drawing so retirement benefits, well it turns out I'm not in a great way now. I have noticed that I don't get as good service at hospitals and my doctors decisions on medications fall on deaf ears at health insurance companies . I've done about all I can do, trying to eat healthy, not ever drinking alcohol, taking any drugs unless order by my doctors and getting proper rest . Now that I'm 64 it seems like nobody cares about all my past work . | It drastically reduces coverage for a Medicaid recipient and most can't afford copays or premiums. | ||
1588 | During a period of unemployment for 9 months while being laid off my husband and I got pregnant and I needed coverage until my new employment was secured. Additionally, Medicaid coverage prevents there being bigger social issues by having that safety net in place for all who are eligible for the benefit. | All of these changed will affect members of my community. | ||
1589 | Eastern Kentucky has benefited from Medicaid and expanded Medicaid greatly. The fact that low-wage (and often part-time) workers can now stay healthy enough to continue working is a great economic argument in favor of expanded Medicaid. The amount of loss of life, of health, of family, of economic possibilities or hope is difficult to measure, but since Medicaid was expanded, people have been able to maintain better health. This includes family members, friends and people in my community, people I talk to everyday. They would not have lives of hope without expanded Medicaid as it is now available. | Many of the patients I serve at my employer rely on the services the MCOs provide. No one should have to choose between a vial of insulin or buying groceries. Not in this country. That is ridiculous. | ||
1590 | Elderly that can’t afford medical coverage can be treated | |||
1591 | Employers are benefiting from healthier employees. People are able to focus on work and education. | |||
1592 | ER are no longer full of people trying to get care. | I wouldn’t be able to afford it | ||
1593 | Essential mental health and substance abuse services are available to people who need them. | |||
1594 | Every community benefits from the good health of its residents | |||
1595 | Everyone should have equal access to healthcare. It's a right not a priviledge | |||
1596 | Expanded Medicaid has finally allowed many of my patients to access specialized care when they need it and to not put off seeking routine and preventative care until their health is in a crisis, that requires interventions more expensive and less effective than prevention. | These changes could cause those that are in need of services, but unable to attend due to transportation or unable to pay out of pocket expenses and could cause more issues of violence and be unsafe for the community. | ||
1597 | Expanding Medicaid coverage has given healthcare opportunities to thousands of citizens who suffered from medical conditions for which they could not afford care. Additionally, coverage allows them to access preventative care for conditions, which saves money in the long run. Medicaid coverage helps to keep our citizens healthy, which benefits families, workplaces, and the community. | Setting People up for failure is no way to run healthcare. Recipients who are incapable of paying premiums and/or co-pays and then suspending their coverage is ludicrous. This very vulnerable part of our society and community need more wrap-around services to help them on their path of life, not a sudden push off of a cliff hoping they can fly on their own. | ||
1598 | expansion of medicaid provided much needed coverage for victims of domestic violence who were trying to flee and able to safely maintain medical coverage and not feel like they had to return to their abuser if they got sick | |||
1599 | Family has access to affordable care. Community has more health care providers because of Medicaid.. | My son's employer changes his hours frequently. He usually works more than the proposed requirement, but there is no guarantee. It would be a burden for us to have to find volunteer work for him on a sporadic basis and living under the threat of being thrown off medical care for an employer's inconsistency is a stressful way to live . Also, I work in a public library in a community which has a large number of people on Medicaid. I can see that we would need to have some volunteer opportunities in place for the large number of people seeking these situations. This will become its own burden on public institutions to train, monitor, and administrate the additional volunteers. This could be a great program (Remember the Public Works Programs of the Great Depression?) But the organization for it will have to be created in order for it to function. You can't just tell hundreds and thousands of citizens in a small community that they need to find their own volunteer opportunities. We need to have some structure in place for it. I would love to see more work done in public programs...there are certainly needs that could be addressed, but the organization of those needs will take funding of their own. I think this could be a long term project, but throwing people off their medicaid will not get us there. | ||
1600 | Family have been able to access needed health services that would have went undiagnosed without health coverage. Currently, community members have access to medical transportation services, medical coverage for them and their family if they meet the guidelines and they have access to behavioral health services, if needed. Vision and Dental coverage is a necessity in our community. | I'm afraid if families don't have coverage they will not take their children to the dentist or doctor. | ||
1601 | Family member gets medication when it is needed. She has access to her doctors. She needs to have something to do. She stays in her apartment getting more and more depressed. As long as funds are available she will wait fir them. No- No self initiative to achieve anything for herself or anyone else. As a family we have tried many things to help her. She expects others to take care of her problems. | |||
1602 | Family member has long-term health needs that are not fully covered by commercial insurance. Medicaid allows them to continue to get treatment needed to stay alive. | I have a adult son who luckly had recently been seeing a eye Dr. For severe eye problems and now this privaledge has been taken away. He cannot afford to go. He will no longer get the care he greatly needs. I am afraid he will lose his sight. | ||
1603 | Family member has several part-time jobs, earning low wages, and does not have access to healthcare other than through Medicaid. | No dental bad idea | ||
1604 | Family members as well as clients of mine benefit greatly from Medicaid benefits for their health costs, transportation costs. We had many clients (community mental health) who had little to no medical/dental/vision care prior to the Medicaid changes. These clients now have better physical health, which aids in better mental health. | I can see some of these changes occurring if someone isn't medically frail. However, I work with clients who lived in personal care home for years, and now are able to live in their own apartments with support. These individuals really needs assistance to stay out of the personal care home, but they are currently not designated as being "Medically Frail" For those in the expansion, I feel there should be co-pays as would need to pay if they were getting insurance through work. Those who have been deemed disabled and are receiving SSI/SSDI as a result should be deemed "Medically Frail" and shouldn't have the co-pays. Assigning co-pays to those who have current disability and receiving SSI/SSDI as a result most likely wouldn't have the co-pay and this would likely leave clients getting less care and increase hospitalization. | ||
1605 | Farming is a dangerous occupation. Access to affordable healthcare has always been a farm issue. Many farm families and others without affordable healthcare in Kentucky have benefitted under the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid. | Our community has few opportunities for work or volunteer services. Transportation is a barrier. Our little town tried to implement a trolley as step 1 in getting public transportation and couldn’t even make that work. Also the hiring of personnel to monitor recipient’s work/volunteer hours will cost more than just providing medical insurance/Medicaid. | ||
1606 | Fewer people suffer and more can be productive! | The financial burden on Kentucky's strained budget is unreasonable. I saw a $1 premium bill to a Medicaid recipient. The cost of staff and processing that $1 is what? $100, $200, $300? Healthy people = healthy communities = positive impact | ||
1607 | Finally have the ability to treat health condition before they become disabling | If we lost her coverage for a delay in reenrollment paperwork, that would cost our family thousands of dollars | ||
1608 | For 5 years I could not afford insurance for myself and my daughter. I was not on Medicaid income was a little to much for Medicaid. When Medicaid expanded I qualified for Medicaid. It was such a relief to have insurance to get yearly checkup . | I wo uld lose my mental illness treatment and psych meds | ||
1609 | Former spouse would have had impossibly-high cost or even *no* medical coverage due to a pre-existing condition that worsened due to workplace harassment without Medicaid coverage. This was a **LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE** for this family member! | Health care costs increase and workability decrease with lack of dental and vision Care. | ||
1610 | Half a million Kentuckians have obtained health care, allowing them to achieve greater health status, take jobs at low pay without brnefuts, pay taxes and contribute to their communities. They obtain care in the right place at the right time from the right provider, thereby reducing re- distributed costs to everyone else. Everyone benefits. we | The proposed changes will result in many people losing coverage through either non payment of premium, failing to re-enroll which has not been required before and/or not being able to complete the community engagement requirement. I support working and believe it is essential to mental and physical health. However, setting an arbitrary number of hours is poor policy. Some people cannot work or volunteer 20 hours a week, but might be able to do 12. They would lose coverage because of the limitation that qualifies them for Medicaid in the first place. Community engagement requirements should be at the discretion of the covered member and the health care provider. | ||
1611 | Has allowed us to get and stay healthy. | The increase in more sickly, more desperate people is not to anyone's advantage. The increase in costs of process that these nitpicky, abusive burdens would bring would be to a limited pecuniary advantage to a narrow category of people, or probably more accurately, corporate entities. | ||
1612 | Has assisted my community by allowing them to not use monies that they do not have for all healthcare and mental health benefits. | |||
1613 | Has enabled me to be able to see the doctors I need to see to try and have some kind of quality of life | I fear that decreasing access to Medicaid will result in more individuals without any healthcare coverage. This will lead to those who have health needs not taking care of those needs until they become an emergent situation. The costs of treating a more sever health issue that has become an emergency are higher than providing on-going care. Also, in this scenario providers must deal with having sick individuals come to them with no health care coverage. This limits accessibility to proper care, limits accessibility to on-going needed care and creates the scenario in which a person's health care is fragile with periods of higher costs care due to inadequate maintenance care. | ||
1614 | Has kept us alive!! | My family members may not have access to needed mental and physical healthcare. | ||
1615 | Have not yet. But have a son who will need it in a few months due to age. He is also attending school! | Loss of comprehensive services for families in need | ||
1616 | Having a safety net for healthcare removes a massive burden of stress and worry from hundreds of thousands of people, allowing them to focus more on the important things in their life, such as providing and caring for their families. Medicaid is a boon to everyone, even those not directly enrolled in the program. | |||
1617 | Having access to Medicaid benefits has allowed me to take care of my health by covering appointments with my general practitioner and medications necessary for my daily function. | This could severely influence access to services for clients who already struggle with poverty and access to resources in the community. | ||
1618 | Having access to Medicaid coverage was a great relief after I graduated with a Bachelor's degree. I was able to look for a job relevant to my field without having to worry about health coverage. Later, I was able to take a part-time job with no health insurance because I had Medicaid. Finally, I was able to take a low-paying job in public service with no health benefits because of my Medicaid coverage. | |||
1619 | Having access to Medicaid while I'm working only part-time has kept me from using the rest of my savings and going into bankruptcy. | I know a number of people who would be dead from treatable conditions without Medicaid. They would be a financial drain on society, clogging up the shelters, hospitals, and legal system. The support services Medicaid covers also helps people stay in their homes and live productive lives. | ||
1620 | having actual coverage | Like me they'd be devastated, as we both hope soon, I'll be able to have the courage to go out and see a doctor. but without medicaid I'll never have that opportunity | ||
1621 | Having benefits to cover needed treatment for mental health services. | |||
1622 | Having Medicaid coverage has improved health care and access to many and helped keep families out of debt. | The burden of paying copays and premiums on individuals living on less than $10,000 a year is extreme. Requiring disabled adults with mental illness, who are already declared disabled by the Social Security Administration, prove themselves as "medically frail" is punitive. Being declared disabled by Social Security is a very thorough process. | ||
1623 | Having the ability to treat chronic conditions that could not be afforded before. | It is a disaster in the making. | ||
1624 | Having worked as a nurse in a home health agency I can only attest that those in receipt of Medicaid are more than deserving. Even with Medicaid benefits, the guidelines, paperwork, pending approval times, availability of health resources still make it challenging for many approved recipients to achieve the level of comprehensive care needed to achieve the level wellness needed to sustain healthy communities. Managing the cost of health care is essential thus making prevention a high priority. Having access to healthcare enables Medicaid recipients treatment for acute communicable disease, immunizations, management of chronic disease, all of which without access negatively affects community health and escalates health care cost in the long run. Emergency rooms are too often used for non-emergency visits in the absence of having a 'family doctor'. When individuals have the security of healthcare access, it reduces a portion of the burden of being poor and provides a lifeline they would otherwise not have. Elderly requiring long term nursing care benefit when Medicare benefits run out and there are simply no other alternatives to a nursing home. Community health (both physically and economically) is proportionate to the overall health of its individuals. | Some of these changes would be unnecessarily punitive while we are still attempting to live life independent of government assistance. | ||
1625 | Having worked for years with this population, I’ve seen first hand how Medicaid provides a healthcare net that allows for healthier poor people and gives them a sense of self worth. This converts to motivation to take better care of themselves. Better health also translates to employability and productivity. | |||
1626 | health care for a medically unstable patient is never not an option. Universal health care should be the law of the land. It has been successfully implemented in Europe. | |||
1627 | Health care is essential to the economic improvement (jobs) of my community. | I myself would have no coverage without the expansion. I need healthcare in order to take care of my son. I cannot work a regular job let alone do any volunteer work because there is no one to care for him. | ||
1628 | Health care should be for everyone. Better health care leads to better communities | Will put some counties in economic disasters. Will affect doctors and hospitals. Doctors will have to move to urban areas, thus leaving already underserved populations. Begins plan is costing more in administrative costs at taxpayer expense. | ||
1629 | Health in general. People are able to go to their doctor | Changing the Medicaid system with the 1115 waiver will eliminate all the successes that we have had with Medicaid expansion. It will hurt the consumers and the healthcare providers. Access to care will be decreased and holistic care will be virtually eliminated. | ||
1630 | Health insurance coverage, including vision and dental, should be a right. Society benefits from having healthy citizens. | Back to no health care . Some people just can’t keep steady work . Every one is unique in health maintaince | ||
1631 | Health of family improved. | Will not be able to have a decent quality of life | ||
1632 | Health screening, vaccinations | My health would decline, making it harder for me to care for my children. | ||
1633 | Healthcare is a God-given right. Every person in our country, legally or illegally, should have free and full access to the highest level of healthcare possible. And I am willing to pay more taxes to achieve that goal. | |||
1634 | Healthier citizens | I wouldn't be able to get my prescriptions. | ||
1635 | Healthier co-workers, more money for more health-care professionals, healthier children in school, more productivity due to better health | Health down hill | ||
1636 | Healthier people allow for a healthier, more productive workforce | I am afraid I would lose my coverage entirely! Also, many working poor do not have Internet access, and are grossly uniformed regarding these proposed changes. These community members would suffer undue hardship by the governor's proposed changes. | ||
1637 | Healthier people and communities, neighbors less stressed and fearful. | |||
1638 | Healthier people mean more can work. | I can see positives for the community by requiring those on Medicaid to engage in the community. | ||
1639 | Healthy citizens are better able to support themselves, family members or others in need. Healthy citizens are better able to sustain employment. | |||
1640 | Healthy community members benefit everyone. | These changes would affect the ones in the community least able to deal with them. | ||
1641 | Healthy Kentuckians work, pay taxes, and are able to keep family members healthy. Good health among all Kentuckians Benefits all of us. | Living in a rural community, this would affect up to 30% of my county's population. Our citizens and community are in deeply in the throes of an opiod epidemic and reducing the availability of mental health and substance abuse treatment, provided for in the ACA and expansion in our state, would be devastating! | ||
1642 | Healthy neighbors make a better community. | People who need continuing care would suffer without coverage. I believe in Medical Care for all. | ||
1643 | Healthy people are better able to care for themselves and others, be a productive part of our society | I care for my brother who has end stage liver disease. He has no income and I have barely enough to survive on. These changes would force me to have to take another job which would force me to have to hire someone to help care for him while Im working. The changes would only create a vicious cycle of harm for us. Raise my taxes and give us medicare for all. | ||
1644 | Help to people who need it. | Penalizing people could harm their health. | ||
1645 | helped people get medical coverage that they could not get without medicade | The changes made would show that we don't value poor folks. That we think health care is a luxury and to me, that is sick. I've watched our state take steps to destabilize unions and weaken blue-collar workers' earning potential, yank services for families and small children then leave them out in the cold when they don't develop in as healthy a way as they could, keep our heads in the sand while our foster care system burns, and while drugs destroy families and communities. Our environment gets dirtier, we get less healthy, then we get fewer opportunities to seek health care. Gross. Get kids healthy with great early intervention, great preschool, fully funded Cabinet, stronger unions, fewer tax breaks and less privatization for our neighbors who are already filthy rich. | ||
1646 | Helps me out | I could not afford private insurance. I could not afford to have my yearly eye exams. I could not afford to have my yearly dental exam and cleaning with xrays. I could not afford the copays. | ||
1647 | Homeless clients with whom I have worked have medical coverage now and can have surgery which previously was denied them. | |||
1648 | Hospital and transportation coverage | |||
1649 | how can we get to the appointments? How will we be able to pay co-pays or premiums ? We can not afford this ... | I believe I would lose my insurance and eventually be back on drugs and alcohol. It's scares me to death. I'm a good person. My generation was attacked basically with opiates and I am trying to rebuild my life. It's really unfair to treat people like this. | ||
1650 | I actually go to get check-ups! | I am a pediatrician in Louisville who primarily takes care of children and families living in poverty. In my experience, the mental and physical health of a child's caregiver is THE MOST important factor in a child's health, especially for these families who are in the midst of toxic stress and turmoil. After reviewing the Medicaid Waiver Proposal, I am quite honestly shocked. It contains multiple components that will weaken families who are already fragile. The proposed changes will not only damage health, but also be incredibly costly in a healthcare system that is already strained. Please consider these specific concerns: 1. Kentucky should NOT require adults struggling to make ends meet to pay monthly premium then give them a 6 month lock out period from health care if they miss a payment. As a pediatrician who cares for families in poverty, this is frightening. Many caregivers are only capable of adequate care for their children because they are taking meds, getting therapy, and medical care. They struggle with organization due to daily chaos. They live check to check and any financial strain, like a broken down car, makes it hard for them to feed their families or make rent. Many live in turmoil dealing with abuse in the home or sick relatives, so even if they can afford a payment, they could easily miss a deadline because they are struggling every day just to meet the basic needs for their family. I am very worried that a decrease in access to healthcare for adults, will increase child abuse and neglect in a state that already ranks among the highest in the nation. 2. Kentucky should prioritize providing dental care for adults. Experiencing dental pain is a known common pathway to opioid addiction, a major problem in Kentucky that destroys families and harms children. It leads to more foster care and severe behavioral and mental health problems in children of addicts. In my experience, caregivers covered by Medicaid expansion are finally able to get their feet under them. Since these proposed changes to Medicaid expansion, a mother said to me, “Dr. P, I’m just so scared it'll all fall apart again." Please support children living in fragile families by improving rather than limiting caregivers’ access to medical care. | ||
1651 | I actually go to the doctor rather than put off problems indefinitely. | |||
1652 | I am a below the knee amputee and Medicaid is essential to me in order to maintain my prosthesis and stump. | |||
1653 | I am a case manager and I work with kids. Parents not being eligible for health insurance benefits negatively impacts the entire family. | Everything would change. No health care or life saving meds. It would just be a slow painful death. | ||
1654 | I am a case manager for adults with intellectual disabilities. They are in the SCL Waiver. Kentucky Medicaid pays for these vital services. | I work as a case manager. I support work requirement if certain changes are made. For example, there is no exception for someone who has filed for disability until they are approved. That approval can take 2 years or longer and they are told not to work or it could hurt their case. This leaves vulnerable people in a catch 22. They know they can't work for any extended period, but they also need access to the medical care that leaves them unable to work. | ||
1655 | I am a case manager in a Community Mental Health agency. I serve adults who have a serious mental illness and/or a substance use disorder, and are experiencing homelessness. They come to the center first, when they initially get to the point where they determine they just can't do it on their own any more; their lives are out of control. Here, they receive good mental health, medical, substance use recovery, case management, and peer support services, all paid for by Medicaid, and, in most cases, are able to lead more satisfactory lives, work, and obtain housing. Some are reunited with their children and family. Without Medicaid services, they would be left with no resources to help them in a very difficult time. | It would affect them greatly, this is all they have , they can barely get by now making certain cuts would be detrimental to them | ||
1656 | I am a community mental health counselor working with children in the school system. The majority of children I work with, and/or their families, would negatively be affected by these changes. I work with children with several emotional disabilities that rely on coverage for both physical health and mental health services. | Without Dental or vision, I would be unable to get a job or go to classes. | ||
1657 | I am a diabetic and have migraines. Medicaid coverage allows me to get the treatment and medications that I need. I work as much as possible, but sometimes my migraines make it impossible to work when I have them for days. | |||
1658 | I am a diabetic with a lot of complications. This helps me live. | |||
1659 | I am a disabled person who suffers from diabetes. The vision, dental and transportation helps me from losing, my legs, eyesit and Teeth. The transportation helps me from having accidents while driving when my eyes are being blurred from having high sugar because I have no one to take me to my appointments. | I would suffer in great pain if I lose dental. They want to charge so much and don't allow payments. | ||
1660 | I am a former Medicaid recipient. I relied on the program when I was young, underemployed, and a single parent. | |||
1661 | I am a full time caregiver for my disabled husband. We rely on medicaid so that our bills are not doubled | |||
1662 | I am a physician in Rowan Co. Many of my patients and their families would delay treatment,go untreated or end up in the ER if not for accessible medical care through the Medicaid program. Delaying treatment and not getting preventive care ends up creating more severe and costly medical problems. And ERs get clogged up with patients who could have been taken care of in doctors' offices. | Limit access to healthcare | ||
1663 | I am a physician who works largely with the refugee population in Louisville. They have benefited greatly from having insurance and hence access to healthcare, enabling them to take care of themselves and their families and become productive members of a new society | |||
1664 | I am a physician. I am also the daughter of a man who was a coal miner for 35 years. When he lost his job in 2014, he was thankfully able to obtain medicaid coverage. With the loss of his job, he was incredibly depressed and began drinking heavily. Every phone call I received from my family, I thought was going to be to tell me that my father was dead. We were finally able to convince him to go to rehab, which was paid for by his Medicaid insurance. He spent 28 days in an inpatient facility and has been sober now for 3 years. Without Medicaid, my father would most certainly be dead right now. | My parents could not possibly fulfill work or volunteer requirements. The burden should not be placed on the most vulnerable. | ||
1665 | I am a provider and 99% of my clients use Medicaid. | Losing dental and vision would not be good | ||
1666 | I am a provider and I would like to mention a patient who may be affected and this patients story is why I don't like the work requirements. This is a 50 year old male who suffered from a back injury while doing a construction job, he also has hypertension and diabetes but well controlled. He has not been trained up to do another job, and at 50 years old to change careers after almost 20-25 years of work is difficult. He really has not been able to work, and in a he is not part of a union and because he has requested so many days off he has been fired. He has tried to find other odd jobs in the meantime, occasionally he is successful, paints a fence, mows a yard, cuts down some shrubbage. But these are small jobs does for cash. They are not sustainable. He is not 'disabled' by federal standards as well cause he can do some jobs but not at the level as before and because he can't work at the level he did before he can't find the job he wants. This has been a year and a half now. Then you want to burden this guy by taken away his medicaid??? This particular individual would not meet your work requirement because he definitely does not work 80 hours per month. He has a few kind neighbors that let him do some backyard work for cash but they aren't "employers". Yeah he could volunteer but he spends the majority of his time trying to do these odd jobs to keep himself going. Then what about reporting requirements.. he has enough of a hard time trying to just find these odd jobs then you are going to put him on these requirements? Then on top of that he has diabetes and hypertension that are controlled "for now" But you take away his coverage.. now he has to pay to see a provider or hopefully finds a charity care. Medications are more expensive so he starts to cut back, let's say he doesn't find a job for another 2 years ( now he has two years of uncontrolled blood pressure and diabetes) This just leads to a sicker guy, who now is even more sick and has a harder time to find work and now you took away the medicaid. This policy looks more like punishment not like encouragement. | |||
1667 | I am a provider caring for individuals with brain injury and stroke. As a whole, these patients are disabled and benefit from medication coverage and other Medicaid expansion services. Many of my patients rely on the transportation as they are unable to drive, live outside the Louisville area, or do not have the cognitive capabilities to use public transportation. Without retroactive coverage, many new trauma patients will remain uninsured & preventing them from transferring to a more appropriate level of care. This will result in a number of patients sitting in tertiary care beds unnecessarily, and preventing those in need of those beds from having access. | Many of these changes would target and stigmatize the members of our community who most need the sense of inclusion and community support and deepen the divide in an already marginalized social group. | ||
1668 | I am a psychiatrist who treats the severely mentally ill, and many of my patients have gotten much needed services and become more functional members of society because of the services and insurance they receive from Medicaid coverage | Losing current coverage would impact ability to afford prescription medicine as well as routine and other types of health care for myself. | ||
1669 | I am a psychologist in private and have family members who have medicaid coverage. I believe it is absolutely imperative that we continue to medicaid expansion with none of these changes that will result in people losing coverage and much needed services. | I am unable to work consistently due to the nature of my diagnosis. Having a work requirement could mean I could potentially lose insurance. That could be deadly for me. | ||
1670 | I am a single mom of 2 children. I work. But I do not have insurance through work. And there is no way I could afford private insurance for myself or my 2 children. I do have some health problems and on medication and see my doctor regularly. I also have vision problems that require me to wear glasses all the time and my prescription for my glasses changes yearly. Medicaid doesn't pay for my glasses but it does at least pay for my eye exams. Further Mediciad does pay for my dental exam, xrays and cleaning once a year. | the individual in my family is not mentally able to be put in a voluntary hours or work requirement status | ||
1671 | I am a single mother with a full-time job and I’m also a full-time student. I have a variation of the auto immune disorder CVID. I require antibiotics for common respiratory infections that my body will not fight (I’m IgA deficient), my son also has the marker for this disease. Having Medicaid allows me to see a doctor or go to an urgent care and get treatment without having to pay thousands of dollars a year to treat common illnesses that I acquire much more often than the average person. | Would not be able to get health care that I need | ||
1672 | I am a social worker who has worked with Kentuckians who went without health insurance for years, because they could not afford it, and/or it wasn't offered through their employers, and/or they didn't qualify for Medicaid. The Medicaid expansion allowed them to get access to much needed healthcare. Some of my clients were able to get relief from illness right away, while others received new diagnoses and were able to get immediately into treatment. At the time of the Medicaid expansion my partner, who'd been a freelancer and thus did not have insurance through his job, became eligible for Medicaid coverage. He was able to go to the dentist for the first time in years where he learned he had five cavities. They were able to repair his teeth for him without charge. I have health insurance through my employer and it would be a burden for me to fill five cavities at once, so imagine what it was like for him. | |||
1673 | I am a therapist and my clients benefit greatly from current Medicaid coverage as this allowed children with severe emotional and behavioral health disorders to receive weekly therapy; many of my clients utilize Medicaid non emergency transportation and they would not be able to get to the outpatient office without this transportation assistance. | As above, the clients I work with have very limited income- if they are subject to copays or premiums they are very likely to not be able to pay or choose to skip treatment- choosing basic needs like food. | ||
1674 | I am a well-educated, aging "contract" worker. My health has not permitted me to work reliably, consistently, for over 20 years. In the last 5 years my health has declined and I am applying for SS Disability benefits, and may some day receive Medicare, but in the meantime, extended periods of unemployment FOR HEALTH REASONS have left me uninsured and in desperate need of ongoing health care. | Work requirements world harm me. My work hours fluctuate weekly and much of my work requires preparation outside of traditional 'on the clock' hours. | ||
1675 | I am a working adult, I dont sit at home and abuse the system. Medicaid has helped me, although I don't go to the doctor much at all, it is nice to know I am able to if I need to. | I would once again have no means to see a provider or obtain medications. | ||
1676 | I am able to afford visits to doctors and medication whereas before I couldn't. | Sick people are expensive. They miss work, expose others to their illnesses, don't have access to educational information and care. Cost companies retraining expense. | ||
1677 | I am able to get medical care when I am sick, and better care for my children. It has helped me to have my wisdom teeth removed, which were a constant source of pain, discomfort, and serious infections for nearly a decade before the Medicaid expansion allowed me to have them removed. | It would make it very difficult to come up with the money to pay for services (premiums, copays, etc.) For some people who are unable to work, the volunteer/work requirement would eliminate their coverage. | ||
1678 | I am able to get regular check ups for myself and kids. Medical care is expensive but important. I do not make much money and can't afford much toward medicine or doctor visits. | |||
1679 | I am able to get treatment and medication for my mental illness | I now have insurance through my employer, but if myself, or my family needed Medicaid, the changes would be detrimental. | ||
1680 | i am able to go to the doctor when i am sick. | These changes will make it harder to gain access for people who need access to care. | ||
1681 | I am able to receive treatment and medication for my chronic mental illness | My wife my loss her coverage | ||
1682 | I am able to receive treatment and medication for my chronic mental illness. | These proposed changes would be devastating to the community. They create burdensome requirements and obstacles that would simply weed people off the rolls. Some may continue to seek care as they have in the recent past, and simply pass on the burden to the provider. Others will simply stop accessing care all together and again revert to using the emergency room. The ERs will fill back up, medical debt will increase, employers will experience more turnover. Patients with chronic diseases will experience significant setbacks requiring more frequent and prolonged hospitalizations. Medical no-shows will increase for both primary care and specialty care - limiting access to others and driving up overall health costs. If this were 100 people, it would still be devastating, but most likely absorbed in other costs due to economy of scales. But we are talking about tens of thousands of people, which at that scale cascades across many other sectors. | ||
1683 | I am able to receive treatment for my chronic mental illness. I am able to get my psych meds that I desperately need | |||
1684 | I am able to stay healthy enough to continue working. I am able to receive free preventative healthcare: annual checkup, mammography, pap smear, colonoscopy, etc. I was able to get some crumbling fillings fixed and a tooth pulled. I was able to buy prescription lenses, important for my work. | If premiums or copays are enforced, then this would cause a real hardship on their family. | ||
1685 | I am able to stay well and alive so that I could take care of a dying mother and keep her at home Last year . I have health issues such as diabetes and arthritis in my spine and other ailments. If I was not getting medical treatment then I would never have been able to care for my mother and am currently caring for a father with Alzheimer’s. | I struggle to meet basics WITHOUT assistance from any place. Health insurance is not affordable through my work and covers none of my medications or doctors visits. I would not be able to meet my medical diagnoses medications or to manage them. This in turn would cause me to lose my job and be reliant 100% on the state funded system to assist me and or the need for social security. With me working, it is one less family on cash or food assistance! | ||
1686 | I am able to stay well and alive so that I could take care of a dying mother and keep her at home Last year . I have health issues such as diabetes and arthritis in my spine and other ailments. If I was not getting medical treatment then I would never have been able to care for my mother and am currently caring for a father with Alzheimer’s. | See above. | ||
1687 | I am alive today because of Medicaid. Previously, I was a walking timebomb and my health was progressively getting worse. Having coverage meant I could see a healthcare provider on a regular basis, and receive daily medications needed to keep me from having a heart attack, stroke, and worse. My entire community is healthier, and requires fewer emergent care, and ambulances. | How am I supposed to work and pay my bills when I have to fit in 80hrs of other stuff as a requirement? | ||
1688 | I am an LCSW working with adults with severe mental illness. Many do not have access to computers or skills to utilize them, are not able to maintain employment and charging premiums and copays will be a disincentive for them to engage in services for physical and psychiatric care resulting in more expensive emergency or severe treatment. | |||
1689 | I am an optometrist and I have seen numerous patients benefit with vison coverage, coverage of their diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and cataracts which they could not afford without medicaid....there are 2 things which over the years has helped more kentuckians with eye care...KCHIP and expanded medicaid | The proposed changes will affect the vulnerable population who are in need for medical care and not able to provide for the care will be a disadvantage. | ||
1690 | I am bipolar with psychotic features. I was unable to work for a period of time. My medicine helps me keep things under control and without it I would risk becoming psychotic again, which would ruin any progress I’ve made in my life. | I am a substitute teacher on the way towards getting my masters degree in teaching. If i had to meet work requirement hours it would be hard because substitute teaching has an irregular schedule, and I have to work at a school in order to meet the requirements of my degree. It would put me in a hard position. | ||
1691 | I am blessed to have employer sponsored health coverage and a good job. However, members of my extended family qualify for the ACA's Medicaid expansion. These members of my family, before the ACA, have asked me for money to help them cover medical expenses. Now that they have Medicaid, those requests have mostly disappeared. More importantly, these members of my family do a better job now of maintaining their health now -- they see a physician on a regular basis and use the ER less often. | These changes would effect my family in a negative way. We have enough hardships now. This would just add confusion to an already difficult situation. We need help not more problems. | ||
1692 | I am chronically ill. Having medicaid helped me get the care I needed with a high risk pregnancy complicated by chronic illness. My son spent 4.5 weeks in the NICU after he was born and Medicaid covered that which helped nurse him to health and give him a great start to his life. I am chronically ill and disabled. My husband has to care for both myself and our 3 year old. Because of that he can't work. My husband is diabetic with thyroid disease. Without medicaid to cover his diabetes, thyroid, and other medications he would get really sick putting our whole family in danger because I am chronically ill, disabled, have severe chronic pain, have weak legs, and my left arm is paralyzed. Vision coverage is important to us because my husband is severely near sighted due to macular degeneration. My husbandfixes my medication, takes care of us, and he drives us to all of our appointments. Without his eye exams and glasses he cannot do those things. Since my husband is also diabetic and has a family history of glaucoma eye exams are extremely important. Medicaid for my husband keeps me and my child healthier because my husband takes care of us. For my family medicaid is our lifeline including expanded medicaid for my husband. My son and I qualify in other ways that have nothing to do with the expansion, but my husband doesn't. My health will go down the tube without his help which will equal more hospital stays for me. | A less healthy community robs valuable members an opportunity to fully enjoy their own lives. This dominos into all aspects of daily living. | ||
1693 | I am disabled with numerous medical conditions. Having Medicaid has let me get the care and medications I desperately need to stay alive | We would be forced to choose between adequate food, shelter and clothing or adequate health care. As a retired teacher I was forced to drop my family from my insurance and take Medicare and Medicaid for them. Where/who are these fraudulent abusers? It is an extremely frustrating process to get and keep our services! I’m sure there are some who work the system as there are in anything but why harm those in need to go after them? Talk to the people who need and benefit from these services! | ||
1694 | I am disabled, I see many specialists , I take many medications, I benefit so I can see my many specialists, take my many prescriptions, see pain management, Physical therapy, Ulcer of the eye, ( unexpected) very serious can go into blindness.. I was stuck on my couch homebound and Medicaid gives me a way to get my life back. To see and receive the help I need. ON SSI my income is very limited $750.00 a month. My bills take most of this , I try the rest to budget for home care and gifts for my family on holidays . I have no extra money and I am unable to work outside the home. Medicaid , With out it , I would be dead. Seriously I would have to take my own life due to pain . I would not be able to afford the doctors and specialists for my many conditions . I have had many surgeries over the years due to my disorders , disease , illness's Chronic. NOT going away that I am or my doctors are aware of. I also see therapist and psychiatrist for other problems, With out Medicaid I would lose most of my medications , doctors, specialists and my life. | |||
1695 | I am emergency room nurse and I see DAILY the benefits of Medicare coverage. I grew up using the Medicare system for my health coverage and my mother remains on Medicare. As a child I was able to have access to medical coverage as well as dental and vision coverage that have improved my life as an adult. We also did not have transportation therefore used Medicade provided transportation to get to appointments. | |||
1696 | I am gracious for the opportunity to work for Wellspring a non-profit organization. I am blessed to provide expressive therapy services to assist persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Wellspring has provided critical life changing transitional supportive housing programs / Crisis Stabilization Units to serve a wide range of needs. I hear so many persons share gratitude for Wellsprings programs and the help/support they receive. Our clients share positive experiences and we hear so many success stories. | |||
1697 | I am mentally ill and Medicaid gets me the treatment and medication I need | It's very hard to find employment when your teeth are rotting out or you have a health condition. You are automatically considered a liability. Medicaid helps give people their dignity back and become productive citizens once again. Healthy people work, sick people cannot. | ||
1698 | I am my 96 year old Mothers only caretaker. She has dementia and there is no one else or no money for a caretaker for her. | Provide jobs that pay enough to get people off the system. For God's sake, do away with the current call center style being used in Family Support offices. I have seen the elderly sit and cry out of frustration. Being on hold on the phone for hours cuts into productive work time. Reevaluate the Medicaid dollars being pumped into the Supports for Community Living program. Find new funding sources rather than shifting the current monies. Revamp the lifetime politician laws. Make Bevin pay for his own frivolous law suits. Increase taxes on Mitch, Paul and Bevin. | ||
1699 | I am not a Medicaid participant but I have worked for the Department fo Aging and Independent Living for 17 years and have worked with Medicaid on many projects. Many if these changes have been tried in other programs and cause more cost to providers and they begin refusing to provide care. The work requirement does not consider the need for transportation or child care for those hours. | Many people will have poor health, end up in the ER in crisis, increase cost of care. People will feel minimized because they are considered not worthy of the benefits of health. They will loose their jobs due to illness and loose their self-esteem. | ||
1700 | I am the Administrator of a Ryan White funded clinic in rural Kentucky. WE are serving over 500 people with HIV and without coverage for medications and services these folks could not only infect others, but develop AIDS and die if they don't have access to high cost, life saving medications and transportation to get access to care. Prior to the expansion we had a 50% non insured rate, now it is 12%. Programs cannot continue to fight this epidemic without resources! Along with HIV comes many also expensive treatments like Hepatitis. We need to think about the forest and not the trees. | I am concerned that the enhanced administrative burden , such as documentation of hours worked and lockout for non compliance etc will cause people to lose healthcare coverage. It is very hard to comply with these if you don't speak or read English, or have significant psychiatric comorbidities like many of my patients do. | ||
1701 | I am the parent to a special needs child. Before his father was laid off and we lost our insurance coverage, I spent hours every week negotiating bills and coverage. Medicaid rules and coverage let me focus on caring for my son. I’m able to cover other bills that would have gone unpaid without coverage. I would have been reliant on more social services, and my son and I would not be as healthy. | I have 2 grandkids that live with me and one of them is a special needs child and if I was required to work or volunteer it would be hard to do. | ||
1702 | I am type 2 insulin dependent I could not afford Dr's or meds before Obamacare I now can please don't take my insurance | My grandchildren would suffer from not having Medicaid. The cost of healthcare is too high. Their parents would have large debts. | ||
1703 | I am unable to work at this time because I am my elderly mother's caregiver. She has dementia and other health issues. I have been living on my savings while caring for my mother and spending hundreds of dollars a month on insurance. Having Medicaid has allowed me to have health care while also being able to stay with her and care for her at home. There are many others in the community that benefit from Medicaid due to similar situations. | Many of my neighbors and friends would lose coverage or not be able to figure out the complex maze which is the Bevin plan. | ||
1704 | I answered and then the page was lost and started me all over ? I have my wheelchair and transportation and my therapy is provided but is not enough at all, this should be a preventive care and covered all of the time. | I have no problem asking people who are able to work or volunteer. I do not want to enable multigenerational poverty and dependence. | ||
1705 | I believe basic health care, including vision and dental, is a basic need made available to all people of the commonwealth | I suspect that with these changes I will loose my insurance because I don't have the time or energy to work or volunteer. I have tried to work in the past and every time I get sick enough to have to be hospitalized. I do matter and I do contribute. I take care of my family and my disabled husband. Without my medications I am no good to anybody and will become a burden myself. | ||
1706 | I believe we started out in the expanded pool, but have moved to the traditional medicaid pool. It has allowed us to get healthcare coverage. It covered us to have a baby. It pays for our kids to get immunizations. It allowed me to go to the dentist and the eye doctor. As small family farmers in Kentucky, it's coverage we rely on, that give us a safety net of knowing that if something happens, we won't lose the farm because of trying to pay obscene medical bills. I'm still paying on medical bills that I had before we were covered by Medicaid. I can only pay a little per month, and it is stifling. Medicaid allows us to focus on eating healthy and staying healthy. | Denial of health care to people in need creates an unnecessary strain on communities and families. | ||
1707 | I can now afford my mental health medication at the right dosage, & go back to my psychiatrist. I can now afford to get my glasses upgraded because without insurance I will have eye problems, & could develop other genetic ailments. My teeth sometimes get cavities easier too. Also I can’t afford my true medication so I’d have real mental issues without it, including suicidal thoughts. I don’t sleep well due to mental problems & now can talk to Psychiatrist about it | If the regressive policies of the current governor were implemented, those currently on Kentucky's Medicaid expansion would be less able to care for themselves. With a greater probability of unhealthier lifestyles that would result from no medical care, they may contract illnesses that will also be passed onto the general population. | ||
1708 | I can now see a doctor for regular tests....my thyroid blood draw is covered, just one example...it used to cost me over $300. each time they tested me. | |||
1709 | I couldn't afford to pay for health insurance. Medicaid has been a Godsend | Just like now that the dentist and Eyes are not covered we have not been able to afford to get to go to the dentist. Working with the homeless population and recovery program they would not be able to access medical help. Single parents, would not be able to see Health Care. Eye care is expensive and many need it that with out medicaid can not pay to get it done. People will loose their teeth and mouth health because dentist is not affordable. Some people that should qualify are not qualifying. The changes have made it to where people can not get the care they need. Most people who have jobs are forced to get insurance through their jobs but you arent putting into account the price on it per week is very high, not just that they have high co pays that are not allowing them to go to the doctor. Its easy to say get insurance through work put don't put into account that individuals have work and tried but every cent taken out is money that most used for food, utilites and more. | ||
1710 | I currently work in the mental health field where a large portion of our clients are Medicaid recipients. Having access to these services is necessary and important for the lower income members of Kentucky who otherwise would not be able to access mental health services or medications for these conditions. | Changing expanded medicaid, implementing these ridiculous provisions like 80 hours of volunteering a month, scrapping dental and vision which are critical to maintaining good health-all of these things would be devastating for our family and the state of Kentucky as a whole. I am a single, working mom and the hoops that this governor want people to jump through are cruel and impossible. If people don't have insurance, they will go to the emergency rooms. This translates into higher costs for hospitals which means loss of jobs, more expensive insurance for everyone, and negative impacts to all communities. Keep the medicaid expansion as it is, and find other ways to make up the difference instead of implementing stupid rules that cost more money to implement than it would to cover the people. | ||
1711 | I didn't have insurance and with this insurance I'm able to get the care I need, I'm so glad to get the insurance | people were never meant to pay for this program. | ||
1712 | I do not have Medicaid coverage. However, I did about ten years ago and it was nice to have when I needed it as I went through a rough stepping stone in my life. | I was forced to go on medicare even though my retiree company was paying. I'm unsure how one works better or worse, retiree plan or medicare. | ||
1713 | I do not have to worry about medical bills from the state of Kentucky, and though it only covers issues sought within the state, it has supported me for several years. Because I am independent and without any sort of support otherwise, this type of assistance is essential to my survival. I am a healthy young woman, but I do wear glasses and contacts. When I feel sick, I expect to be respected as a human being and to receive care. I am not insignificant, so don't take away my assistance and treat me as if I were. | People will not be able to go to the doctor like they should. I believe we could charge a co-pays but not more than $5. Most doctor's office will not let you see the doctor with out paying your co-pay. Then once you see the doctor and prescribe another medication they have to make a choice to either see the doctor or get their medication. In some cases not doing either could be life or death. People should not have to make that choice. I have had to do it and just knowing how desperate I felt and not knowing if I was going to be okay is not something any human being should worry about. I hope our politicians making these choices for other peoples lives never has to experience this or have a loved ones experience this. | ||
1714 | I don't have direct knowledge of individuals affected by access to Medicaid, but it seems only logical that individuals being able to secure needed medical treatment would lead to better outcomes for those individuals as well as the greater community. The loss of these services affects the providers of such services, especially in marginal communities where employment opportunities are few. Overuse of emergency medical services affects all of us, including individuals who lack adequate follow-up care when this is their source for medical treatment. A healthy community is stronger financially and spiritually. | I really don't know and that's the sad thing. All the garbage that comes out seems to be bad for me . I see my country give to the world, by politician's even when our country has all this debt. | ||
1715 | I don't have the added stress of worrying about going bankrupt or my family members feeling guilty or like we'd somehow be better off if they suffered through a medical problem; I just get to help provide care to my family members. I get to know that our community has decided that children, old folks, and poor folks get to be healthy and supports us caring for ourselves. | It would cut our vision and dental which would negatively impact our health. | ||
1716 | I don’t have this coverage nor any person in my family | NA | ||
1717 | I first got Medicaid, as an adult, when I became pregnant. If not for Medicaid, we would be under an insurmountable amount of debt. After I earned enough money to be able to pay my own insurance, I was able to get myself off Medicaid. Both of my children currently have Medicaid. I would prefer they have commercial insurance so I can take them to what I deem as higher quality pediatricians. However, I cannot afford it. | |||
1718 | I found out what was keeping my arm from healing after broke If I had not found out about MGUS, hypoparathyriod, it could have turned into cancer | These changes would certainly result in fewer people getting their basic medical care with the consequence described above. A few of these changes could be beneficial in preventing overuse of services, but this is not a major issue. | ||
1719 | I got laid off last Feb. I can't find a job that I can do. I turn 62 in a few months. I have medical issues. I need insurance. But not the worry | Loss of coverage because of the PATH requirement would harm my community | ||
1720 | I got medical attention that I would not have gotten if I hadn't had coverage. | I wouldn't be able to afford certain medications as that would place an increased financial burden on my household, I would lose access to durable medical supplies for my bipap to treat chronic obstructive sleep apnea. My health would suffer and my family would suffer because of it. | ||
1721 | I had coverage for my chronic illness through Kynect, during my 18 month job search. (I did get a good job!) | |||
1722 | I had helped me get diagnosis and treatment for my chronic conditions. It has provided much needed stability in medical care for me and many people I know who’ve needed it. | My son would end up in a very costly hospital facility and most of the clients I work with would end up in the hospital, homeless and without needed medication. | ||
1723 | I had it for 1 year when my pay was insufficient to pay premiums. To charge based on the minimal amount people make is just keeping them down. How about raising the minimum wage and 1/2 the people wouldn't need medicaid. | I WOULD BE IN BAD SHAPE NO MEDICINE | ||
1724 | I had it when I was pregnant 27 years ago. Without it I wouldn't have a 26 year old son due to a high risk pregnancy | The plan should be left alone as it was prior to the current administration's presence in state government. Bevin's attempts to alter, change, remove, and destroy existing policies that have been praised as a national model are a disgrace to the state and to the country's attempts to implement health care coverage for all. If Medicaid becomes inaccessible for me, I would not be able to pay expensive premiums for policies with deductibles. | ||
1725 | I had Medicaid for a few months after my divorce but was removed after following the rules by showing my pay stubs. When I went over the limit my coverage ended. | Some would do without | ||
1726 | I had Medicaid while pregnant. I waited tables at the time, and my employer didn't offer I insurance. It was a life saver, literally, for the first two years of my daughter's life | My son has schizophrenia and Medicaid. I have to stay home to care for him, and keep an eye on his health..mind and body! I make sure he goes to his doc and therapist and eats etc. I cannot work, I receive Medicaid and yet I would not qualify for the waiver. I cannot be gone from the house for the amount of hours required for hours of work or volunteering! I need Medicaid as I also have glaucoma! I'm stuck in a catch 22. I do not qualify for "caregiver" status as he is 29!! There needs to be a better way for people like me! If I'm not at home for long periods..3 to 4 hours or so, his mind deteriorates..that's not good for him, our family or society! Me staying at home keeps him level and sort of connected to reality. That's a win win for all! Help Governor! | ||
1727 | I had much needed major surgeries and have lots of medication. I needed rides to appointments as for several weeks after each surgery I wasn't allowed and wasn't able to drive. I've had a lot of Dr appts. I'm unable to work and disability judgements take years. | my family needs transportation | ||
1728 | I had RA fibromyalgia autoimmune things. I was able to have shoulder fixed due to many tears and bone on bone. MANY people in Ky now have insurance with this and can get healthy or stay healthy. Not depend on er when no choice and cannot pay. Lives have been saved. Thyroid tumors I have will be biopsied and i now have all my meds i couldnt get before. Most wont see cash pay and most of us cant pay cash. | I'm disabled | ||
1729 | I had to have gallbladder surgery and wouldn't have been able to afford it without Medicaid. I suffer from depression and anxiety and have to take medication and see a therapist. I can't pay for that out of pocket. | I am a physician who recently moved back to Kentucky from Tennessee, where there was NOT a Medicaid expansion. I can tell you numerous stories of patients who did not have insurance and what happened to them: 1) A patient who had heart failure and became pregnant, so she was able to get Medicaid. Carrying the pregnancy to term would have killed her and the baby, so an abortion was performed. Because she was no longer pregnant, she lost her insurance and thus lost ability to receive treatment for her heart failure. She also could not work because of her heart failure and was having trouble qualifying for disability. 2) I took care of numerous patients who were not able to get appropriate follow up after hospitalizations because they did not have insurance. What this meant was that they just ended up back in the ER, which costs WAY more than if they could have just followed up with a physician after discharge. 3) I once had a patient with diabetes who did not have insurance. He could not afford his insulin, and ended up in the hospital very sick with hyperglycemia. During the evaluation we uncovered some additional abnormalities, including a very large spleen, which needed to be worked up. He refused and left against medical advice because he could not afford the evaluation. I am grateful now to be in Kentucky where our patients have access to these resources. People who have access to healthcare are able to take better care of themselves and their children. They are better able to get jobs and to be positive contributors to the community. Access to dental care allows people to keep healthy teeth (which, whether we like to admit it or not, people with bad teeth are less likely to get hired). Access to vision care helps patients have glasses or contacts so that they can actually see to do their jobs. Further, having access to high quality healthcare allows patients to seek medical care before something becomes more serious, when it may also be much, much more expensive. I recognize that there may have been an increase in healthcare costs shortly after the Medicaid expansion - some of this may be a back-log of people who needed care for years and were finally able to get it. I suspect that over time the more we are able to prevent disease by providing care to everyone, the better we can decrease costs. | ||
1730 | I had to have it before acquiring insurance through my employer. This lasted for over 6 months and covered expenses I could not have afforded on my own, not even small costs. | |||
1731 | I had to have it for 3 years and could not have survived, or reintegrated back into society without Medicaid. | Removing individuals from medicaid essentially removes individuals from healthcare resulting in a less healthy community and, in all probability, loss of healthcare jobs | ||
1732 | I have a baby who depends on medicaid. | My brother-in-law had cerebral palsy and worked his whole adult life until his job was eliminated when the place where he worked merged with a similar employer. He was 50 at that time and didn’t have health insurance. Four years later, having pretty much given up the job search, he was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. He was very health-conscious because of his congenital condition and had tried without success to find someone who would provide a colonoscopy when he was uninsured. Thanks to Medicaid expansion, he had coverage for his cancer treatment, but he died of colon cancer at 62. This was a bright, talented, hard-working guy whose life ended far too early because Medicaid expansion wasn’t available when he lost his job. | ||
1733 | I have a dear friend who has ovarian cancer. She has had 2 rounds of chemotherapy, but the cancer has come back a third time. She can no longer work to maintain insurance through an employer. She has to have health insurance! Medicaid has been a lifesaver for her. Another friend is raising her 2 grandchildren. She is retired and has her own health insurance, but she needs Medicaid for those two children. | I have my own business, but due to Health issues, I am not earning a lot. It takes time to become profitable under the best of circumstances. I work 20 to 40 hours a week on my business whenever possible, but work requirements totally ignore that. I do not have the ability to work or volunteer another 20hrs a week. They ignore my biz because they say it has to earn equivalent if $9hr/20 hr a week. If I get another job, all my work and money to build my business is lost. In the meantime, I have recently gotten worse and cant work at all some days. Waiting for diagnosis. Without Medicaid, I will never get diagnosed or treatment to get on my feet again or worse case, get the time needed to get on disability. | ||
1734 | I have a disabled child who requires a lot of medical care | |||
1735 | I have a family member s it not survive without Medicaid | Even though we work, employer insurance is too expensive because we make so little money with all our other bills. | ||
1736 | I have a friend who cannot afford the employer-offered health insurance, and has, I believe, qualified for the expanded Medicaid. | |||
1737 | I have a friend who has children with disabilities that use Medicaid services. | My health conditions are influenced by stress. Increased lack of security regarding access to healthcare immediately causes me sleepless nights and mental health problems that will cause me to institutionalized, costing the government, my community (which will have to take over the care of my fur family), and me personally far more than what it costs now to provide me with access to medications and therapists. I have worked independently, not under close supervision or on someone else's schedule for over 20 years. It is extremely unlikely I could attend a class regularly or participate in someone else's program due tot he specifics of my sleep disturbances and social interaction disorders. Extended lack of access to healthcare prior to 2014 caused me to now have a crippling condition because I did not have access to healthcare when I broke an ankle in 2013. | ||
1738 | I have a number of friends who benefit from this coverage. They could not afford health coverage otherwise | Bevin's changes are mean-spirited and Medicaid should be kept as is. Adding work/volunteer requirements is ridiculous and hurts an already vulnerable population. | ||
1739 | I have a progressive neurological disease and went without insurance for some years because I couldn't afford it. I now have Medicare and my family has Medicaid. We're all healthier. There is little work in rural KY and I took care of my brother till he died and currently care for my 95-yr-old mother. We're doing the best we can. | If they could work they would, poor people have pride. | ||
1740 | I have a severe auto-immune disease. Before I was on Medicaid my medical bills were 3-500$ a month. That’s medicine and needed specialist appointments. Because of the amount it costs, there were many times I had to go without treatment. Medicaid, as is, has made it possible for me to get the needed treatment that otherwise, I would never have been able to afford. I can contribute more at work, I can do more as a person overall. Without Medicaid I wouldn’t be able to work or contribute to society because I’d be so sick without treatment and medicine. | If I could work I would happily do so and wouldnt have a problem with the community service options but I simply cant. | ||
1741 | I have a terrible spine infection with nothing I did wrong I would not be able to be treated and most likely would die if not for my medicaid | |||
1742 | I have access to healthcare | Family members would not be able to change jobs or careers. | ||
1743 | I have AFIB and cannot work yet cant get disability as of yet. Between the wife and my own prescription costs Medicaid is the only way we survive. | More sick days taken. Greater dependence on charitable care services. | ||
1744 | I have an immediate family member who is both intellectually and physically disabled, and one who is physically disabled. Because of Medicaid coverage we are able to have the former bused to his adult day program. There he receives peer interaction, health clinics and a hot lunch. The latter is able to receive in-home personal care and home health services as well as transportation to and from medical appointments. | |||
1745 | I have been able to access care for my mental illness. | I would see a lack of health care for families and friends, they would probably die without this in place. I don't want to watch them die, unable to help myself, we need help from Medicaid to help them. Please don't let them die! The elderly, children, all American citizens! Congressman with big paychecks, can afford to break a bone. We cannot. We don't have big donations from companies, just a monthly income of less than 800$ a month! | ||
1746 | I have been able to get prevebtative health services as well as been able to identify unidentified medical diagnoses and focus on managing these. | Everyone should be able to have medical care. It allows for community participation and allows students to focus on learning. | ||
1747 | I have been able to get the medical care I've needed with my lung conditions of having histoplasmosis, reactive air way disease, and my lungs looking like stain glass windows due to all the damages from my illness. I've gotten the dental care that I needed and still continue to need. My teeth although cavity free are turning up with inflammation. I've gotten vision care and glasses so I can see to function from day to day. I have daily chronic pain in my back and ribs that need treatment some days I cannot physically function cause I hurt so badly. Medicaid is extremely important to me! | |||
1748 | I have been able to go to the dr when sick and get preventive care to stay healthy. I was able to have cataract surgery because of Medicaid | Lack of money for dr visits, no dental or eye care | ||
1749 | I have been able to receive critical health services that are helping me to recover from extensive illness. | I think people living in a country such as ours should have health/medical insurance. I see it as a right, not a privilege. The kind of home you live in, the kind of car you drive, the kind of belongings you have can be determined by the kind of job you have and how hard you have to work, but not your access to health care. | ||
1750 | I have been diagnosed with conditions I didn't know I had and now have them under control since I am able to get proper care and not the incomplete care that I received while I was uninsured and had to use the ER. | Paying co pays on a very limited budget forces people to choose between getting the care they need and paying their bills. | ||
1751 | I have been fortunate to have insurance for most of my adult life except for a ten year period where I could not afford the premiums and I made too much money for Medicaid. We need to have a comprehensive program for at least basic health coverage where people can get health care regardless of their ability to pay - Public Health Clinics should be reinstated. | Family members would not get need Dr visits or medication | ||
1752 | I have been on Medicaid previously when unemployed. | |||
1753 | I have benefited directly from Medicaid coverage while attending college. | |||
1754 | I have chronic illnesses that are pre-existing conditions, as well as other family members on Medicaid. We would not have insurance or be able to see a doctor without Medicaid. It is allowing me to get me health stabilized so I will be able to work again. | A healthier work force is a good steady work force that employers seek. Thus an abundant work force would attract more employers | ||
1755 | I have chronic joint pain due to arthritis and tendinitis which has affected me for years. Also for the past year, one of my eyes has a scar on it which hurts terribly that I have been getting treatment for. I Do NOT use narcotics but the meds I do take I truly need them. I also have high blood pressure I'm being treated for. | My daughter lives, works part-time, and volunteers in a community she loves. If she had to pay these Medicaid costs, she would have to return and live with my husband and me. We are both retired and the expense and stress of having her with us would be detrimental to both her and us. | ||
1756 | I have crohns disease. If I didn't have Medicaid I wouldn't be able to afford my medicine that makes life bearable. I wouldn't be able to receive eye glasses or have regular dental exams. | We can not afford copays, work or volunteer crap!! I am disabled and ny husband us awaiting court for disability. We can barely eat!!! | ||
1757 | I have developmentally delayed or disabled adults in my family who require assitance. | |||
1758 | I have diabetes and high blood pressure. Without Medicaid, I struggle to buy my medicines and see a doctor regularly | Obviously, these changes would affect some people when they needed help the most. | ||
1759 | I have family members who could in no way afford medical coverage or care without the assistance of Medicaid. | |||
1760 | i have first hand knowledge of many of the people who are on Medicaid because of my interest in community social services. i DO NOT BELIEVE that there are tens of thousands of people who are "taking advantage" of the system. the poorest people in our community are the ones who seek and benefit from better health care. The complexities of this new user hostile plan is an insult to those who can lest afford or understand many of these new requirements. the whole basis for the change is upside down. we don't need to keep more people away from better health coverage. we need to get the CLOSER!!! | People will have to decide between two needs from Maslovs hierarchy of needs. No one needs the stress of deciding between health care and house or electricity. | ||
1761 | I have friends, neighbors, and family who are or have been covered by Medicaid. My neighbor was disabled after a car accident severt years ago and Medicaid has meant he has access to the health care he needs but it also supports his ability to work again. Several of my friend have kids covered by Medicaid. They don't make a lot and Medicaid means they don't have to worry about doctors' bills. | It would take health care away from those who need it the same as the people fortunate enough to afford health insurance or are insured by their employer. | ||
1762 | I have gotten a cancer diagnosis and my SSDI amount is not very much. I have many doctors' appointments to go to as well as treatments. I would not be able to afford a private insurance plan, much less be able to pay for copays, deductibles, or cope with the stress of what might not be covered, given what I am already dealing with. Having Medicaid has made it more possible for me to focus on my treatments. | My grandson has well care. Without it he would have no access to health care | ||
1763 | I have had asthma since I was younger and my mother has been sick majority of my life with cancer and other illnesses. I am a college student and work with a non profit. Medicaid has helped my mom live longer. I lost my dad at age 5 and she’s all I have. This has made it possible for her to get her medicine. I have also had health issues and have always been so thankful for Medicaid. I am a single woman living in a big city and my bills are rather high...I work very hard just to barely make ends meet and I’m trying to better my education and life. If I lost coverage or even had ANY of these changes applied, it would harm me tremendously. | The clients served by my agency cannot afford premiums or Co-Pays. Charging for services will deincentivize vulnerable people from taking steps to ensure their health. | ||
1764 | I have had medical insurance only @ 10% of my adult life. KY Medicaid gave me some peace of mind before I turned 65 and Medicare took over, my grandchildren have thankfully had CHIP coverage (though their father works full time professionally for the state and doesn't earn enough to afford commercial insurance for the entire family, my business partner has had KYMedicaid that has gotten him through a broken arm and a heart attack in the last 4 years, allowing him to return to his work and continue his career. Commercial insurance has always been FAR too expensive for most people I know and far too controlling of an individual's health care, not encouraging or allowing one to find the most affective healer for oneself. | |||
1765 | I have had multiple unknown disorders diagnosed and treated due to having Medicaid coverage, and having Medicaid coverage ensures that I can continue to afford my daily medications | I would not be able to get the medications I take regularly or see my doctors | ||
1766 | I have heath insurance thank you | |||
1767 | I have increased (Mental Health) jobs in order to serve people on Medicaid; The community has more choice in who can provide MH services, increased MH services in schools; increased ability to treat substance use disorder | I am on SS benefits, these should not count toward eligibility | ||
1768 | I have insurance that I can use to go the dr. I have a dr so I don’t waste time or resources going to the er for non er services. I have IBS so I get the help & medication I need without the added stress. | Very little | ||
1769 | I have lived in several counties in Southeast Kentucky and in outreach programs there I have helped low-income folks with rent and utility bills, etc. Most had no health insurance until the Medicaid Expansion program was set up. Before they had this insurance they did not get medical help until their health situation became extreme. Only then would they go to ER and in some cases, it was too late to treat their health condition. Many went without glasses and without dental care which then affected their ability to work or function in general. Most had very unreliable means of transportation so they put off important doctor visits. But the Medicaid Expansion program took care of many of these problems. As a result, their health improved and some who could not work before were then able to work as long as they were also able to get transportation. | I welcome the changes as I personally know several people whose earnings have been far above the cut off and have fraudulently received Medicaid benefits. People who are able bodied but refuse to work and receive benefits. | ||
1770 | I have many friends who work full time, and still qualify for medicaid. State medical insurance is essential. More people will lose insurance, get sick, and die if this program goes into affect. I am shocked that our state would consider this without doing a pilot program or any analysis of how many people would lose their insurance. | I would not be able to see a dr for my high blood pressure or other conditions | ||
1771 | i have Medicaid for both my grandchildren for dentist,doctor,glasses | THESE CHANGES DO NOT MAKE GOOD SENSE AND SEEM TO BE A PUNISHMENT. | ||
1772 | I have mental health issues. I need medications to be able to work and contribute. My schedule at work is always changing. | It will keep me from affording the life saving medication and care that I need putting me in even more danger. It also causes extra stress financially and in just navigating the new expectations and rules to stay alive. It will cause undue hardship to our most vulnerable people. Plus it’s just plain inhumane to advocate for these conditions. Cruel. | ||
1773 | I have neighbors and friends who could not get care otherwise. I have a friend who was doing some painting for me who had temporarily hired a man to help him. This man came back after an episode of not being able to help my friend and told me he had had to go to UK ER for care of spitting up blood. Following some tests, they had discovered he had advanced lung cancer. When I inquired why, even though he had symptoms, he had not gone for care earlier, he told me he didn't have insurance and couldn't afford to accrue any debt. He died a few weeks later. This should never happen! | Dealing with networks, providers, transportation and availability is enough of a hassle that medicaid recipients don't need the "pride" of paying for their medical services. We don't need to kick people when they are already down. | ||
1774 | I have observed my clients getting better access to addictions treatment and other medical care including Hep C. We have a opiate crisis in our community and Expanded Medicaid reduces the barriers to treatment services. | Many won’t be able to afford their care, rides for wellness checks, making them sicker and poorer. It is a terrible cycle to place them in. | ||
1775 | I have people in my community that depend on this for healthcare due to disabilities | |||
1776 | I have received health care on a consistent basis and preventive care of my teeth and eyes. | |||
1777 | I have seen individuals that have been without health coverage for years and who have now qualified for Expanded Medicaid. Their quality of life changes substantially once they are able to go to the doctor and get treatment for diseases or chronic illnesses that they would not have had access to prior to expansion. Specifically I remember talking to a woman that had COPD and had been unable to breathe, thus she was fearful of leaving her house in case she became too short of breath. When she was enrolled in coverage and knew that she would be able to receive oxygen and medication to combat this illness she broke down sobbing with relief. She had been unable to participate in family activities and had two young grandchildren that she could not spend time with due to her disease. She was overjoyed that she would now be able to be the grandmother she wanted to be. | Pregnancy has damaged my eyes and teeth. I need to keep these benefits to repair them after giving birth. | ||
1778 | I have seen many people get healthcare that they were previously denied because of the Medicaid Expansion. I worked in healthcare many years primarily serving low to moderate income. We were primary care and many of our patients were unable to see specialty physicians due to ability to pay. Some were denied services for outstanding bills. Some lost their jobs because of the long term effects of their diseases or illnesses. They wanted to work! | Many of my community members will not get medical attention needed for their well-being | ||
1779 | I have several chronic illnesses and I could not make it without my Medicaid. I wouldn’t be able to see all my doctors or afford my prescriptions that are at least making it easier to get around everyday. I get severely depressed because of my conditions. I need my insurance. | Their dental health will decay | ||
1780 | I have several chronic, debilitating illnesses that interfere with my daily functioning when not under control. I had to leave a job with health insurance because ia could not physically do the job, and the insurance was not enough to keep me out of debt. It became a vicious cycle of increasing stress (which exacerbates pain levels), increasing debt, and having to take sick days to try and recover. When I stopped full time work and have been able to work independently, with flexible hours, and receive coverage from Medicaid, my conditions have stabilized. I can contribute more effectively when i can rest and also when I am able to have access to the specialists, labs, and medicines I need without agonizing over whether I can afford copays or the costs my traditional plan would not cover. | Because my current employment has fluctuated between full and part time over the last 5 years, I have had medicaid coverage for myself and my son during the months that my monthly income was significantly reduced. I am a single mother and when I only work 24 hours a week sometimes, I would have to participate in the work program which is extremely time-consuming and requires access to wifi which isn't always available in my community. These work requirements would cause me hardship in terms of time investment and risk of losing my benefits during my income transition times (which can happen easily). I'm sure others in my community also have trouble keeping their medicaid during changes and transitions in work and life that can trigger disenrollment. | ||
1781 | I have severe E-athsma. And will die without coverage. All of the hoops you have to go through with Nevins plan is a way to kick citizens off of medicaid for any reason possible. It is a shame and just plain evil. | By making it harder to access care, people will eventually need higher levels of care, which in the end will be less effective and more costly for the state. | ||
1782 | I have SSI medicaid for my medical care and disabilities, not able to work. I am also raising my twin grandchildren who have medicaid for their medical and disabilities. We need medicaid to survive. | |||
1783 | I have type 2 diabetes and will need meds for life. I must see my doctor every three months as well. I can’t lose my coverage. | Some of the people in my commonunity could not afford co pays and would not be able to have ins. coverage and would not be able to pay for medication. | ||
1784 | I have used Medicaid services twice in my life.. both times I was pregnant with no insurance... but not in Kentucky, Just in Michigan in 1980 and 1984 | Overall health includes dental health | ||
1785 | I have when I needed a mammogram and ultrasound on a lump on my breast. I had just been dropped from my insurance but medicaid paid for the tests. | I am currently a homeschooling mother and a self-employed writer. A state employee indicated I might not be exempt from the work requirement as a caregiver since my children are over 6. I am also not sure how I will be requested to verify my work since I am self-employed. On a community level, I am concerned about the increased costs for the citizens of Kentucky. In a stated attempt to give people "the pride of responsibility," the waiver punishes individuals for our insufficient national system of relying on employer-provided insurance programs. | ||
1786 | I have when I needed a mammogram and ultrasound right after I got kicked off my mother's health insurance. | With my father's recent untimely death, my mother will need to access health insurance coverage until she is able to access medicare coverage. She is a Type 1 diabetic and NEEDS health insurance to insure she is able to survive. | ||
1787 | I have witnessed Medicaid coverage help individuals maintain basic healthcare. Without Medicaid coverage they would not receive any preventative medical care or much need medication. This would result in much more expensive emergency medical care in the long run. | I'm not sure that my husband would qualify, though he's a full time student and he works. Our income is very low. I'm not sure I would qualify for Medicaid, and the Medicare premiums would come out of my already very small disability check, and I wouldn't be able to afford to go to the doctor even with coverage, because I couldn't afford the copays to go. | ||
1788 | I have worked in mental health for 27 years. Without the support of Medicaid our consumers would not get the services/supports they need. | I am currently stuck in the middle of getting dental work done due to Governor Bevin's decision to drop vision and dental coverage because he didn't get his way with Medicaid changes; I don't know if I have coverage or not, and cannot afford the work if I don't. I'm also supposed to schedule a vision follow-up, but I'm holding off because once again I don't know if I even have coverage. I live in a low-income household with two disabled individuals, and even a small premium could throw off our monthly budget... and if it's not paid, then I would be kicked out of the system for at least half a year because I'm poor. In a state like Kentucky, where a good portion of the population lives in poverty, maintaining good health should be a priority. Instead, the Governor seems to think that things like dental coverage and basic vision coverage are "rewards" that people should get instead of essential coverage to keep people healthy and in the sort of condition they need to be in to hold down a job. It's ridiculous that this state can apparently afford to offer tax breaks to a Noah's Ark theme park and give $20 million to the Governor's favorite university for a new basketball dorm, but it somehow can't afford to provide basic medical coverage for its poorest citizens. | ||
1789 | I have worked with many many individuals who have had access to basic medical and mental health care with Medicaid coverage, when they would have suffered without care if they'd had no Medicaid. Lives have been saved, suicides prevented, and hope has been generated by people having access to basic care! | In the months and weeks leading up to July 1st (the planned implementation of the waiver), countless patients and their family members experienced confusion regarding what was happening with Medicaid. All of my patients are HIV+ and thus, supposedly exempt from waiver changes. However, they were certainly caught up in the uncertainty and potentially hazardous complexity of the waiver program. Many patients received various conflicting notices in the mail. Some were advised to pay premiums (though they are ultimately exempt from this). Some did send in premiums as they feared for the loss of this vital coverage. They were not aware of the "medically frail" category and they are qualify for this, and they were not aware of how to become designated "medically frail". Potentially the most dangerous part of all of this were those patients who considered and would have delayed or stopped their life-saving treatment due to confusion and doubt about the future of their coverage. The possible effects of any disruption of treatment and care for our patients can be devastating. | ||
1790 | I haven't , all I do is pay for it , I am 76 years old and I work full time and pay max into SS & Medicare which I don't use | All of these changes would put an unnecessary burden on individuals who are emotionally and/or mentally challenged or are suffering with a substance-use disorder and would not be able to follow all of the requirements that Gov. Bevin would like to put in place. The six-month lock out change is especially concerning because of its excessively punitive nature. No one deserves to be without insurance coverage. Every dime and dollar counts for people on medicaid, most of whom already work and try to raise families on a low-income. | ||
1791 | I just moved to Kentucky and will benefit me in the reduction of co-pays and encourage more prescription, dental, and vision benefits although I am considered a disabled member. | |||
1792 | I know a number of people who are alive today, can still see, have healthy teeth, because of Medicaid. | We would not be able to afford adequate medical and psych coverage if at all | ||
1793 | I know good people who rely on it and would suffer without it. | Unable to have any health coverage | ||
1794 | I know many people that have never had medical or dental coverage and now have it. They are much healthier and able to maintain employment | My son will still have insurance, but I will either lose my insurance or have to pay for it. I only bring home $800 a month. There is no way I can afford copays if I were to get sick or injured. | ||
1795 | I know of people whose lives have been changed because of the support of Medicaid. They are healthier and have more regular medical care due to this. I also know a lot of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health issues as well as homelessness. Medicaid is essential to helping all populations of people who cannot totally care for themselves. This includes people with addiction issues. Medicaid is essential to helping support people. Let's not allow KY to fail our most needy citizens. | |||
1796 | I live in a community that still has limited jobs available. The people who are the least likely to get a job are often considered able bodied but for varying reason they are not hireable. Some have dental problems that them less than desirable candidates for many service jobs. Some have limited physical or mental abilities that don't make them illegible for disability but limits the work they can capably do. Some have just fallen on hard time and have lost their drivers license, are homeless, and don't even have an address that they need to find work. I know personally one who has heart problems that doesn't qualify for disability and his elderly mother lives with him so he is her sole caretaker. He run an internet business selling parts for musical instruments. He doesn't make much money but enough to get by but there is no way he can afford to get a job or to pay for health insurance. Having Medicaid has literally saved his life. | Putting more requirements on people who are working will make it difficult for them to contribute to our economy in other ways | ||
1797 | I lost my job two years ago. If it wasn't for Medicaid, I couldn't afford my prescriptions. | |||
1798 | I love in rural area that’s poverty stricken, and no transportation services available to them. Lack of transportation or lack of funds to pay for someone to transport them is the biggest factor that has created the demand for benefits of Medicaid. | |||
1799 | I never would have made it through college if it weren't for Medicaid. My parents couldn't afford medical insurance for me when I was growing up and often had to pay out of pocket or just not receive medical care, although they worked tirelessly to provide for me and my brothers. I didn't have consistent good insurance until Medicaid expansion. I got really sick during college and if I wouldn't have had Medicaid and the ability to seek medical care, I would have had to drop out. I would like to think that Medicaid having my back then made me more able to give to my community around me now. | No vision or dental coverage is detrimental to one’s overall health. | ||
1800 | I now have blood pressure and psychiatric Medication medication that I needed badly. I’m able to save my teeth with dental care and have eye glasses now | |||
1801 | I only have Medicaid for my prescriptions but it helps me out so much. I'm disabled and on SSD and couldn't afford my prescriptions if I didn't have this. | In decades of professional involvement with people who rely on Medicaid services, I have yet to see a single person who had other coverage options, but chose to abuse Medicaid's benefit instead. This is life vs. death coverage for most of the people who have it. No one wishes to be dependent on the whims of a government to be able to access basic care for themselves or their families. No one looks at Medicaid as an "easy way out" of dealing with their medical difficulties. No one who has tried to live on income below the Medicaid eligibility threshold would ever pretend it was easy, and those who say such things make it clear how privileged they have been, and how unrealistic their view of Kentucky poverty truly is. | ||
1802 | I personally doesn't have Medicaid. I work with people with mental health and substance abuse issues. Most of them do not have any income for extended period of time and Medicaid helps them to get their meds and other required medically necessary services. | We should strive to help the poor and less fortunate. We should not punish them simply because they are poor. No civilized country should ever do this. Our state should set an example. | ||
1803 | I provide mental health services to individuals with Medicaid. My late fiancé also received Medicaid after diagnosis of stage 4 melanoma and was unable to consistently attend work due to multiple appointments and side effects of treatment | |||
1804 | I provide services to brain injury survivors who have benefited greatly and reintegrated into the community via help from medicaid services. | People will be sick. If you’re sick you cannot work. If you cannot work you will never be able to get out of this cycle. | ||
1805 | I provide speech-language therapy services at a community hospital. 90% of the individuals seeking therapy depend on Medicaid. These individuals already struggle sometimes to maintain coverage of services and face many challenges. Being able to access medical care and therapy services is vital to the well being of adults and children facing many challenges. I see first hand what happens when people do not have care. Before the expansion, an adult without coverage had a stroke and waited six months for any therapy, by which time he had virtually no functional speech and no use of his right arm. After the expansion, an adult with deteriorating medical and cognitive function was able to access therapy which led to more appropriate medical tests to help maintain his health, meanwhile waiting two years before qualifying for disability. Without the expansion, this individual would have never accessed needed tests and services, and found the therapy itself to be extremely valuable in being able to continue to function in the community even without being able to maintain employment. One of this person's health challenges involved losing all of his teeth because of lack of care before obtaining coverage. Lost his teeth, his hearing, and his ability to pay attention, remember, speak clearly and think coherently not to mention cataracts--and still in middle years and to a casual observer might appear "healthy" being a former athlete. People frequently come to me with serious mental illness diagnoses but are not necessarily on disability (yet)--and maintaining any kind of volunteer position or employment is simply beyond their capabilities. They are often on a laundry list of medications and have had multiple health conditions from stroke to cancer leading to fatigue and difficulty mentally functioning. Who is going to hire these people? How can they fit into volunteer programs when they have serious emotional problems? I see now what happens when someone loses their Medicaid card because of administrative or family error and a child is taken to the doctor with an illness and finds out they aren't covered. The kinds of changes proposed would vastly increase the snafus people run into and do the worst thing possible--disrupt continuity of care. | Health costs will eventually increase for all. Those who loose coverage will only cost the community more in the long run with need for other services. I am a Christian and like to sleep at night knowing that those who are disadvantaged are cared for. | ||
1806 | I raised my children by myself- a single Mom- one income. Medicaid was a life saver. I could not afford food, rent, bills, etc and health insurance. Thanks to Medicaid for helping me take care of my children | Community with mental illness may have fixed income and not afford their co-pays which would result in going untreated or agency to eat the cost. Working 20 hours a week may not be appropriate for some clients with mental illness; although, they have not been deemed "disabled" their symptoms could be severe | ||
1807 | I really believe the best answer is to tell you how ACA has helped transform my life. For the past 20 years I have suffered from depression, panic attacks, and sever substance abuse disorder. I haven't had insurance pretty much that entire time. My medical bills are in 5 figures. And the really bad part was I didn't know where to start addressing my problems. I would get out of rehab and all my troubles would start again. 2.5 years ago I signed up for ACA and it has changed my life. I have just finished my Hep C treatment. I am 2 years clean. I see a therapist regularly. And the biggest part is I have been able to address my underlying problems. I began depression medicine and I'm starting to deal with my post traumatic stress. The biggest problem for me is the 80 hours a month volunteering or working. I haven't been able to work in 10 years since my hernia and back issues. And still I was determined to be NOT MEDICALLY FRAIL. I'm scared to death that I will loss everything I've worked so hard for in the past 2 years. Thanks for your time and please consider life is hares for some than others. | If he did not get his medication, he would not be able to live here. He would become homeless, or worse. Medicaid has been a lifesaver for him. | ||
1808 | I receive Medicaid for myself and my children. As a single parent that does not receive any support from the absent parent, I absolutely can not afford any other medical coverage so this helps me so much. Clients at my job are able to come in and be treated for their mental health disorders and become productive members of society, thanks to Medicaid. | I was diagnosed with MS in 2016 and as a result I can no longer work. While I am applying for SSDI I desperately need Medicaid for my extensive care until I am eligible for Medicare. | ||
1809 | I receive necessary care and medication that I wouldn't be able to afford without Medicaid. | These changes would negatively impact the most vulnerable neighbors in my Kentucky community by restricting and denying them access to the healthcare services they need to survive and thrive. | ||
1810 | I see client's daily benefit from Medicaid coverage. Although there is definitely some abuse to the system out there, most individuals that receive Medicaid are receiving as needed. I previously received Medicaid (K-CHIP) on my children several years ago. I would have never been able to provide them with the necessary medical needs without it (especially dental and vision). I used to work for DCBS and saw people on a daily basis who desperately needed medical coverage (especially individuals between the ages of 50-60 who needed necessary medications that they could not afford without Medicaid). I see clients daily now at a CMHC that need these benefits to provide necessary treatment to mental health and substance use needs. I have personally witnessed Medicaid in all aspects of my life - from patient, to processor to provider. Yes, there are some needed changes (especially with re-enrollment and verification especially with the DETER program - investigations need to be for SNAP and Medicaid), but make those changes individually and not across the board in one fatal smack. Assist those who are medically frail and those who are mentally and physically challenged (including drug use). | I have a friend who is a full-time care taker for a sick parent, because the family cannot afford a home healthcare worker. She has been able to get healthcare coverage through Medicaid due to the expansion. If she were required to work or volunteer in order to maintain coverage, she wouldn't be available to care for her parent. We'd be asking her to choose between taking care of a sick family member or having her own health insurance. That isn't right. I used to work as a social worker with people living with HIV, many of whom lived paycheck to paycheck or had no income at all. If they loose their Medicaid benefits because of eligibility changes or because they can't afford the premiums/copays, then they make drop out of medical care-- this could be a death sentence for a person living with HIV. | ||
1811 | I see many members of my community able - finally - to be proactive about their health, including dental care which can be a precursor to later major health issues. | To be blunt, some people will die. Many will go without treatment, especially dental and vision. How can we expect people to continue to work or be involved in their communities if they can't get basic healthcare? | ||
1812 | I see no benefits. I (we) work and pay huge premiums, co-pays and out-of-pocket amounts of money. I (we) see others at these same medical visits pay nothing, who are capable of paying something, receive the same services we pay huge amounts for. | I have a disabled child who requires many appointments and I am unable to work because of this | ||
1813 | I serve a community of low-income families who greatly benefit from Medicaid coverage. These families wouldn't have insurance coverage nor would they be able to afford it on their own, hence the importance of Medicaid staying the way it is prior to these new proposed changes. | I assist many low income families with SNAP and Medicaid paperwork, and I see how onerous the current processes are now. I am very worried about an overworked KY state bureaucracy being required to track all these work and volunteer hours. I am also worried about low income people being required to submit hours and other documentation online. This requires them to have a computer, internet, scanner, and the English language abilities to navigate the system. The result will be people losing their insurance, causing higher costs for hospitals. This program is designed for people to lose their insurance. | ||
1814 | I suffer from depression and social anxiety. Without access to medical care and prescription drugs, I would have no way of holding down any kind of job. I would be nonfunctional. | |||
1815 | I use it for substance abuse treatment, with counseling also, and it looks like i might have lived cirrhosis so ill need it for that too. | |||
1816 | I volunteer in an inner city school. Medicaid coverage offers low-income families the opportunity for medical, dental and vision coverage. A healthy community benefits us all. | I'm tired of watching my friends and family suffer because they can't afford medical insurance. Eastern Kentucky cannot thrive or rebuild if our bodies are falling apart. I've already got friends on Medicaid who can't find dentists or even mental health professionals that will accept their insurance. I don't see how the answer to that is to make things even more inaccessible. | ||
1817 | I want to live in a healthy comm and healthy people who have access to routine medical care are more productive and better citizens. | These changes seem based in the assumption that community members who use medicaid don't "deserve". To me, hands down, everyone deserves the same health care options available to the most privileged among us. | ||
1818 | I was a Medicaid recipient when I was not offered insurance through my employer. Otherwise I would not have had access to affordable healthcare. | I worked as a registered nurse for 40 years and saw firsthand the ill effects of poor access to medical care. I had to retire early at age 62 to provide care for my husband who has had Parkinson's Disease for over 20 years. My social security income was reduced due to early retirement and his disability payments were meager. He was eventually able to get Medicare. I purchased an individual policy initially through Kynect, and then through the Marketplace under the ACA. I know what it's like to not be able to access healthcare because of high deductibles and copays. You just don't go and you hope and pray that nothing horrible happens. The people of Kentucky deserve to continue to receive care under the expanded Medicaid program without multiple layers of expensive bureaucracy that will do nothing to improve health outcomes. | ||
1819 | I was able to be diagnosed with a life threatening disease that required testing that I couldn’t otherwise afford on my own. It took several months of trying different things to finally figure out what was wrong. I couldn’t have done this if I needed to pay a co-pay for every doctor visit and test. I would have died. I was also able to get a new pair of glasses this year which I havnt been able to do for several years prior. | Our daughter, unfortunately is not cognitively able to work. | ||
1820 | I was able to be treated for breast cancer without the added stress of how to pay for treatment. Spouse was able to have much needed knee replacement surgery | |||
1821 | I was able to finally get a diagnosed to symptoms I had been suffering with for years but unable to to afford being seen by a doctor about previously. | While our family would have no issue paying a small monthly premium or even copays for certain services, it would be difficult for us to cover dental and vision needs and we most likely would go without. I also know that the new waiver has been very confusing for our family to navigate as white, English speaking, college graduates, so it has to be even more confusing for our immigrant and refugee neighbors and friends. I'm afraid some of them would simply not understand how to navigate the proposed changes and would end up losing these important healthcare services. | ||
1822 | I was able to finally get a diagnosed to symptoms I had been suffering with for years but unable to to afford being seen by a doctor about previously. | |||
1823 | I was able to finally get a diagnosed to symptoms I had been suffering with for years but unable to to afford being seen by a doctor about previously. | N/A | ||
1824 | I was able to finally get a diagnosed to symptoms I had been suffering with for years but unable to to afford being seen by a doctor about previously. | Our community will be affected by those who's coverage is downgraded will be unable to see to their healthcare needs. This will adversely affect the entire community. | ||
1825 | I was able to finally get a diagnosed to symptoms I had been suffering with for years but unable to to afford being seen by a doctor about previously. | These changes would put up unnecessary obstacles to getting help for people who are already having difficulty with activities of daily living. | ||
1826 | I was able to receive medical services to repair my hand, which allows me to now work without pain. Because of my occupation, I am aware that medicaid coverage is allowing people in my community to access needed substance abuse and mental health treatment. | Without Medicaid for regular medical care, people's chronic conditions worsen. Then, they HAVE to go to an ER for acute care -- we all end up paying more for ER and, more importantly to me, end up waiting longer in ERs, waiting for real emergency care! Delayed medical and dental care just means the future care will be more extensive and expensive! | ||
1827 | I was able to see the importance of insurance coverage for myself and my community. The benefits of children able to visit the doctor when needed, not only for a broken bone, like I had to do before. I see myself and my family getting healthier because of the access to health care, less visits to the doctor because of preventing an illness , not after the illness. Please don't take my healthcare away! My son is autistic and we need this so bad. The stress of being the mother of this child is overwhelming, my health matters, so I can take care of him! | Many in my community are going to the doctors for the first time since adolescence. | ||
1828 | I was diagnosed with several chronic illnesses and have been unable to keep a steady job. Without my Medicaid coverage I would suffer. | |||
1829 | I was laid off after 23 years from a Fortune 100 company, 3 years ago. Due to my health, I needed a flexible work from home job, so I started my own jewelry business. I am a cancer survivor and have pre-existing conditions that make regular insurance unaffordable. ACA and/or Medicaid was my only option and I am grateful. | Expanded medicaid takes into account people/households with 100% to 133% of the federal defined poverty level. Kentucky's cost of living is LOW. Why should people get expanded medicaid benefits IF they are able bodied (physically) without contributing back to society (who would be underwriting their benefits) by either furthering their job training or providing the 80 hrs. per month of community service. Society must instill self pride with able bodied people. There are too many people on the government dollar. Expecting something in return for the benefits they wish to have under expanded Medicare is not asking too much. | ||
1830 | I was mentoring two high school students, who needed dental care. Fortunately, I was able to find a dentist in their neighborhood area who would see them and accept Medicaid in payment. Students cannot study if they have mouth pain!! Try it, and you will agree! | Louisville would see more, potentially epidemic, illness among homeless populations; more children not able to attend school due to illness; parents not able to work because they have to stay home to care for sick children or the elderly who don't have access to health care... it's a cruel & brutal scenario. | ||
1831 | I was recently laid off from my contract job. Medicaid has been invaluable. I'm currently working to build my own sustainable business and Medicaid is invaluable in that respect as well. | Progress has been made in recent years that has brought healing to many, both physically and mentally, through the current expansion. To reduce or deny coverage would result in declining health of Kentucky residents once again. Many individuals in our community do not have the means to meet proposed expectations and implementation would be detrimental to our populace. | ||
1832 | I was released from being incarcerated into a recovery facility, I have no income at this time. Medicaid allows me to get the coverage I need. | |||
1833 | I went without medical, vision or dental coverage for much of my adult life and my health has suffered for it. I racked up significant ER bills from health issues such as kidney stones, and likely would have died if I had not gotten Medicaid because I had to have surgery to have a stuck stone removed. I have had to have significant dental work done in the last few years due to not having coverage for years as well, and was treated for an ocular issue that my eye doctor was afraid could cause blindness if untreated. | |||
1834 | I work as a Service Coordinator for a HUD housing apartments for people 60 yrs /older or people with disabilities. The elderly are not able to work for their Medicare nor able to pay a premium. Most of the time they are going without food to get their meds. Most of the disabled are not able to work. As far as paperwork and enrolling on time, most can barley understand any Medicare/Medicaid programs. I think you would need very clear guidelines on what is expected in these housing complexes. We are trying to assist them in aging in place and staying out of nursing homes. It is very hard to do that without the necessary resources. The ones that need to do drug testing and work are these well-bodied young people who have learned how the system works from prior generations. The Medicare Savings Program helps seniors live from check to check. Medicaid ensures that people are having dental and vision services to improve quality of life like healthy teeth to eat and removal of cataracts which most all aging people get. | |||
1835 | I work at U of L hospital. Expanded Medicaid has dramatically helped our patient population. | My aunt will do without nutritious food, medicine, and medial care for herself to help them. | ||
1836 | I work for a domestic violence nonprofit and many of the clients we serve have benefited from Medicaid coverage. For a DV survivor, having to worry about health care is one more thing that shouldn't be on their list of things to be concerned about as they are working to get on their feet and meet financial and healthy relationship goals. Additionally, I benefit from a whole, healthy community that has full access to healthcare benefits. Healthcare is a right and everyone deserves access to this right. | |||
1837 | I work for a psychiatric hospital and Medicaid allows many of our patients to get the help they desperately need. Without it, many would be unsafe, on the streets, at risk of hurting themselves or others. | General health of our citizens will once again worsen. | ||
1838 | I work in a CMHC and see the benefits of Medicaid everyday. People have coverage to address their mental health, substance abuse and physical needs some of which negatively impact our community, if not addressed. | |||
1839 | I work in a health care office , I have seen an increase in people coming for regular visits that need preventative health care. These were people who at one time did not have coverage of any kind. | The lack of universal healthcare in the US is a public health crisis. Eliminating the care Medicaid recipients receive only makes matters worse. | ||
1840 | I work in a homeless shelter where clients have had, through Medicaid, health insurance for the first time in years. | Any cuts will lead to more people being unhealthy. | ||
1841 | I work in community mental health and nearly all of the clients served benefit from Medicaid coverage which allows them to receive mental health services. | |||
1842 | I work in the eastern part of the state where many are indigent. Expanded Medicaid has greatly increased access to care. | |||
1843 | I work in the field of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and for the first time ever, an adequate array of services have been developed in Kentucky, thanks to expanded Medicaid. This means that people with SUDs can access treatment and have the possibility of turning their lives around. They also are able to get care for their very important dental, vision, and medical issues. | These proposed changes are punitive in nature and do not support families and individuals who need assistance. | ||
1844 | I work in the social service field and so many of the women and children that we service receive Medicaid, and without this vital coverage, these families would not receive any medical care. Medicaid is vital for the health of our community. | More sick people around. Kentucky already ranks too low in most health parameters! | ||
1845 | I work throughout eastern Kentucky, and as far as I can tell there is no region of the country that has benefitted more from the Affordable Care Act, and specifically from the expansion of Medicaid. Thanks to expanded Medicaid, many people I know and love are able to access mental and physical health care for the first time in their lives, or in many years. These are people's parents, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts and children. They are people' whose lives and health matter - as we all are. Many of the people I know who benefit from expanded Medicaid work in low-wage jobs or who work for themselves as artists, freelancers, or entrepreneurs; some have been laid off from work due to the decline of the coal industry. Some even work in the health care field itself, but would not have access to care without expanded Medicaid. | |||
1846 | I work to serve and help many families and kids who are struggling in life. Doing this sort of work is not as valued as much as other fields so I do not make a great deal of money. This combined with having a second child with my wife made us eligible for some Medicaid coverage which was a life saver for my family financially. In addition to helping us personally, I have seen so many kids and families supported and helped because of these Medicaid expansions. | I support Medicaid for those who need it; however, I feel that those who can should work, volunteer, or contribute to society in order to receive it.... I believe most people can do something to make a positive contribution to their communities... I don’t agree with the idea that just because you’re breathing, you are “ entitled” or that you “ deserve” services that others have to work to pay for. Again, I support the program, but those who can should have to work or contribute in some way to earn it. | ||
1847 | I work with dialysis pt who need these services to get to their life saving treatments and to survive. Those of our pt who can, already work. Making it harder to get and/or keep their benefits will affect their ability to be adherent to their prescribed therapies. | People suffer and die when they are denied medical help. | ||
1848 | I work with disabled adults. Their Medicaid waivers allow them to get/stay out of institutions and segregated day programs, to live and work and volunteer and participate in the community. Some of them use day programs as part of their support, and are grateful to have them; those are also paid through Medicaid. Without this support, many would end up in nursing homes, which would be restrictive, inappropriate, *and* more expensive. As for non-disabled adults, I have been jobless and by definition homeless during the economic crisis; we had family who could afford to take us in for a year and a half. Most people don't have that kind of backup, and our system is designed to make getting out of poverty basically impossible. Can't pay your bills? We'll charge interest, so the hole just keeps getting deeper and deeper! Medical bills are the biggest cause of bankruptcy in this country. We need universal health care. In the meantime, we need to support the people who need help. | I was able to secure a full time job with health insurance, so we are no longer on Medicaid. But I know many people in my the recovery community who would lose their already precarious positions as they try to re-establish their lives. I also have friends who are retired coal miners who are trying to get their black-lung benefits (a decade+ long process for some) who would have nothing without Medicaid. With the worse opioid and meth epidemic in Kentucky's history and the worst black-lung epidemic in a generation, the impact on my communities would be devastating if Medicaid expansion (including vision, dental and transportation). | ||
1849 | I work with disabled persons awaiting Social Security Disability benefits. These claims can take more than 2 years to process before a claimant is awarded benefits and it is nearly impossible to prove their eligibility if they are blocked from receiving medical treatment. | People who most need care could be deprived of health services. | ||
1850 | I work with individuals with disabilities and the cost of providing these services non contingent on whether they paid or not greatly reduces their need for in patient and more expensive services (cost to them and the public). Take away their services, and they are likely to lose supports that they need and have a greatly reduced quality of life. We’ve fought a long and hard battle to get them these services and to get them out of institutions. Let’s not regress now. If anything needs to change, it’s who is qualified for medicaid to begin with. Lumping groups of people together has not been effective to reduce costs while providing effective services. If you believe people can work or get coverage from work, are not disabled, then they shouldn’t be using these resources. Medicaid should either be provided for all OR only the truly disabled that did not make a choice about their condition. Choosing to have 5 kids should not be a reason and reduces the services available for those with autism or other disability. We can take preventative measures for those things (birth control, education, etc.) | The changes that Kentucky wants to make to Medicaid would be disastrous, people that are poor and sick could not get help. Work requirements would knock so many people off for no reason. They would get kicked off simply because they did not have the money to pay premiums. Then they would be locked out and couldn't get access back for months. Medicaid would no longer be an available course of action for them. There would be large numbers of emergency trips to hospitals. Hospitals and staff would not receive funds for this, so in turn they would be hurt too. Just forgetting to reporting could get them kicked off, clerical errors can interrupt their service. I have never had to do a monthly reporting for any medical insurance that I have had in my entire life. Why should they be no different? That's nothing life Commercial Insurance. Volunteering yourself will not lead to commercial insurance, and neither will part time jobs, which is what most of the people have around here. Also, part time work doesn't guarantee you any certain amount of hours a week, or month. Work requirements, lockouts, premiums, retroactive coverage are illegal in Medicaid. Only Congress can make changes to that. | ||
1851 | I work with individuals with serious mental illness who live on very limited incomes and rely on Medicaid coverage to treat their illnesses. | |||
1852 | I work with individuals with significant intellectual and physical disabilities. Without this coverage, they would have no health insurance, no dental coverage, no vision benefit, no prescription benefit. They are physically and intellectually unable to engage in meaningful employment sufficient to meet their healthcare costs and needs. | Medicaid changes would only succeed in making low income people sicker and less healthy to pursue their American dreams. The lock-outs, premiums work requirements, would all support people losing their health insurance.There would be much more emergency trips to the hospitals with these changes. The hospitals and staff would not get paid for these services. These people would get depressed because of medical bills piling up that they cannot pay. Medicaid is supposed to be providing access and assistance to eligible people. How do these changes do that? Kicking a person off Medicaid for not working or paying too high premiums or not reporting every month for their income does not provide access or assistance to beneficiaries. All this monitoring will cost the state more money. Kentucky's demonstration waiver does not promote Medicaid's objectives, it runs right counter to them. It is illegal. | ||
1853 | I work with many clients with significant disabilities and homelessness-- sometimes chronically homeless and sometimes episodic homelessness. Most have serious mental illness, chronic health conditions, and substance use disorders. It would be very difficult for them to stay on top of co-pays. They typically live on $750 a month in SSI benefits and barely have enough money to cover housing, food, and transportation. They do not have good money management skills (compounded by very little income) and carry little to no money so staying on top of various co-pays would be extremely challenging. They do not have computers as they cannot afford computers and internet connectivity nor do they have computer skills. I also work with clients in psychiatric crisis, many of whom are in the Medicaid expansion group. Their utilization of expensive emergency rooms and hospitalization would significantly increase without access to necessary community resources which require a payor source (e.g. Medicaid). They are often homeless or in precarious living situations, have little to no family support, have histories of trauma and abuse, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance use issues, and often, chronic health conditions. They have transportation issues and very little access to computers. Staying on top of work requirements, premiums, lock outs, etc. would most certainly result in many people losing their healthcare benefits and experiencing a decline in their already shaky health status. | I work in behavioral/mental health. I see children and families receive services that these changes could potentially make impossible for them to access or access with enough consistency to see improvement in their health. Some people with behavioral/mental health conditions may not be in a place to jump through the hoops the proposed system will require of them. | ||
1854 | I work with people living with HIV/AIDS at an Infectious Disease Clinic. Our uninsured rate plummeted as a result of ACA implementation. This was primarily due to Medicaid being available to drastically more of our patients. So many were able to reach out and access testing, treatment, and auxiliary services (including medical transportation), whereas before, they could not even begin to take that step as they had to coverage and no hope of affording treatment or access to other healthcare. | I am very afraid folks will not get routine scheduled medical and dental care. They will then be forced to use hospital ERs thus increasing healthcare costs for the hospital and ultimately every citizen. | ||
1855 | I work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, who often due to their experiences, have to change their financial lifestyles in order to be in a safer environment. Medicaid has allowed them to be able to receive much needed medical services and support that has been neglected or unobtainable while they were experiencing abuse. | |||
1856 | I work with the mentally ill, they are often extremely poor and have a hard enough time affording basic necessities. This plan has not been explained to them appropriately, it has no compassion for those who cognitively cannot comprehend its changes and is poorly defined and thought out. I'm not opposed to health care changes but this plan is not the way. | Having premiums or copays will certainly make it more likely that sick people will not get treated for easily treated issues and be more likely to spread them to the community or to wait so long an easily treatable illness becomes an ER emergency that costs everyone more money. | ||
1857 | I work with those individuals who receive Medicaid and get psychiatric and medical services. | It would be tragic. | ||
1858 | I work with youth and young adults with SPMI diagnoses. Medicaid is critical in their getting the mental health care they need to help them obtain other services that can help them move toward healthy independence. | |||
1859 | I worked at a free clinic in Owensboro, KY for 5 years, providing free care for patients without insurance that was supported by the local hospital. Providing them with Medicaid was the first step in helping them become full human beings, on the par with other Kentuckians. Now this change will simply move them back off the Medicaid and into hell, without insurance, medications or necessary procedures, that would ensure that they continue to work as they can. | My family members would be dead without their healthcare through Medicaid. They have so many different health problems there is no way they could pay out of pocket for all the doctor visits and prescriptions. | ||
1860 | I would be dead right now had I not had Medicaid coverage. I am 60 but now work but there was a period of time I could not work and a time when I could not find employment I assume due to my age. Medicaid is a good benefit and should stay the way it is now.l | |||
1861 | I would be in hell and have no coverage without the expanded Medicaid. I’m sick and can’t work right now so I need this insurance right now. I’ve paid into it for years and shouldn’t feel shame for using it this past year. | These changes would create headaches-- or worse-- for the people I know covered by Medicaid. Many would lose coverage at some point because they don't have the money to pay premiums or forget/can't document their work for some reason. They shouldn't be punished just because they don't have a high enough income to pay for private coverage. | ||
1862 | I would be sick in bed or dead without Medicaid. If the proposed changes are implemented, please reserve a hospital bed for my final days on earth. | See above | ||
1863 | I would honestly be dead if I did not have this coverage. | I don’t think I could make the requirements and I would lose my coverage. | ||
1864 | I would no longer be able to have follow-up care for my pancreatic cancer. | See above. | ||
1865 | I would not be able to go to doctor or get my prescriptions without it | Access to health care is a human right | ||
1866 | I would not have any insurance without it and I have several medical conditions | |||
1867 | I would not have insurance if it were not for this program I’m basically an independent contractor and my job doesn’t offer insurance | |||
1868 | I wouldn’t have been able to have had the test done on me to find out what was wrong with my hart or the operation That I needed and all the medicine I have to take | Members of my family have little to no income, no access to computer usage in the home, and lack of knowledge related to how to go about getting coverage. Furthermore, I am sure they will not have the wherewithal to figure out these requirements. My feeling is that we should cover health, and then I am supportive of work and other requirements for additional benefits. But how can someone work if they have no health coverage and have medical conditions. This is the case with my family members....they cannot work due to medical problems but have not applied for disability. One potential unintended outcome will be increased disability applications. | ||
1869 | I wouldn’t have birth control measures or the anxiety and ADHD medications that are extremely necessary for me to work and go to school | The community will have increased issues to oversee ie: the work requirement. Missing medical appointments because of lack of/or inability to transport to the appointment therefore increasing ER visits after hours and 911 calls because a condition became worse. Lack of dental treatment has proven to increase cardiac conditions down the road therefore costing the community more in the long road. | ||
1870 | I'm a college student from a very low income single parent household. My mother and I went without health insurance until coverage was expanded by the state. My mother is sick, has chronically high blood pressure, needs thyroid surgery and can't work many hours and I'm a full time college student with over 15 hours and a part time job trying to push through my last semester to graduate and support us. We don't need the stress of worrying whether or not we will have health insurance. We don't need the pain of toughing out a month long illness. We don't need the emergency room to once again become the way my mother gets her blood pressure medication. I need insurance to stay healthy and she needs it to stay alive. I'm majoring in Economics and know that emergency room healthcare costs are passed onto insurance companies and so passed onto everyone. We pay for universal healthcare whether we like it or not in the end. Punishing poor people will not stop them from going to the emergency room when they need care, and work requirements don't make people healthier- they are another barrier to getting the care we need. Please to not change the Medicaid requirements. | Not a major impact to my community but definitely impacting Freire day in surronding communities. | ||
1871 | I'm a medical student who could not stay on my parent's insurance as they are both currently on Medicare. Without Medicaid I would not have been able to receive the healthcare I needed in order to remain healthy and able to continue my journey to becoming a physician. | Better medical coverage. | ||
1872 | i'm able to seek treatment for my chronic mental illness and receive psych meds | Health is paramount | ||
1873 | I'm not paying for my pregnancy out of pocket like I was with a 200 a month insurance plan I could barely afford. | |||
1874 | I've had close friends directly benefit from Medicaid when they would not have been able to afford healthcare without it. I believe healthcare is a basic human right and that we should strive to make it accessible to everyone in our community. | There are communities across Kentucky with some of the poorest, underserved regions. These areas do not have access to jobs or opportunities to "volunteer" for free. It is utterly ridiculous to expect such consumers to abide by the new rules of KY HEALTH. Many people do not choose to be this way- they want jobs, they want opportunities- but to penalize them for not having access to them because the system has failed them is downright inhumane. People need access to healthcare to be able to maintain healthy lifestyles and KEEP or FIND a job. Give them the right to health! | ||
1875 | I’m 39, on and have been full disabiled as a heart patient born with with serious heart birth defects. (two open heart surgeries, and on third pacemaker). Medicaid pays what Medicare will not cover, and without it, if I had to pay the premiums would be detrimental. I already can’t afford the costs of living with SS disability payments. I live so minimally, I can’t afford a card or nearly anything extra; getting in debt would be devastating. I think there should be universal coverage for **everyone because it would eliminate the need to be placed on disability to begin with. People would stop using the emergency room innapriately. —one big flaw in the system: Currently any income I make may trigger being taken off insurance I desperately need. But, am trapped in the system because no private insurance company would cover the true costs I face, but I am technically capable of making money, but have zero incentive to, for fear of loosing my disability insurance. I could be contributing to society if I just had a guarantee of healthcare. My motto: a healthy society is a productive society. | People who are covered by Medicaid may already be working, but it may be a poorly paying job. A requirement to work or volunteer may just not be possible for the rural poor. The obstacles proposed by the current governor of Kentucky would make the program more cumbersome to administer for the Medicaid program and for hospitals, doctors and others. | ||
1876 | I’ve been unemployed for over a year due to physical and mental illnesses. I can not afford out of pocket coverage and I am currently pregnant. | |||
1877 | If I didn't have medicaid there is no way I could provide to pay for health care for myself and 2 grandkids that live with me. | Our family is in crisis, and we will get back on our feet. But having to deal with excessive paperwork and recertifications to justify health coverage will do nothing improve my sister-in-law's and father-in-law's health. All people involved are on fixed, retirement, or zero income, and the potential premiums, copays, and lockouts for mistakes will be a significant barrier for us. | ||
1878 | If it wasn't for Medicaid I could not afford to get vision/dental or medical coverage for me or my two children. I work fulltime and I am a single mother. My insurance for a family would be well over 300 dollars a month which is half my checks. | |||
1879 | If it wasn’t for Medicaid my children and I would’ve not had medical care and probably be dead. | |||
1880 | If not for the benefits of Medicaid, my son would not have been able to afford his shot (he is on SSI) which helps him maintain well enough to live on his own with a Guardian's assistance. Without the shot, he would have cost the Commonwealth of Kentucky more funds each year as he would either have continually been admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital or gone to jail multiple times as his becomes Psychotic and Schizophrenic, a danger to himself and others, when he is not on his meds. Without Medicaid support, my brother who has Huntington's Disease, could not afford to stay at a Nursing Home as he deteriorates into a person who cannot walk, talk, move, eat, take care of his bodily functions, increases his dementia until he has no awareness of anything, and dies from choking to death on food as his body refuses to swallow it. If had a copay, Medicare would wind up paying for it instead. | We have many patients who cannot afford even an extra one dollar a month, and many healthcare providers are worried they will fall thru the cracks due to not keeping any appointments needed | ||
1881 | If there was not a program like Medicaid, several of my family members would have died. They have serious medical issues and no jobs because work is not available where they live. No jobs= no insurance. Let's protect Kentuckians. Help them get healthier and give them meaningful employment. | read XIX of the Social Security Act | ||
1882 | immeasurable benefit, we can pursue the careers we want. Medicaid/Medicare For All should be a universal benefit (as it is in virtually every other civilized country) not doled out via means-testing... | My family would lose Medicaid benefits and I see the overall health of our community and the needs worsening in a very short time without Medicaid in all aspect physical, mental, and dental health. | ||
1883 | Improved access to care-- community health centers have been able to expand. Hospitals have had improved operating performance. Finally adults with chronic conditions without insurance coverage are able to access the care they need! Medical, dental and vision care--only 7.2% uninsured--it's a win for Kentucky's residents and for our economic development efforts, too-- a healthy workforce! | My biggest concern would be for the future when my husband and I are no longer living? Will his benefits remain the same or is this step in limiting benefits just the beginning of a future where our government does not offer assistance to those in need. Cutting benefits for those who need them is a selfish system offered by a Congress that goes against the American way. | ||
1884 | Improved access to health care promotes preventative care & lowers cost. Medicaid coverage also lowers small hospitals charity care cost. | |||
1885 | Improved health outcomes improves economic outcomes & leads to increased productivity, leading to a stronger economy that is beneficial to the entire community. | Our daughter (age 15) is covered by Medicare. I'm not sure whether these changes apply to children. As far as my community is concerned, it is full of people who are struggling to make ends meet. They do not need another burden placed on their backs simply in order to be able to take care of themselves if they are not well. | ||
1886 | In 2012 at the age of 17, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Surgery and one treatment of radiation made me cancer-free, but my battle was long from over. Prior to the passing of the Affordable Care Act, almost every insurance company I talked to refused to cover me at all until I was cancer-free for five years, and the select few companies that agreed to ensure me did so at a cost that was not feasible for me as a financially independent college student who worked two to four jobs at a time to put myself through school and barely made it. The Affordable Care Act gave me access to Medicaid coverage and the medicines I take every day to survive post-cancer - without Medicaid, I would likely be dead because of my inability to afford my medications or in additional debt. | My wife would be required to pay even more for health care. These changes would devastate some of the members lives and would not be able to afford the mental rehabilitation so badly needed to stay off the streets or handle themselves in a proper manor around other citizens. They would also not be able to afford their much needed medications. | ||
1887 | In my family, I am the primary caregiver to a child under 10 and married to a disabled person. It's difficult for me to manage even a part time job, and I can't imagine what a burden it would be to try and work a full time job to enroll in medical benefits that are often very costly and carry copays on top of high premiums. Medicaid has literally been a life saver in many ways. I'm okay if the state decides to charge a low premium. I can afford to spend $15 a month on my coverage, if it meant no or very low copays at appointments as well. I understand they're worried about money to fund all this. But adding work/volunteer requirements is impossible for some recipients. | |||
1888 | In our church community alone, I have seen neighbors and members who have had irregular work, or unconventional income finally be able to have a family doctor. Through the expansion, they have been able to keep small medical issues small, rather than waiting until an emergency room visit was required. Medicaid has made it possible for two persons I know to keep jobs that they would have had to quit because of health needs. It's a good thing and we should keep the expansion. A healthy population is good for us all. | |||
1889 | Increased Medicaid coverage has increased family involvement in care, specifically mental health care. In my practice as a therapist working with children and teens, I have seen many more parents get services for themselves in addition to their children. When parents receive mental health services, the major behavioral health barriers begin to disappear for their children, resulting in healthier families that in turn will use fewer benefits down the road. | |||
1890 | Individuals in my community are assisted with access to mental health services as well as medical/ vision/ dental. Families are able to reduce absences from work and school and have access to health care coverage/ improving health status in general. | the proposed changes are draconian and based on entitlement. | ||
1891 | Insurance - just having insurance | Instead of living person like this will die without Medicaid: It saved the life of a client of mine. He has tried to work but has had several strokes. Having Medicaid coverage saved his life. He was able to seek medical attention. He is alive today because he had medicaid. This gentlemen trys to work but gets sick. He has applied for disability social security but almost everyone whom applys gets turned down several times before getting it. This guy is a good person; he has tried to work and has health issues that prevent it. Medicaid saved his life! | ||
1892 | It allows pts whose coverage has lapsed to still obtain treatment which is covered. Allows some adults and kids to make it to programming with use of transportation who otherwise wouldn't be able to get treatment. It is important to receive preventative eye and dental care as it is more expensive if teeth have to be pulled or crowned or pt has to get contacts or glasses. Medicaid is a much needed benefit for many people and these people will suffer if it is taken away or aspects of it are cut away. People who have really good insurance and have lots of money don't seem to see the other side of the fence and I think it is important to see that. I also think it's important for people not to abuse those services as well. | Some children, some workers, parents caring for children would be adversely effected by reduced health care | ||
1893 | It basically saved my sister's life, when she became unable to work due to drinking contaminated water at a patient's house. She went from being a nurse to needing a nurse within a month. | The array of proposed changes all would create barriers to getting or keeping Medicaid coverage and would therefore increase the number of people without health insurance in the state. That would be a huge step backward. Without regular access to preventive care and treatment, Kentuckians will be less able to enter and remain in the workforce and have poorer long-term health outcomes. The state would lose federal Medicaid funding and have to spend additional tax dollars on new bureaucratic systems and staff to administer these harmful changes, rather than investing those funds in essential health care services for Kentuckians. | ||
1894 | It didn't. Not at all. | in many ways for myself , basically it would inhibit me from being a member of my community | ||
1895 | It enables us to afford healthcare. Also, we honestly get better medical treatment than we did when we had the uber-expensive Anthem insurance. | There is no way that I could leave my father to work or do community service not to mention, my own physical limitations. If I hire a sitter for dad and have to pay that. What’s the point in working? | ||
1896 | It has allowed for increased access to mental and physical healthcare to better the health of many. | There is no way that I could leave my father to work or do community service not to mention, my own physical limitations. If I hire a sitter for dad and have to pay that. What’s the point in working? | ||
1897 | It has allowed me to continue receiving medical care that if lost would either leave me ill, further disabled, or possibly dead. With Medicaid I am able to maintain consistent medical care to manage my health conditions and prevent possible complications that would be costly to ne physically and financially and more burdensome on the healthcare system. | These changes would limit the amount of services my community can access. Using a rewards program to gain access to another kind of medical service is ridiculous. Life is not a game and neither is health care. We pay taxes so that these programs will be in place to help people who need it, and these changes would make it a lot harder for so many different reasons but mostly accessibility issues. | ||
1898 | It has allowed people who otherwise would never go to the doctor, dentist, optometrist, the ability to do so and has literally been saving lives in my community. | Many of the issues that I see children for are related to issues their parents face. If their parents are unable to access care, these children will overall be unable to become well and break the family cycle. When parents seek out mental health care for themselves is when I have seen the biggest changes in the lives of my children clients, and the more quickly they can be discharged due to meeting their goals. | ||
1899 | It has assisted members in our community to receive proper early interventions for IDD services. | Without Medicaid, my daughter would have much higher medical costs, which might result in her not receiving the medical care she needs. | ||
1900 | It has created access to proper health care without consuming 50-60% of one's yearly income that was charged by traditional health care companies prior to the ACA. | I support changes to prevent using the ER as a primary care, I support volunteer or work activities for those able bodied. The changes to vision and dental will have a great impact on many of our citizens. Oral health in particular affects other parts of the body including the heart and those with diabetes. If people do not have access to vision care this can limit their functionality and those with diabetes need annual vision checks. The utilization of education is a great idea, but is greatly limited with access to internet and educational ability and care should not be limited based on that. | ||
1901 | It has enabled us to have medical coverage and it has saved my life and three of my children by providing medical care through 3 life threatening pregnancies. | Ending dental coverage could affect my employment as a provider at a local Community Health Center which would have devastating impact on my family. | ||
1902 | It has helped to cover life-saving cancer treatments for my aunt when she had no other options | |||
1903 | It has helped to keep people healthy that otherwise would not be able to afford care. | I am concerned that individuals with limited resources (access to Internet, access to transportation, medically/frail) will not be able to navigate a complicated system. I don't trust the powers that be to be able to make accurate determinations on what is "medically" fragile. Individuals who are truly, "medically fragile" will most certainly fall through the cracks. | ||
1904 | It has helped to negate medical debt, while helping to manage certain crippling illnesses. | |||
1905 | It has helped with a lapse in coverage due to illness and job loss. | The families I provide services to will not be able to afford insurance, and those who are disabled or unable to work will not be able to meet these proposed requirements. | ||
1906 | It has kept me alive after a cancer diagnosis with treatment and counseling. | Kentucky's vulnerable poor are being politically targeted by this administration. There is nothing in this proposal aimed at helping those in need of services, but rather, it is full of penalties and requirements with the intention of taking away benefits. Some of the rules would cruelly remove access to services for six months for simple administrative mistakes. Please see this proposal for what it really is... political posturing and exploitation by those who feel they are better than the Kentuckians in need of Medicaid benefits. | ||
1907 | It has kept my friends and neighbors healthier and more secure. It also keeps crime lower as people are not so desperate. | I work for non profit organization that services BH/MH clients in our organization. Enforcing these changes would mean thousands of our clients would lose their coverage because they could not meet the requirements and/or pay the co-pay/premiums. | ||
1908 | It has not. | N/A | ||
1909 | It has provided communities with coverage where once there was none . | |||
1910 | It has provided medical coverage for me as my husband has become disabled and I suffer from depression and have not been able to work. | If members of our community are unable to receive physical, mental, vision, or dental treatment; results will include increased difficulty in taking care of themselves, family, and significant others. People need to be in good health to be productive in education and employment. | ||
1911 | It has taken so much worry out of our lives. We are self-employed and health insurance had become so costly and medical bills so high, we were afraid to go to the doctor because it could ruin us financially. I think we are healthier because of it and I know it has benefited many other self-employed families as well. | These changes will leave lots of young people, particularly homeless young people, without needed care. I am all for positive change in Medicaid, but the answers are not these punitive measures. | ||
1912 | It hasn't. I have seen many people needing the coverage and get denied. Then I see others with husbands that are "in Mexico" but keep making babies every year. | The restrictions and requirements suggested would result in a large number of disadvantaged people losing one of the few supports they have. If any of the people I serve were to lose Medicaid they would lose a majority of their support system, some of them the entirety of their support system. The requirements proposed would be nigh impossible to reach for some of my clients, even though they are actively trying to work towards the betterment of themselves and their communities. Disability allowances do not work even in their current state, due to the difficulty of even a case manager getting a written statement from Primary Care Physicians, therapists, or Psychiatrists, who all believe it is not their place to make that sort of decision even though they see these client's large disabilities in many cases monthly. The impact of the proposed changes to Medicaid including but not limited to work requirements, copays, and premiums, would result in a large number of our people most needing care losing their coverage and losing one of the few things helping them feel better. | ||
1913 | It hasn't/ as a taxpayer my family has had to pay for all those who wont work | |||
1914 | It helped e tremendously when I was in college and helped my children. Without it I would not have been able to afford healthcare. | People would actually die or be added to the population of homeless or inpatient care. | ||
1915 | It helped out when there was no other option available as they were unemployed. | |||
1916 | It helps keep our community more healthy. Healthy community members are necessary to build a healthy community. Children can go to school more regularly, parents are more able to provide support for their families, and community members are more able to participate in activities that all for full participation in the decisions that guide the community's furture. | |||
1917 | It helps my family stay healthy and avoid costly long term health consequences. | With the proposed changes to Kentucky Medicaid, I think many of the consumers we serve would be at a grave disadvantage. Many of our clients would be without medication that are the cornerstone to their recovery. Families living in poverty and without resources would have difficulty paying for any type of premium or co-pay. Several of our families are without transportation, specifically those in rural areas, and depend greatly on the transportation to medical and mental health appointments. Hundreds of families do not have a permanent housing address or internet access and therefore would be unable to receive notifications or have way of understanding rewards that they would access through online resources. | ||
1918 | It helps the disabled. It helps the sick. | |||
1919 | It helps with my mental health treatment. | Without these services my family members would not be able to receive medical treatment. | ||
1920 | It is my only healthcare I can get without paying high premiums on the ACA. Thanks to Trump. I can't work, So this is all I have, and need. I'm a diabetic, insulin prices are out the roof, Due to greed. | My agency services low-income families and they would be unable to pay for premiums or co-pays; this would very negatively affect ability to attend and participate in therapy services, which are needed drastically by the population of lower income families in Louisville that have experienced chronic trauma. The lack of available therapy because of the premiums or added cost by adding other charges would drastically alter who would be able to have consistent therapy services. This would hurt the children, families and communities even more then they struggle now with every day difficulties including low income, disabilities, mental health issues, lack of education, etc. | ||
1921 | It is the only insurance me and my children have and can afford. | I have volunteered with homeless outreach and with refugees and with IDD individuals. Just like me, just like you and just like the policy makers, they are human. Their hearts hurt when their loved one is sick, their tears are salty, their blood is red. They laugh, they cry, they want to give something to the world. If we can work together to give them support and lend a helping hand, they could fulfill their goal of giving back as things have been given them. | ||
1922 | It is the only reason I have any coverage at all. | Many individuals on Medicaid suffer from various disabilities, mental illnesses and/or addictions and simply are not capable of managing these requirements. Without proper care they become homeless and often become involved in criminal activities. | ||
1923 | It is the only way to have any health coverage. | Times are hard right now for everyone. If he can't save money for him and his son, he can't live on his own and would need to continue to live with a family member. Family should stick together ALWAYS, and life isn't always fair. You should strive to do your best and if the community can help the folks that really do try, then that is one less child that could possibly be left behind. | ||
1924 | It makes them much healthier, so that they have the ability to pursue work, school, hobbies, etc. Their goals in life become much more attainable when they are in better health. Without Medicaid, they could not achieve this. I have a friend who is a type 1 diabetic and without it, she could not afford her Insulin which is what keeps her alive. She has trouble keeping a job due to her disability. If work requirements are required, she would have a tremendous time keeping access to healthcare. If she got locked out for several months, she could not pay for her insulin or see a doctor, her health would decline; and by the time the lockout expired so she could re-sign back up; she wouldn't be able to work, so she would be locked out again. I don't understand how that makes Medicaid access available to the poor. Medicaid is supposed to provide medical assistance to the low income people. That is make it available to the eligible people and make it affordable. Work requirements, lockouts, premium payments, retroactive coverage , do not do this. they are illegal. Kentucky should not be able to do this. | This could be financially devastating for individuals who do not have employment income (rely on SS/SSI/SSDI) because they are physically/intellectually unable to sustain employment. | ||
1925 | It paid for residential care for my special needs adopted child. Covers birth control for my other special needs adopted child, when my own employer based insurance won't. Helps my client's get needed medication and transportation to needed appointments. | Our wallets. We save money by giving people access to healthcare. | ||
1926 | it saved me so much money when I most needed it | We will see worse health outcomes in our community. | ||
1927 | It saved the life of a client of mine. He has tried to work but has had several strokes. Having Medicaid coverage saved his life. He was able to seek medical attention. He is alive today because he had medicaid. This gentlemen trys to work but gets sick. He has applied for disability social security but almost everyone whom applys gets turned down several times before getting it. This guy is a good person; he has tried to work and has health issues that prevent it. Medicaid saved his life! | |||
1928 | It was the only health coverage I had when I was a part-time worker. | The underprivileged do not have the same access to jobs and therefore health insurance. It is vital that our community continues a no requirements health care coverage program. All people deserve health care coverage. | ||
1929 | It was there for my daughter while she was in college and got sick. | I work in behavioral health. All of our clients would be affected, particularly clients from low-income areas that need the help the most! Forcing people near poverty to pay copays would do nothing good for the communities that need it. | ||
1930 | It was there when I was unable to work due to mental illness. I desperately needed coverage to be able to access mental health services. | All I can see happening with this plan is an influx of patients to the ER and a decrease of care. How is this helping? | ||
1931 | It's a safety net between hard times, which prevents my friends from going into an inescapable lifetime of debt when they are in need of medical care but have not yet found full-time employment. | Taking away medical coverage does not take away the need for medical treatment!!! | ||
1932 | it's my only means of access to health care | |||
1933 | It's so much cheaper for everyone if healthcare is accessible. Otherwise, people don't take care of themselves and it results in much more costly care. | We will pay for these clients, if not in Medicaid, in our jails, ER's, court, DCBS, police, EMS, schools etc. The need does not go away just because you remove the benefits. | ||
1934 | It's the only way we can afford medical coverage. | My daughter has serious vision issues and can not afford vison insurance and Passport has been a tremendous asset to her vision. | ||
1935 | It’s helped me to the medical help I have needed. | this would greatly effect a large group in my community and they would not be able to keep their coverage for medical care and care mentioned above | ||
1936 | KCHIP for my children allowed me to be able to work and not have all my pay going to insurance and daycare. | From a billing standpoint I feel like implementing the copays, work requirements exc. would be a nightmare. Having to continuously monitor each month to see if a person has lost their coverage due to not meeting the requirements takes up time, and money. From a personal standpoint, I see many people who struggle with basic daily needs such as bathing, eating exc. Putting in many new changes can cause confusion and will ultimately cost many who struggle in these areas with no outside support their insurance coverage. This in turn will make it more costly for the tax payer as well as the people who are covered by commercial insurance who have to pay increasing costs for medical due to those not covered. | ||
1937 | Keeping our citizens healthy benefits everyone. We should support the idea that everyone should have good medical benefits (and dental). | Individuals with MH issues are often disorganized and they will not f/u with these changes without great support (which they may not have). They will lose meds and services increasing sxs and need for tx. | ||
1938 | Keeping people healthy costs Kentucky less. | |||
1939 | Kentuckians desperately need dependable medical, dental, vision services. | I'm concerned that individuals will not be able to afford medical care if premiums are too high or if they have to use employee provided insurances leading to greater health disparities and the negative psychological impact on families related to poverty. However, I do feel that individuals have misused the system and do not understand the value of the care they receive leading me to want to put a monetary value to increase individuals likelihood of attending appointments and following through appropriately related to their health needs. | ||
1940 | Kentuckians have been able to attain and maintain practices that promote good physical, mental, and vocational health because of the accessibility of Medicaid in its current state. Limitations like transportation, finances, and a variety of health coverage and practitioners are no longer barriers for people addressing their health needs and concerns. There's no one size fits all health program because no two people's health are alike. One's health should be the last thing they have to worry may be in jeopardy. | My son would still be in crisis. my community would be full of people who are unhealthy because they are unable to pay for treatment. I am part of the lower middle class I have chosen not to get health care because my employee benefit insurance has a 4000 copay. At least I have catastrophic coverage. I cannot imagine having no coverage and having to choose between a Dr.s bill and food and sundries. | ||
1941 | Kentuckians have some of the worst health issue so in the nation. Medicaid is the safety net for our poor. Preventive healthcare can and does improve quality of life and decrease overall healthcare costs. | My mother could die or go bankrupt if she loses Medicaid. She needs healthcare because of all her medical problems. | ||
1942 | Kentuckians with conditions like MS and other debilitating conditions have be able to receive treatment that wasn't available with Medicaid help. I have family members that are diabetic and have high blood pressure who have been able to receive medication to help control these issues with Medicaid. | With these changes, my uncle's health and safety would be at risk because he would have to focus on work/volunteer hours rather than focusing on doctor's appointments and regaining his health. | ||
1943 | Kentucky has high poverty and numbers of working poor among its population . My family is fortunate not to fall in these categories. But I believe strongly that access to health care is important for our Commonwealth for all income levels. This is especially true for financially disadvantaged groups. I also believe Kentucky must provide access to health care to help these groups cope and advance, even survive . I also believe that Kentucky has benefitted imensely from the current Medicaid expansion . My view is supported by metrics from across the health care system and several independent assessments, including my own research. When the waiver proposal was initially released for public comments in June of 2016 , I studied it closely . I have almost 50 years of experience as a public health dentist and university researcher in Kentucky. For the past decade, I have closely monitored Medicaid outcomes and dental workforce . In 2016, I was working collaboratively with Kentucky Medicaid officials using their data sets to improve dental Medicaid and dental workforce information at the county , regional and state levels. Our research team at the Center for Oral Health Research at the University of Kentucky developed trend tables for Medicaid dental outcomes and dentist participation from 2010-2016. This work documented major improvements in adult dental utilization uniformly across Kentucky for the Medicaid expansion population , This occurred at levels I had never personally observed before . It was also clear that this population had delayed seeking dental care because of financial barrier . After expansion, these adults immediately started to seek and receive needed care. It was not a perfect system, but it was a substantial and measurable improvement over the pre-expansion years . Thus I was highly interested in the new waiver proposal . After studying the proposed waiver design , I developed major concerns as did several dental colleagues with many years of professional experience in Kentucky . The proposed design not only discounted important relationships between oral health and general health , it failed on important dental access, financial and workforce considerations . Thus , my colleagues and I submitted a document that outlined our very serious concerns in the state comment period . Similar concerns were also expressed to Medicaid officials by leaders from the Kentucky Dental Association and numerous health and advocacy groups . Strong opposition was also expressed , near unanimously , by the public in a series of public hearings across Kentucky . This cumulative feedback was almost completely ignored by Governor Bevin and his design team. In October of 2016, a final waiver proposal was submitted to CMS. Let me be clear and strong . My assessment is this waiver proposal, if implemented , will cause great harm to many , many Kentuckians and harm the dental care workforce that cares for Medicaid patients in Kentucky . It is a major step backward. My understanding of Medicaid waivers , is they should improve access and other outcomes, not harm access. My professional opinion is this waiver design will harm access . Further , I personally believe the design was developed to advance extreme political and ideological views and cater to powerful special health and political interests. This waiver was designed to control vulnerable populations , restrict basic health care access and drop Medicaid enrollment , certainly not to improve access. Let's call it out for what it is ! This design lacks empathy. It is deeply paternalistic. Either Governor Matt Bevin and the team who developed this waiver do not care or they have deep misunderstandings of poverty and the lives of the financially disadvantaged (or both ) . In particular, the reward program has very sparse science to support such a radical and major change . If you do do accept this assertion, please study the legal brief submitted by a panel of national public health and health care experts as part of the national legal challenge to the work and engagement requirements of the Kentucky waiver. Low income Kentuckians simply do not need more hoops to hop thru to have access to needed health benefits or more barriers to jump over to develop dignity. They already have major life challenges . Also, Kentucky clearly does not need a new and very expensive administrative component added to Kentucky Medicaid to manage and test a reward program based on limited science . That is illogical. Any one with common "horse sense " will recognize that. Kentuckians deserve better . I hope many of them will join with me to oppose this deeply flawed waiver ; and also that they will exercise their voting rights to improve the quality of political leadership in Kentucky and nationally . Thanks for the opportunity to offer my personal public comments on the Kentucky Health waiver. | Stress is a significant contributing factor in general health and quality of life. People should not have to constantly worry about medical bills bankrupting them, or interrupting their ability to put food on the table. The suggested changes are all about saving money, by passing several costs and loads of stress to everyone involved in the Medicaid program, which is counter to the very nature of the program. | ||
1944 | Kentucky has one of the poorest populations in the country. Helping to keep its citizens healthy is beneficial to all - their kids won't bring illness to school, parents can get early care to avoid catastrophic illness, meaning the overall cost for health care will be less expensive. | Proposed changes are clearly an attempt to purge individuals from Medicaid. This is an assault on poor people and the health of Kentucky families. It’s shameful. | ||
1945 | Kentucky was in the bottom 10% of all states in healthcare access and coverage prior to Medicaid expansion via ACA. Proportionately - Kentucky saw some of the greatest percentage of movement from uninsured to insured citezens do to Medicaid expansion. When the least of our society are cared for with Affordable Healthcare - we all rise and we improve the Commonwealth - not just socially but in terms of marketability to prospective companies and residents. | my mentally ill son, who can appear quite normal on first impression, is not able to hold even a part time job though he would like to. he gets hired all the time but cant preform well enough to hold the job. i don't think there is anyone who wouldn't assume he was near normal, but he's not. He is nearly homeless but at least he gets medical care when he seeks it. | ||
1946 | Kept my sisters family dependent on the state. | |||
1947 | Less is spent on health care when people are able to access health care as needed. Less ER and admissions. | Like I said above, a strong community is a healthy community. I feel sure that Medicaid dollars spent are well worth the money. I wish we had universal coverage/single payer in this country. | ||
1948 | Less missed work | The ongoing medical care that my family member would need would surely become unaffordable and would make their lives even more difficult. | ||
1949 | Life-saving mental health care otherwise would have been unaffordable. | My son is lucky that he is in within range of public transportation to get to and from his Doctor's appointments. Many people in Kentucky are not that fortunate and don't even have anyone to rely on to take them consistently. They can at least go to their appointments with the Medicaid Transportation. Many people on Medicaid cannot have a car (SSI doesn't pay enough for car insurance, repair, gas OR payments) and few places in KY have public transportation to get to the Doctors or get to a job to help pay copays or premiums. If you lived in Buckhorn, KY, for example, finding employment is almost impossible, with no way to get to a job to earn money that is close enough to pay for food, let alone transportation, medical premiums, copays, etc. You would be denying the poorest of the poor from any essential health care. Isn't Medicaid supposed to be the stop gap to help these same people? | ||
1950 | Living in a rural community, the medicaid expansion has allowed people to obtain quality medical treatment for serious illnesses, that had long been unattainable. It has lessened visits to the er, patients can now see their primary MD. Healthy people are able to consider employment! | I service clients with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, incarcerated parents, CPS involvement, court ordered involvement and these changes would be one more stumbling block in getting kiddos the services they desperately need. | ||
1951 | Low-income and vulnerable Kentuckians can access health care - and a healthy population benefits everyone, regardless of whether or not you believe health care is a right and not a political bargaining chip. | These changes would burden many families with health costs they cannot afford, while leaving many others unable to access the preventative care they need for basic human life. | ||
1952 | Lyndon Johnson's Great Society was the greatest catastrophe in American History. | See above | ||
1953 | Many children, mothers, and parents have gotten much needed preventative care. This keep's my community healthy, and ready to work to build strong neighborhood ties. | |||
1954 | Many clients at our domestic violence shelter require the assistance of medicaid. | These changes would significantly reduce access to care for many Kentuckians. | ||
1955 | Many clients have benefitted from having Medicaid to obtain needed medication and doctors' visits. | These changes will affect me personally by eliminating medical care and treatment. Our community will suffer from the same kinds of issues too. | ||
1956 | Many community members have been able to get cost-effective preventive and acute treatment. | We have no money coming in. Husband unable to work, but disability has not been approved yet. I am full time care taker for my bed ridden mother and my husband. We cannot pay premium, my husband is unable to work for his coverage. I do work, but only part time and only because my son is able to stay here with my mom and husband. | ||
1957 | Many doctors and clinics are closing due tomorrow lack of patients that can afford to go. | |||
1958 | Many friends my age and I need Medicaid and other services after being dropped from our parent's insurance at age 26. Our health conditions do not magically disappear; many of us haven't been able to finish school/find adequate employment by rhis point. Without Medicaid coverage a few people I know would have suffered and/pr died from their conditions. | |||
1959 | Many low-income Kentuckians have better health because of Medicaid coverage. | My daughter works at Wal-Mart and can't afford coverage | ||
1960 | Many Madison County residents now have health insurance coverage through expanded Medicaid who had NO coverage before. They are better off now--healthier, less worried about medical bills they can't pay--and so are the healthcare providers that care for them and don't have to worry about reducing services or collecting from people who previously could not pay. | |||
1961 | Many more people in Kentucky have been able to get coverage. | |||
1962 | Many more people in our rural community now have health insurance and are able to access treatment for chronic health issues and preventative services. | These changes would drastically reduce access to services and would also put a high burden on mental health agencies as they are primarily supported by Medicaid. | ||
1963 | Many of us are in rural areas and employers do not always have a affordable health care | All the changes would be devastating. They would prevent me from getting the care I need. | ||
1964 | Many people can get help that needs it. | It would cause stress for many people already living in stressful environments. Some of us work over time each week just to support ourselves and our families. This insurance helps many kids, Young adults, and older adults maintain healthy living. The biggest issue with this country and that we have the audacity to put a large price tag on things that should be a basic human right; health care, education, and shelter/food. We should always help everyone the best way we can. Taking away human rights will never be the answer to helping anyone. Regardless of what background they come from. | ||
1965 | Many people in my community have been able to have physical and mental health problems treated and have also been able to improve their dental and vision health. | If I cannot have access to medicaid I cannot go to the doctor. Any doctor. Period. It doesn't take a smart person to understand that not having access to health care is detrimental to our health. It is also detrimental to our communities, our state and beyond. If we have one ill person in our community then our community is ill. | ||
1966 | Many people in the community finally had access to affordable healthcare through Medicaid expansion. These individuals did not qualify for Medicaid prior to the expansion and were unable to afford even preventive care. Most that I met were working, but could not afford employer based healthcare, even assuming it was available. Once these individuals received heath care, they were finally able to receive treatment for both physical and mental health conditions. This enable them to perform better at work and not miss so much work due to health. | Without dental coverage I will not be able to move forward with a wisdom tooth removal surgery. They are very painful and interfere with my ability to focus on my course work. | ||
1967 | many people in the community have Medicaid because they can not afford any other coverage. They use the transportation to make it to the much needed appointments including mental health. | I would not be able to see to drive without my glasses provided via Medicaid. It would also be hard to access public transportation if I could not see. Thus it would be more difficult to get to work and school. | ||
1968 | Many use KY River Foothills transportation for their medical appointments. Medicaid coversge has provided much needed assistance for vision, dental and other medical needs which then allows use of money for food, rent and other needs. | |||
1969 | Marginalized individuals in our community have access to needed health care services. Families with limited resources have been able to access healthcare more affordably. | I would lose my ability to receive treatment and psych meds for my mental illness | ||
1970 | Me and my caregiver has been watching the poor folk like me express great thankfulness for being able to go to the doctor. Years and years of neglect by uncaring free clinics, have created very sick population. The free clinic missed my Rocky Mountain spotted Fever, and now I'm in horrible health. Not to forget to mention all of the other misdiagnoses. Being given the wrong medicine, and going into shock, from a serious facial swelling, when the ER doctor wouldn't look at my face until after he wrongly medicated me. All of this happened before Medicaid. All of these work requirements for the sick, or volunteer work is going to be a mess. Whose gonna organize this? Will they volunteer or be paid? It just makes no sense. | As a case manager for the Homeless Prevention Program of Volunteers of America Mid-States, I fully support programs that are meant to support sustainable employment. Medicaid is one of those programs, but threatening people with loss of health insurance, or ceasing health insurance benefits altogether, will not promote maintainable employment. The work requirement and associated paperwork will cause Medicaid enrollees across the board—those who are working, not working, or unable to work—to lose coverage. Medicaid helps people work; the state’s proposal to take Medicaid health coverage away from people will make it harder for them to work. Cutting people off health insurance will not increase their employment opportunities. However, there is data showing that providing people with health insurance through Medicaid will help them get and keep employment. • In a comprehensive assessment of Ohio’s Medicaid expansion program, 52.1 percent of expansion enrollees said that Medicaid coverage made it easier for them to get and keep employment. • In surveys of unemployed Medicaid expansion enrollees in Ohio and Michigan, the majority (74.8 percent in Ohio and 55 percent in Michigan) said that having Medicaid coverage made it easier for them to look for work. People losing Medicaid coverage will simply go uninsured. It is important to emphasize that there is no evidence that Medicaid expansion has resulted in fewer jobs in but a great deal of evidence that it has reduced the number of uninsured in Kentucky. • http://news.gallup.com/poll/203501/kentucky-arkansas-post-largest-drops-uninsured-rates.aspx may provide helpful context on this point. • Consider how to show that Medicaid expansion has accompanied job growth in Kentucky (for example, looking at employment levels over the last ten years.) Cutting Kentucky residents off Medicaid will hurt families’ financial security. Like all insurance, Medicaid helps protect people from medical costs and debt. That helps improve enrollees’ financial security. Arguments that a work requirement linked to coverage disenrollment will help improve individuals’ economic security do not hold up. Medicaid coverage in and of itself improves individuals’ financial security. Taking Medicaid away will hurt families’ financial security. • Two studies of the impact of Medicaid expansion on financial health found that Medicaid expansion is associated with a significant reduction in unpaid medical bills, a decline in credit card debt, and a decline in debts sent to collections. • Medicaid expansion is associated with reduced medical debt and improved finances among enrollees. • Ohio’s assessment of Medicaid expansion enrollees found that Medicaid coverage helped enrollees’ finances: 22.9 percent of expansion enrollees said their financial situation improved. Medicaid also made it easier for enrollees to afford other life essentials: 58.6 percent said Medicaid coverage made it easier for them to purchase food; 48.1 percent said it made it easier for them to pay rent or a mortgage; and 44.8 percent of enrollees with medical debt said that with Medicaid expansion, they saw that debt end. • When Oregon extended Medicaid coverage to previously uninsured low-income adults in 2008 (before the Medicaid expansion), the individuals gaining coverage reported improved financial security. Greater financial security and stability reduces individuals’ risk of homelessness and is a foundation for moving out of poverty. Paperwork/work documentation requirements will make it harder for all enrollees to keep Medicaid. Kentucky is requiring paperwork from a broad swath of adults on Medicaid. Enrollees who are already working will need to document hours worked at regular intervals. Those who are exempt from the work requirement will need to prove that they are exempt. Those who are not currently working will need to document hours in community service, job training, or hours spent applying for jobs. All stand to lose coverage if they don’t keep up with the paperwork requirement. When states add paperwork requirements to Medicaid, enrollment falls. That will happen with the Kentucky’s proposed work requirement as well, and enrollment will fall across the board—including for working adults, people with medical conditions who cannot work but do not qualify for SSI disability, and family caregivers. Added paperwork and enrollment losses. The added paperwork and tracking will cause enrollees across the board to lose health coverage. Meanwhile most adults in Medicaid are already working. [Drafting Suggestion: Insert percentage of adults in Medicaid in Kentucky who are working or who are in a working family, available here]; most who do not work have a major work impediment, such as poor health, a disability, or caregiving responsibilities. Voluntary referrals to work programs put people back to work without taking their health care away. As part of its Medicaid expansion, Montana incorporated a voluntary referral to a state job counseling program with no disenrollment penalty. With the combined Medicaid expansion/job referral program, the state has seen employment gains among the Medicaid expansion population that are above the US average for that income group, and above the gains for higher income groups in the state. Please consider this academic research while considering the negative effects Bevin's proposed Medicaid changes would reap onto our communities. | ||
1971 | Me and my family has gotten the care we needed that otherwise we wouldn't have gotten because we could not afford to see the doctors, have the tests we needed or pay for the medicine that we needed. | |||
1972 | Me and my wife got covered under Medicaid expansion after we moved to Kentucky in 2012 for a job she had secured. We may be young, 29 and 31, but my wife suffers from chronic pain caused by a car accident and I am trying to live a life of recovery from substance abuse. My dental health is also very poor because of growing up in a house of substance abuse and growing up on a well. In 2013, my wife was laid off and we were living off of my income serving tables at 2 restaurants and working construction on the side. There's no way I could have supported my wife, paid the bills, and addressed our health needs without us both being covered under expanded Medicaid. Because of that support, for my wife's pain and me being able to get dental care and counseling, I was able to land a steady job (with insurance) AND we both started our own start-ups. I just hired my first employees, providing the state and county coffers with tax revenue to be able to invest in the public good. Without Medicaid, there's no way I would have had the start-up capitol to get my business started. Hell, I might have relapsed and lost everything. Medicaid works. Medicaid provides critical healthcare support for those trying to overcome the many challenges faced in front of us. We should be expanding Medicaid, not cutting it. Me and my wife are living proof of that. Additionally, the 2019-2020 budget appropriated by the 2018 General Assembly pays for expanded Medicaid (including dental and vision) so for the Bevin Administration to say that the state "cannot afford" currently expansion is a lie. | My community needs to be healthy in order to prosper. We have jobs here in Nelson County that are not filled because our population is not healthy enough to fill those positions. | ||
1973 | ME I WAS ABLE TO GO TO DOCTOR BECAUSE OF EXPANDED MEDICAID ABLE TO GOT TO A FOOT DOCTOR AND HAVE MAMOGRAMS AND PAP SMEARS ALSO! | My community would suffer because there are able body people with no work ethic. They are not harming anyone and they help their families in other ways such as babysitting etc. It's cool to be kind. Plus ultimately, this will hurt doctors and hospitals. Thousands of people will simply not get care. | ||
1974 | Medicaid benefits the community by providing acceptable health coverage for the members that need it. Health care should be available to everyone, including those who arent employed, for any reason. | Many barely are able to cover cost of medication with additional fees and losss of benefits people will suffer I work with individuals that are well below the poverty level in this state and have often paid for life needed medication such as insulin myself . If these changes happen I will have individuals who will go without , same as when we did not have the expansion. We will return to the days it took a year or more to get individuals to needed medical services Afordable Heath Care has allowed my clients to have needed care and be able to work. | ||
1975 | Medicaid coverage allows for proactive healthcare instead of taxing the system for out of pocket healthcare costs, which only the richest could afford | Any time my Medicaid clients lose their coverage for any length of time one of two things happens. I either have to stop providing services (which is not ethical per my code of ethics) and my clients lose valuable learning time/treatment and have even ended up in inpatient or I am expected to provide services without an authorization (legality issues). Either way, it complicates the entire process beyond necessity and I could potentially not be paid or they would not get the needed care. If someone is on Medicaid, they should be in Medicaid. As stated above, look into criteria for Medicaid approval BEFORE implementing punitive strategies on the people and service providers that rely on it. | ||
1976 | Medicaid coverage allows people to see their doctors, get medicine and prevent health crises from lack of health access. When people don't have this coverage the health crises and hospitalizations are more costly than the routine, preventative treatment. | If people can't access health care, they can't function to their highest levels of ability. Students in schools. Workers at jobs. It impacts all of society. | ||
1977 | Medicaid coverage benefits all Kentuckians because it makes access to care easier so that illnesses can be prevented and/or treated in a timely manner. Anything that creates a barrier to access such as copays, work requirements, loss of transportation services, etc results in human beings not getting preventative and restorative health care. When sicker patients then have to access the emergency/hospital portal for care the cost is dramatically increased. Those unreimbursed costs mean higher costs for all Kentuckians. | It affect all low income families | ||
1978 | Medicaid coverage benefits those who do not have the means for other insurance, which benefits the community, my community, as a whole. Having more people sick, because they don’t have access to free quality medical care is a drain on society and ends up costing us much more in the long run. It is very shortsighted to think that Medicaid is too expensive to support, when the truth is that it is much more expensive to not provide preventative care, which has been proven to keep people healthier and therefore be less costly. In addition, I would like my community to be a moral one, and it is just morally wrong not to provide free healthcare to those who need it. It is like giving them an early death sentence and setting them up for zero possibilities to change their lives for the better. | People would not go to the ER if they thought they would be charged for "non-emergency" treatment - but how are you supposed to know if those chest pains at 2am are a heart attack or not? Regular teeth cleaning is essential for overall health, and to remove dental would keep some people from getting that done. | ||
1979 | Medicaid coverage has helped my children with their complex medical needs. | My family, friends, and neighbors deserve good coverage, and I’m happy to pay for it. These restrictions the governor wants to enact will be harmful and will make us sicker. It’s a shame to do something like this. | ||
1980 | Medicaid coverage has resulted in an increase in preventive services being provided to Medicaid recipients and has helped Medicaid recipients obtain employment and training. | If Medicaid coverage is reduced or eliminated for nursing home patients she likely would not have access to safe care or medications. | ||
1981 | Medicaid coverage helps people get and remain more healthy, thus more able to work. | |||
1982 | Medicaid coverage helps the most vulnerable citizens to access healthcare services to gain and maintain their health. It allows them to address issues before they become chronic, and therefore more expensive. Healthy citizens are more productive family and community members, and less a drain on society. | How could i work or volunteer when i am my 96 year old mothers only caretaker. | ||
1983 | Medicaid coverage in the small community in which I work has allowed many people the opportunity to avoid countless emergency room visits for toothaches, tooth abscesses etc. | My blind friend would not be able to get to his doctor's appointments or anywhere else. The women I work with who are recovering from addiction would not have checkups, care, prevention for health issues ranging from dental to mental health to ob/gyn to high blood pressure. The elderly people who are my friends or the parents of my friends would not be able to get care and would die early. Folks who are on Medicaid for disability are REALLY disabled: they can't see, they can't walk, they are incontinent, they faint, they have bleeding disorders, they are comatose. It is difficult to get disability. Making people who are profoundly disabled or without transportation add work to keep coverage just engages the entry level employer as a Medicaid cop and does not help the business. Punitive removal of coverage for red tape violations that are so difficult to prevent for folks who don't have a car, phone, computer, bus pass or literacy is cruel and unAmerican. Why do politicians have no ethical heart or love for their fellow human (as most of the religions we practice in Kentucky and straight secular humanism all recommend)? This is what we pay our taxes for and we want them spent to help children, people, the elderly, the infirm, the suffering, those who have distress and affliction. Medicare and Medicaid for all -- bring the US into the developed world. | ||
1984 | Medicaid coverage makes it possible for people to maintain their health without the burden of extra costs and with necessary transportation accommodation. This makes it more possible for people to pursue and/or reliably maintain employment, and to more independently manage activities of daily living. | The proposed changes are unreasonable and do not improve access to health care for those who need it most. In fact, they throw obstacles in the road to access to care. Regular dental and vision care could prevent so many problems that generally prevent people from getting jobs. If you can't see properly, you can't chew or your head hurts because of pain from oral health or vision problems, can you really expect to be hired to work? Or even be expected to be an effective volunteer in the community? If you can't smile without showing that you have black teeth or no teeth or big gaps between existing teeth, does an employer see you as the best candidate to represent them at a reception desk, at a cash register or as a service person who represents her/his company? Not likely. Access to care puts the horse before the cart. Prevention of access to care puts the cart before the horse. Which is the better plan to move forward? | ||
1985 | Medicaid covered my mom’s last three months of life in a nursing facility. We kept her at home during her long illness as long as we could but eventually we could no longer provide the care she needed since we aren’t health professionals . Because of Medicaid we were able to place her in a very good nursing facility where experts could care for her 24/7 until she passed away three months later. It was a true blessing for us to know she was in a good place with skilled professionals. | It would reduce the general health of the community and my family by limiting access to medical care. It is how the least among us is treated that reflects the society as a whole. If we cannot take adequate care of our children and provide comfort and succor to our elderly then we have failed as fellow humans. | ||
1986 | Medicaid covers my children and my husband. I am disabled and receive Medicare, but without Medicaid,I can't afford the premiums that come out of my social security or the Co pays that Medicaid usually picks up. | I would not be able to get services i need to continue my recovery. | ||
1987 | Medicaid enables individuals to seek the medical and mental health treatment needed. | Many would not be able to have Medicaid if premiums and copays are required. It could cause people to die because of inability to seek medical care. | ||
1988 | Medicaid expansion has had a tremendously positive impact on the people and the economy in our eastern Kentucky region. People are healthier and better able to work now that they have had their medical conditions treated and stabilized. Health care industry has added new, high paying jobs - the brightest spot in our economy. | As a small family farm, we are self-employed. I also work a contract job. Having to report changes to income so frequently is insane and implausible for us. Ou income fluctuates throughout the year based on market days and CSA signups. We have a farm budget, expenses to be paid at different times, etc. Treating a small business, or a consultant, as someone who works for wages does not make sense. There must be a different system for self-employed people. | ||
1989 | Medicaid has allowed me to continue health insurance after I lost my job since COBRA is ridiculous. | People would be under more stress than they already are | ||
1990 | Medicaid has allowed me to leave a bad job that I stayed in for years because of the employer provided insurance. It has now allowed me to go back to school full-time to improve my job skills without worrying about my healthcare. | Restricting coverage will cost us all more in the long run. People will die. The innocent will be hurt. | ||
1991 | Medicaid has allowed our family to receive the healthcare we need when we need it. Without Medicaid I’m not sure how we could afford healthcare coverage. | |||
1992 | Medicaid has allowed some of my extended family and all of my clients to have dignity in managing their recovery, by having certified peer support, access to mental health services and assistance with basic living needs. This has helped parents to recover from mental illness, so that they can be involved and responsible for their children. Many people who have received aid as a result of Medicaid have become active and productive members of their community, places of worship, and homes. This vulnerable, and often traumatized population, needs extra support so that they don't fall between the cracks of society. This can include further harming oneself and others (with increase in suffering and healthcare costs, decline in public safety, loss of income for businesses), and stressing an overburdened legal and healthcare system. | The changes to Medicaid are very exclusionary, and would shut out many people from getting the help they need. As someone who works in a domestic violence shelter, many people I work in assisting don't have a dollar to their name and don't know when their next dollar will come their way; the dollar that could make a difference in whether or not they can pay their healthcare premiums; the dollar that can multiply by 50, just by virtue of having to pay for a co-pay as a penalty for not paying their $1 for their coverage -- simply because they didn't have it. How can policies be in place that make limiting their access to good health the rule? When nebulous terms are left up to the subjection of one or a few decision makers, how can public healthcare truly be for everyone? Who wouldn't be reluctant to seeking help if they knew that their "help" was reluctant to serving them? More people will get sick, stay sick, and/or die if these changes push forward. These changes are not representative of the commonwealth that truly serves all Kentuckians. Period. | ||
1993 | Medicaid has been the only coverage I've had in my adult life | The work requirement seems difficult particularly with jobs not being brought to Kentucky in the south eastern Ky counties. | ||
1994 | Medicaid has created a lot of jobs in Ky. People are able to get healthier due to Medicaid. | I am an eligibility/enrollment specialist for Medicaid. If these changes take effect, thousands of individuals will not have access to vision/dental and thousands of homeless individuals will not b able to pay their premiums or copay with no income. | ||
1995 | Medicaid has enabled some in my family to continually mooch off the system and not have a need to work or provide for themselves. | Adding a work requirement to Medicaid will cause many people to lose their coverage resulting in declines in health. They will have no choice but to visit the ER for their condition. These medical facilities will not be paid for these services. Some Facilities may have to close, therefore jobs will be lost. Work requirements are not written in the Medicaid law anywhere. The eligibility requirements are listed and work is not one of them. The 1115 waiver does not give the Secretary permission to transform the Medicaid law into what he believes it should be. They are used for experiment demonstration projects that further the Medicaid objectives, of "furnishing medical assistance" paying in part or whole. Making insurance available for eligible people. Requiring people to work, reporting monthly hours, lockout and raining premiums above what is allowed in Medicaid does not promotes Medicaid's objects. Instead it runs counter to what the Medicaid statute is. Work requirements, lockouts, and premiums amounts above what Medicaid allows is illegal. The Ky 1115 wavier is illegal. | ||
1996 | Medicaid has given them access to needed resources in the community. Many people with mental health issues will choose to not take medicines or make mental health appointments, groups, etc. if it's a choice between having a little change and using services. More will end up on the streets. | |||
1997 | Medicaid has helped many of my neighbors and friends get healthier and acquire the ability to pursue their ambitions, whether it be work school, training or just feeling better and being happy. It makes them able to do things that they previously could not. The changes that Gov Bevin and the HHS Secretary want to make will not make it easier for these people to thrive. Work requirements in Medicaid are not part of the Medicaid law. Providing medical assistance is not in any way connected to work requirements. It creates barriers so people cannot find a PATH to Medicaid. Work requirements are not one of the eligibility requirements under the Medicaid Statute. How can the Secretary create a new requirements for eligible low-income people? That's a decision for our Congress to make.. They have been denied in the past. Why are they doing it now when it is illegal? If the Secretary can condition these people to work in order to keep their health insurance, then she can tie anything related to promoting health to Medicaid, like eating a whole food plant based diet, going to the Jim, taking vitamins, dieting. The list is endless. This is not LEGAL. Medicaid eligibility cannot be conditioned upon each and every issue that affects or promotes health. The word "independence" in the Medicaid statue in Section 1901 is related to physical rehabilitation and not employment. It is very clear to me that the word refers to physical function through medical rehabilitation. | We can pay for good public health now, or pay more later. Please be good stewards of our tax money by using it to provide care or Kentuckians, rather than to limit or exclude people. Kentucky is harmed - socially, economically, spiritually, and physically - by our poor health outcomes. We can do better. Just provide care. | ||
1998 | Medicaid has helped my daughter, who has schizoaffective mental illness to live independently and to afford what Medicare does not provide in healthcare. | Many citizens would lose coverage and their health would suffer, which, in addition to the personal impact, would eventually cost more. | ||
1999 | Medicaid has helped our community by allowing children to receive the medical and psychiatric treatment they need in the best possible facilities. | |||
2000 | Medicaid has provided coverage for important preventative care, high-cost surgeries and testing, and high-cost, life-sustaining medications. My family member and many in my community are employed but cannot afford private or employer-based insurance if it is even offered. | Patients could be locked out of receiving medications for minor infractions. No transportation to get treatment. There is not public transportation in rural Kentucky! | ||
2001 | Medicaid has provided vital health coverage to those most in need. Even with current requirements, a slight increase in income from say a pension/social security can result in losing much needed benefits that result in huge increases in payouts by individuals to maintain the same quality of care. | |||
2002 | Medicaid has provided vital treatment for many who are suffering from addiction in the hard area of Bell County. Additionally, there is no form of public transportation in this area and there are many who have none. I support universal healthcare. | Unfortunately, many of the people making these decisions don't understand the real world that many people are living in. They don't understand how debilitating a mental illness or addictions can be, and how hard it can be for those in that household to maintain and continue normal everyday living. I grew up in a home with a bi-polar father who is truly a good man, but there were times where his condition literally prevented him from getting out of bed for a month. There were also times where he just drove off, hours away with no one knowing where he went. In the last few years I have even had to call the cops on him because he was so manic that he would not leave a restaurant and go to see his psychiatrist. In addition to this, I am now married to my wife whom I love and is a good woman as well, but suffers greatly from both major depression and most likely borderline personality disorder. She struggles to take care of her personal hygiene and especially daily activities around the house. She constantly loses her keys, can not keep up with a purse, and struggles with many basic everyday activities while working part time and taking care of our girls. This leaves me with many extra responsibilities around the house while working, caring for my girls, my wife, and elderly parents. I know I barely keep my family afloat and I have it much better than many of the clients that I serve. Cutting many of these services will make life even more challenging and in many cases impossible for those who struggle with similar conditions. But those in charge don't understand this, and think that adding more responsibility and some online classes can fix these problems and make them disappear. This will only cause more problems, hurt many kids and families, and make many people ultimately give up and literally disappear. | ||
2003 | Medicaid helps keep community members well. | Pre-existing conditions are costly and unfair. Individuals with pre-existing condition shouldn't be penalized for something they may not have been able to prevent. Clarification on terms like Medically Frail, it is unclear if certain conditions will qualify which leaves people unsure of their medical future. | ||
2004 | Medicaid helps lower income individuals to get basic care when they are sick so they don’t spread germs to the rest of us. | I believe the waiver would improve the health of Kentuckians. | ||
2005 | Medicaid helps people in my community get mental health services. Medicaid helps my community by providing better health coverage to people who wouldn't have health coverage normally. | No more vision coverage. | ||
2006 | Medicaid is a critically important payor of healthcare for the indigent and working poor. | My health is not good. I will die with out health care. | ||
2007 | Medicaid is greatly beneficial to my community because it helps to ensure that all people have access to quality health services regardless of their income level, age, or employment status. Medicaid supports tens of thousands of health care jobs in my community and increases the financial security of our hospitals. My family has benefited from Medicaid because my sister suffers from multiple sclerosis and is unable to work during her relapses. Medicaid pays for her health coverage when she doesn't have employer-sponsored health coverage, which ensures that she will be able to continue her daily MS treatments without interruption. Without the treatments, her quality of life would quickly decline and her life would be endangered. There is no way our family could afford the out of pocket costs associated with her treatment. | for the short time frame vision and dental were denied, we saw numerous patients who did not know what benefits they had | ||
2008 | Medicaid is necessary for the community but needs to drive wellness and accountability more than it has in the past. | |||
2009 | Medicaid is needed for prevention of additional costs due to hospitalization and worse from lack of coverage | I am a nurse serving people with addictions and mental illness. A majority of my clients would be negatively affected. | ||
2010 | Medicaid is one of the foundational safety-net programs in the U.S. The coverage provides human beings with health coverage to provide for a healthy today and tomorrow and build foundations for success—health (i.e. preventative care, diagnosis, treatment, emergency care, etc.), a bit of financial stability to progress and succeed, enables individuals to afford housing, prevents homelessness, creates tge conditions for career stability, and gives human beings a chance to recover, stabilize, and advance. And if it did not do the previously mentioned things, it shows our society has a basic commitment to human decency. | My family would be affected by these changes by not being able to take my son to Dr. Appt, and for him to have the medical equipment that he has to have to make him more independent. And for the community people with disabilities and people with no transportation would not be able to get to Dr appts | ||
2011 | Medicaid is the only insurance that my two adult sons with Fragile X are eligible for. Without it, they would have no coverage. | Would be harder on providing the best I can for my son and myself. | ||
2012 | Medicaid is the only safety net program for many extremely vulnerable citizens of our community. | Fewer people would have access to health care which should be available to all. | ||
2013 | Medicaid keeps our community healthy. | I simply couldn’t afford to use my own healthcare | ||
2014 | Medicaid pays for my grandchildren's medical care because Medical Insurance is too expensive for my son to afford. | |||
2015 | Medicaid preserves health as a human right to all economically disadvantaged in my community. | Denying those with disabilities and limited means needed care is unethical and never necessary in this country. If people are deemed needy they should not have to "work" for care. If they fall short they should not be punished (& their families). Instead they should be educated as to the importance and fairness of what is generally expected. There are many who suffer disadvantages due to poverty, mental health issues, lack of adequate means such as transportation, and more. We must look at our systems, where we are inefficient perhaps failing. Fix that instead of handicapping the already disadvantaged. | ||
2016 | medicaid provides a service that betters the well being of the entire community. | I would lose my mental health treatment, vision coverage (I'm legally blind without my glasses), and dental work | ||
2017 | Medicaid provides access to health care that is crucial for low-income individuals and families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the mentally ill -- people who often cannot work even if they wanted to, or those whose jobs keep them at or below the poverty level. When I see our homeless population in Louisville, I am reminded that Medicaid is the last hope for many. | Many of the individuals I work with who have serious mental illnesses have SSI as their sole source of income, causing them to live well below poverty level. Their severe illnesses often require them to see multiple doctors and take multiple prescriptions. Even small co-pays add up quickly and become barriers for people who live on $755/month SSI. Due to symptoms of their illnesses, many of these folks miss out on enrolling during the designated timeframes or overlook updated their addresses with Medicaid; locking them out of medical assistance is unconscionable. As an employee of a non-profit agency, I am not in support of the proposed work requirements. Managing mandated volunteers would pose a huge administrative burden on our non-profit community. | ||
2018 | Medicaid provides healthcare security for my children. Financially, we would sink if we had to purchase on the open market. | Some changes would assist community members in taking a more active role in their health care, and raise their awareness of how it works, and begin a dialogue with their service care providers. Other changes might allow community members to have a sense of ownership in their care and hold them to higher expectations. Removing assistance with transportation specifically would not be helpful due to not being able to attend their scheduled appointments. The greater Cincinnati area does not have quick and effective public transportation that adequately assists residents. Community members are more likely to be involved in their own care if they are not overwhelmed by transportation factors. | ||
2019 | Medicaid saved my life in 2016. I had a perforated colon, and if it weren't for medicaid covering my two extensive hospital stays, surgery and after care i may have died! | If my assistance were taken away, I would not be able to see, as I am nearly legally blind. Officials NEED TO UNDERSTAND that money is not the priority. People's LIVES are at stake. If I cannot see, I will not be able to drive. I will not be able to attend this year, my senior year of college. If I get the flu from working my two jobs, as I do maybe once a year, I will not be able to transport myself to the doctor or pay for the massive bill waiting for me once I see the doctor who MIGHT help me!!! Think of PEOPLE when you make these decisions! These decisions affect COLLEGE STUDENTS. We are hard workers. We care about our futures. You should too. | ||
2020 | Medicaid should only be available to those with a disability who cannot work. Able bodied individuals need to have the satisfaction that work provides their self esteem and benefits the community they are a part of. | they would deprive me of my access to health care. without a doubt | ||
2021 | Medicaid was vital when my mother in law was ill and couldn't work anymore. She had Medicaid coverage for about a year before she died and it was a huge help to her and us. | |||
2022 | Medicaid, in it current for provides all the medical support me and my family needs. without it we would be unable to afford any medical bill. | This family member has not current income, and would most likely be dead if not for medicaid, since regular health care is inaffordable | ||
2023 | Medical and dental and vision | |||
2024 | Medical Care for chronic health issue and severe depression | The community would become sicker, those parents couldn't care for their children. | ||
2025 | medical care for those who need it most is our obligation as human beings. Many people have received care who otherwise would not, due to not being able to pay for the services. | |||
2026 | medical coverage for all benefits all of us | I don't think these changes will affect him. | ||
2027 | medical treatment, medication, transportation, companion services, therapy | co-pays would begin to result in members resisting to seek medical attention if they anticipate a bill for services. This could result in an increase in acute care hospitalizations and all the family financial dynamics associated with the hospitalization of a parent or child due to failing to receive out-patient treatment timely. Children are being referred frequently by teachers for dental and vision checks. Loss of those benefits could result in nutritional and learning deficits if these legitimate needs are ignored due to inability of the Medicaid recipient to pay for uncovered services. | ||
2028 | Members in the community are able to get medical coverage, which improves their quality of life but also improves the overall community. I work in a BHSO, and I see everyday the benefits of medical coverage for members in the community. People are able to live happier, fuller lives, and as such, are able to give back to the community in a meaningful way. | If this were taken away, we could not afford medical care or the cost of the nursing Home. | ||
2029 | Members of my community are able to get the care they need, including basic health care, prenatal care that is important to both mother and child, and helps those on Medicaid to obtain mental health services. Their quality of life is better when they can receive health care, and therefore, be able to work and provide for their family’s better than having no health care. Without Medicaid, those who qualify would not have the means neccessary, and would in turn require more costly health care in the long run, keeping them from being a contributing member to society. | Imposing any of these changes would make access to healthcare impossible for many. Without Medicaid, those who normally qualify but now are without would not have the means neccessary, and would in turn require more costly health care in the long run, keeping them from being a contributing member to society. | ||
2030 | Members of my family have multiple comorbidities and went for many many years without coverage because they are among the working poor and were not eligible for Medicaid until the expansion. For the first time EVER, my niece (who has leg wounds and kidney failure) is receiving health care through passport. The care at UL has been good, but has come too late (she is 48) and now is very costly to the state. If she had had this earlier, her health, quality of life, and the state's costs would have been improved. She is now in the process of applying for disability and is likely going to spend a long costly life in nursing home care. Shame on us for not giving her medical care earlier. | Undercutting the Medicaid expansion would only increases poverty and sickness. | ||
2031 | mental health, substance abuse treatment, dental, vision, medication | |||
2032 | mentally changed individuals and substance abuse individuals that are unable to function or understand it allows family members to get them the help they need where the family could not get them treatment without medicaid | |||
2033 | Michelle P FOR MY DISABLED DAUGHTER ALLOWS ME TO WORK AND IMPROVES HER QUALITY OF LIFE | |||
2034 | More access to health care. | The costs of the changes would necessitate a big tax increase and would be a bureaucratic nightmare. The devaluing of the sick as persons would strike at the very fabric of our society. | ||
2035 | More children have had the benefits of this program. | |||
2036 | More effective use of health care dollars to use non emergency room visits for health care | There would be increased social strain, duress, and loss of potential work force | ||
2037 | More individuals have a better quality of life ie pain relief and improved functioning. Many have been able to return to work and it help others in their family and community. | Reduction in Medicaid coverage, or the proposed Bevin Administration changes would have huge effects on the health and well-being of everyone in Kentucky, whatever their health status -- except for the super-rich supporters of Gov. Bevin, who will likely profit from these changes. | ||
2038 | More people covered is a net benefit to public health, period. | |||
2039 | More people getting preventative screenings and seeing doctors sooner for treatments | I absolutely support some work/volunteer requirement and/or premium payment, but NOT the premium AND 80 hours min work/month. I'm concerned that 80 hours/month may be unreasonable for some people. My job does not provide 80 hours/month at this time. What if people have no car, will they be picked up to go to these volunteer or other work opportunities? Will they have a choice on what volunteer opportunities they pick? No one can afford a car payment working 80 hours/month at McDonald's and rent in a decent place. | ||
2040 | More people have access to medical coverage for better health. | my family would get less medical coverage which would harm their health | ||
2041 | more people have better access to health care services | Could not afford copays or premium person I know that has it has lots of health problems but not been officially disabled by social security. | ||
2042 | More people obtain needed healthcare. Our area has benefited by increased number of jobs in healthcare. These jobs inject $$ into our economy | |||
2043 | More therapy access to those that need it with mental illness | |||
2044 | Most of the clients I work with need on going services and weekly visits and supports. I am also a parent of a man with severe autism and he requires 24 hour care and community supports. | A family memberwould have to choose between food or medicine | ||
2045 | My 3 year old daughter is special needs. She requires alot of medications and special test. She needs the medication to survive. Without Medicaid she wouldn't have if bc it cost more than our monthly Income. My husband has epilepsy and Medicaid covers his meds also. He works even though he could qualify for disibilty be still works instead but we can't afford insurance through his work for a family of five. I use Medicaid for mental health services bc I became depressed when my daughter got sick. I go to counseling to cope with her illness and my fear of losing her. Without counseling I'm not sure I'd live. | The changes would mean people would be cutting back on what little they have now. | ||
2046 | My adult children both have several major health issues and live with me. They need coverage we are very low income. | Denying health care, especially to children, affects the future of our neighbors and our Commonwealth and is appallingly mean-spirited. The money spent on poorly devised attempts to deny health care to those in need could be better spent on the Medicaid program already in place that has received nationwide attention for its excellence. Instead our state is receiving negative attention and keeping people and providers and businesses in limbo while driving up costs for everyone. | ||
2047 | My adult son has benefited from the Medicaid coverage. He has a mental illness, Diagnosed with diabetes and seizures and panic attacks. He is on tons of medicines including insulin injections. Without Medicaid expansion I don't know how he would have afforded the cost of Doctors, ER, and medicines. I am low middle class and retired so I wouldn't been able to help with cost. But I thank God for kynect Medicaid expansion🙌‼ | The design and purpose of the proposed changes are punitive, and ensure that fewer people will be eligible for enrollment. The design is purposely complicated, with layers of pitfalls, that will make it impossible to comply, and even harder for the state to administer. It will be a burden on the recipient and the state, and is conceived with kicking/locking Kentuckians out of healthcare. | ||
2048 | My adult son is disabled and receives Medicaid. It has provided his ability to receive many services which allows him to continue living at home. Medicaid expansion has helped many people who are not disabled, but have limited potential to pay for for food, medicines Doctor bills,etc. They may live in an area that does not have many employment opportunities. | Unsure | ||
2049 | My adult son used Medicaid when he was self employed and starting a business. | I believe the end goal is to reduce the number of people who receive Medicaid under the fatuous guise of instilling responsibility and increasing "community engagement." This is a cruel, mean-spirited, and probably illegal attempt to save a few dollars. Those who lose coverage will not simply disappear. We'll see them at the ER sicker and more desperate than they would have been had their Medicaid coverage been stable. | ||
2050 | My adult son who has serious mental health issues has been able to receive treatment we could not afford otherwise. He is finally showing some improvement because of this and medications we could not afford. my community would be affected by people not getting the healthcare that they need and deserve might I add. | People may die or put off important health checks that may result in death or poorer health outcomes. | ||
2051 | My brother has Medicaid and works full time in rural KY. In rural counties most people do not make a living wage. | They would affect my community by increasing the cost of care by increasing the use of emergency services and people being sicker before they seek care. | ||
2052 | My brother has special needs and has received Medicaid his entire life. He is not able to work and requires several medications. | Many of my older family members could not do any of the proposed changes | ||
2053 | My brother in law has leukemia and lost his job. Medicare saved his life. Medicare helps everyone in the community by providing medical care for those who can not otherwise afford it, cost to the community would be much higher if they were not covered. | |||
2054 | My brother is able bodied, works minimum wage as a hotel desk clerk where no employer coverage is offered. Although hours vary, he has been able to seek out mental health care for depression, and has no opposition to a premium/co pay plan. | So many friends wouldn't be able to get much needed medical care | ||
2055 | My brother works full time but is not offered insurance through work and does not a lot of money through his job. Medicaid is a blessing to him. I am a highly educated, former teacher. I became very ill and eventually disabled. I lost my job but did not have enough years in to qualify for state care. Medicaid has allowed me to get the medical care I do desperately need. | The changes would be devastating to low income folks in various communities in which I have lived and worked, in many ways: All the changes would be very confusing to them and almost impossible to implement, e.g., understanding and keeping all the accounts--most are not computer-literate and some can hardly read--; accruing enough in "My Rewards" to take care of their dental and vision needs; getting to doctors, attending programs, and doing volunteer work when they lack transportation; reporting income changes when their work schedules in low-income jobs change weekly and sometimes almost daily and when they are working 2 or 3 part-time jobs, as many do because full time jobs are not available; keeping up with premiums or co-pays when they can't even keep up with the cost of basic needs much less sudden illnesses or accidents or other special needs; affording to pay for the employer's healthcare plan on a minimum or below a minimum wage; deciding when an illness or accident is serious enough to go to ER. All these changes would cause such stress and worry, a person's health situation would seriously worsen and many would most likely give up on the program and lose their health insurance. | ||
2056 | My child has had access to services for autism during the critically important early years of his life. His needs are significant and, had we been required to pay co-pays or receive only the care covered by private insurance, our child would have received less of the care necessary for his development. For example, our child is nonverbal and the speech device he uses was not covered by private insurance. | |||
2057 | My children and grandchildren are able to get the medical attention that I would not be able to pay for. | Could not afford dental and vision services | ||
2058 | My children and husband and I are all enrolled. I am disabled and my husband is a full time student. Without Medicaid none or us would see a doctor or get necessary medicine. Our quality of life would drastically decrease. | Elderly and children should always be covered. Adults with cancer, diabetes, other life threatening conditions should be covered. These folks need our help. People who are able to work but choose not to need to contribute to society in some way but volunteer work will not be possible in some communities due to lack of places to volunteer. Transportation would also be an issue. Enrollment issues will be a problem in areas with slow or no internet service. Bevin’s plan will cost more to implement and enforce than it will save. | ||
2059 | My children are less sick because people in my community are able to get treatment when needed | |||
2060 | my children benefit from Medicaid because although I work a 40+ hour job, I can not afford to carry insurance through my employer. | There are little or no services out there to assist with all the now aging baby boomers. The HCBS Waiver Program allows someone to stay in there home where they would otherwise end up in a nursing home on Medicaid and costing the government a lot more money. | ||
2061 | My clients have benefited by being able to get the medical care they need. | If these changes take place, people would suffer hardships from not receiving medical treatment. Hardships such as living in major pain and even death in some cases. Hardships like having to file bankruptcy due to medical expenses if they do receive treatment. Lack of healthy food and a roof over their and their families head would be another. | ||
2062 | My community benefited from having PCPs to transport because most of them are single mothers from DRC | I tried to buy through the marketplace. Thanks to Ky., and Bevin it's impossible. I would not have any coverage. | ||
2063 | My community has become safer and healthier with the Medicaid expansion. | These changes make it more difficult for people to obtain help. Also I see a strain on hospitals because they will still treat the sick but will receive less reimbursement, if people cannot get medicaid | ||
2064 | My community has been taken care of when they needed it. | It is my opinion that by involving eligible recipients in volunteer programs they can make contact that lead to jobs. Volunteers are beneficial to programs supporting those in need and are desperate for volunteers. This could increase the good works programs and help more families. | ||
2065 | My community has benefited by demonstrating humanity in providing rather than monetizing care. | I don’t know how we would manage a serious illness without coverage. | ||
2066 | My community has benefited by having access to both mental health services as well as medical care. I have seen homeless individuals, suffering from severe mental illness and substance abuse, receive the care that they need and stabilize. I have seen these people improve their health, gain community support, housing and employment. Without access to Medicaid (without the obstacles of paying premiums, copays, mandatory work/volunteer hours) there would be far fewer success stories. | I cannot afford health plans offered to me by traditional health insurance companies OR the plan offered through my job at a local business. I depend on Medicaid for myself and for my son to cover regular check-ups, vaccinations and antibiotics for him, and for myself. Losing my Medicaid would mean potentially losing a huge portion of my income to health care (and potentially the home that I live/rent as a result) and drastically (negatively) affect our health and wellness when I can’t afford the doctors visits, causing me to lose shifts at work. I work extremely hard and I do not have time to volunteer hours for something that all US citizens should have a right and free access to: healthcare. Even the way Medicaid currently stands I have an incredible difficult time keeping up with paperwork and getting access to medication and appointments because there are so few doctors who accept us as patients, and even urgent care will only see me certain hours of the day because of passport restrictions. Medicaid is already difficult to attain, even harder to maintain, and requires too much “proof” and paperwork as it stands currently for busy, active, hard working families like mine who depend on it. In short: losing Medicaid coverage would be an absolute devastation to me and my son and to our life. Improving it would help us, and others like us, to live and thrive. | ||
2067 | My community has benefited by helping those truly in need. | |||
2068 | My community has received valuable and much needed affordable healthcare that they need to survive. | One of our local farmers who receives health care coverage through Medicaid has described how the new requirements for income reporting do not match the way that they account for income on their family farm. For this family, although they run a farm business that accounts for the family's full income, it appears as if they are unemployed with implications for work requirements and mandatory community service hours. The uncertainty puts a lot of unnecessary work on farmers and can cause folks to lose their health insurance. | ||
2069 | My community is healthier. | Financial distress | ||
2070 | My community is made up of children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and seniors for which Medicaid is a lifeline. Longitudinal studies have shown that children on Medicaid were more likely to go to college, attain higher wages as adults and have better health throughout their lives. | Would not be able to get medical assistance for chronic illness! | ||
2071 | My community now has health care and their lives are improving daily | My company provides mental health care to Medicaid recipients. Many of our patients are able to get treatment because of the expansion. This controversy is causing stress and anxiety for our patients. | ||
2072 | My daughter has a kidney disease. Without medicare we couldn't afford her treatments. | |||
2073 | My daughter has been able to get necessary speech and occupational therapy, which is critical for her. | |||
2074 | My Daughter has been treated for Cancer. | |||
2075 | My daughter is a divorced mother with two children. She works full-time as a hair stylist and does not get employer sponsored insurance. Medicaid expansion has provided health insurance for her and her children. Her six year old daughter has a serious chronic kidney disease that would not have been covered if not for the ACA and Medicaid expansion. My 26 year old daughter just graduated from community college and is on Medicaid. She hasn’t been able to find a full-time job with health benefits. She had several covered health conditions and could not afford treatment and medications without Medicaid. | I have adult friends who work and go to school, who need this medical coverage to stay healthy and be productive. | ||
2076 | My daughter is covered by Medicaid. | |||
2077 | My daughter is disabled with IC and other issues. She could not hold down a job needs medical care | We would not be able to maintain the most possibly good health plan we can to live a happy productive life. | ||
2078 | My daughter is employed and is a hard worker but she has never had health insurance until the Medicaid expansion. It has helped her and her son tremendously. I also work in mental health services with adults that have severe and persistent mental illness. For those that have not yet received disability but are nonetheless disabled, coverage through the expansion is vital. The nature of many of these illnesses make it virtually impossible for for people with these disorders to be able to effectively pay premiums and they would always be vulnerable to lose the coverage they so desperately need. It has seemed to me that with so many proposed regulations suggested by the governor, that the state WANTS people to be unable to meet the requirements and lose coverage. I think this is tragic and shameful. | I already due more than 40 hours per week of volunteer work, but it doesn't technically qualify under the new guidelines. I would have to give up what I do now in order to comply. | ||
2079 | My daughter received Medicaid coverage while she was over 26 and enrolled in a doctorate program at UK. She is now a fully employed, tax paying citizen. Without the Medicaid coverage, she would not have been able to successfully complete the program. Her health needs were met, including birth control and dental care. | Penalties for non-emergency uses of ambulances would serve as a steep punishment for simply not having the knowledge of a medical professional. It may not be an emergency, but who knows that at the time? If you are having a panic attack for the first time, you may genuinely believe you are suffering a fatal heart attack. One medical bill, one penalty, one missed deadline could doom mine and my friends' financial futures for the rest of our lifetimes, as we are unable to ever catch up after one misstep. | ||
2080 | My daughter received Medicaid during the time she was in a doctorate program. She was over 26 and could not be on my insurance. This allowed her to get needed medical, dental and vision care while completing this grueling program. Without it she may not have been successful. An unplanned pregnancy would have forced her to drop out of school. She is now employed as a pharmacist and has health insurance through her employer. | People who have such low income cannot pay more, and should not be penalized for circumstances beyond their control. This is just mean and vindictive. | ||
2081 | My daughter recently found out she has PKD. She would be majority negatively impacted by all these changes! | Some of these changes are obviously made to decrease the number of people on Medicaid by imposing impossible guidelines. I support community involvement to be unrolled in the program but not how this plan states. | ||
2082 | My daughter takes a lot of seizure meds, without Medicaid we would not be able to afford them. | It is detrimental that we keep coverage because of pre existing conditions | ||
2083 | My daughter used Medicaid for a short time when she was in between jobs. Due to preexisting medical conditions, she needed to keep her health care. She stopped it immediately upon reemployment. It was very helpful. | These changes would devastate my family. The physical and mental illnesses we have suffered cost more than we could ever think of making. Our health status would not be good, and would certainly hamper our lives tremendously. | ||
2084 | My daughter was appropriately diagnosed at the U of L Epilepsy Center, medication was prescribed appropriately using a regimen that could be followed by her PCP. She can now work, hold a job, drive a car and has been able to obtain employer based insurance. My other daughter who works in the food service industry makes little money, but Medicaid eligibility allows her to be treated when she needs care at a PCP, obtain Dental care so she can smile and work in an industry that lives and dies by tips, and have appropriate family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Both my daughters have more successful lives because Medicaid enabled to to get healthier and stay healthier and meet their health care needs in a timely manner. | I’m afraid of the ways in which these changes could endanger community members struggling with dental and vision problems. | ||
2085 | My daughter was diagnosed recently with polycystic kidney disease and can not work because of the pain. She can not qualify or pay for medical care. | |||
2086 | My daughter with cerebral palsy receives services we would not be able to afford to better her quality of life. | These changes will effect the community. We need coverage, transportation, no enrollment gaps. Tax payers have to pay every year for services and it’s time for the state to make sure every taxpayer is covered and every taxpayer who needs assistance gets assistance. Whether is an enrollment plan with total coverage or transportation to appointments . All misuse of said programs should be reviewed and dealt with in a pre-proposed way setbup by Kentuckians. This system should be for the people BY the people. | ||
2087 | My dear friend and her four children rely on medicaid, because her husband is a small business owner who is not always able to pay himself. | They would decrease their health | ||
2088 | My disabled adult son benefits from having Medicaid coverage | Locking people who need regular, sustained access to healthcare in order to survive out of access to healthcare because of paperwork errors is cruel and inhumane, as does expecting people in nursing homes or with serious disabilities to "work" or "volunteer" in order to "earn" health care. You can't just not get treatment for 6 months or longer if you have diabetes, or need dialysis or HIV medications or have chronic asthma. If you don't have access to care and the proper medications you die. | ||
2089 | My disabled sister was helped tremendously by Medicaid. She was able to stay in her home and have home care. | Most of the folks in my community would go without healthcare. | ||
2090 | My elderly aunt takes care of 3 adult family members with cognitive and physical problems. She is unable to provide medical assistance for them on the little amount she receives monthly. | No vision and dental services | ||
2091 | My employer only offers high deductible insurance and having Medicaid for my son has helped tremendously with the cost of his medicines (over $900 per month). | As pastor of a church in Eastern Kentucky I see every day the need for adequate medical care and the huge cost, emotional and financial, of impediments to that care. The quest for fraud prevention is overstated and the proposed remedies are draconian and counter-productive. Preventative care is the cheapest, most helpful way to reduce costs. Why would Kentucky propose making care harder, more expensive, or illness more serious by imposing punitive measures on those who are overwhelmingly already following all requirements. It doesn't make sense and will cost us money in the end. | ||
2092 | My experience with Medicaid has been connected with elder and disabled persons who would have had no other access to healthcare of any kind without this coverage. These persons were on Medicaid coverage as opposed to self pay coverage through no misbehavior of their own. | |||
2093 | my family and community is benefiting from the medicaid. Most the people in my community have low paying jobs and cannot afford the medical cost. | The 6 month block is a huge issue for me. We have many addicted persons who need the coverage when they are ready to seek treatment. Mentally they are in a state where they cannot make decisions to care for themselves and need Medicaid to get the help they need. Doesn’t mean they need the coverage forever, but do need it to be retroactive when they apply as they are often entering then applying for coverage. | ||
2094 | My family and I are fortunate to not need Medicaid but it helps a lot of people who otherwise wouldn't have access to healthcare. | |||
2095 | My family and I are healthier and don’t worry about going to the doctor because we can afford it now. My community is happier and more people get regular checkups with doctors and dentists and optometrists than I’ve ever seen in the past. | People would delay healthcare until they reach a point of no return, and our medical industry will continue to be one of treatment only and not preventative care. | ||
2096 | My family had medicaid coverage years ago when we were considered poverty. We now do not have any insurance coverage because we earn too much, and our employers do not provide benefits. We do work at professional levels with college degrees. | I would lose my ability to receive treatment and I would not be able to afford my psych meds which I need desperately | ||
2097 | My family has been able to get treated for illnesses, injuries, emergency sickness and injuries, had skin conditions treated, seen by mental health professionals, hospitalized for illnesses physical and mental, treated with costly medication and physician follow-up visits for RSV, able to go to dentist for checkups, fillings, root canals, cleanings, prenatal and postpartum visits, NICU stay, and much more. Without Medicaid, and not having private insurance, some of my family may not be here. And if they were, their quality of life would be dismal because of not having insurance to cover being seen by a doctor. | My son would no longer be able to receive dental and vision care he needs as a result of his substance use | ||
2098 | My family has been able to seek medical coverage for themselves as well as their children. Thankfully, they have not been terminally ill but they have been sick and Medicaid has been a wonderful assistance for them. | I would not have a home, access to transportation and medical care. I am a paraplegic. | ||
2099 | My family has been served by Medicaid in the past. It allowed my children to maintain healthcare while my husband and I were in graduate school. We would not have the stability and careers we have now without the help of Medicaid and food stamps. Now, as a medical provider, I serve patients who rely on Medicaid to cover their healthcare costs. | People would lose access to healthcare. Many would suffer unnecessarily. Some would die. | ||
2100 | My family has benefited from Medicaid by having access to routine checkups and emergency visits/procedures without worrying about not being able to afford care. | Many vulnerable individuals including children may suffer great harm. | ||
2101 | My family has benefited greatly through medicaid we have been able to keep up with our health. My sister was able to get her appendectomy through emergency removal otherwise with out it would not be able to afford. she had to be transferred to UK from Georgetown Hospital. She was able to get stitches on her foot. And see doctors when she got really ill. With out medicaid our family would have been able to afford health care. My mother is a single parent and the only person supporting her 3 children. I had the H1N1 FLU and would not have been able to get seen due to no insurance if it wasn't because I had medicaid. I recently had to get my appendix taken out due to it being inflamed and at the point to bust if it wasn't because I had coverage I would not have been able to get it done or pay the bills. Get the medication I need and much more. For my son he would not have been able to get his vaccines. Get his bilirubin checked and more that he needed since the day he was born to this day. I would not have been able to afford it. | |||
2102 | My family has not benefited from Medicaid - I'm a pharmacist and see abuse of this program -- and I have cared for my father and mother for the last 6 yrs , because they worked a lifetime . they would have lost everything to pay for nursing home care , while medicaid( even felons) users get free nursing homes in the nicest resorts (nursing home in town) -- I also see ER visits for stuffy noses for the medicaid people , while the working people have to pay Not to mention the increase work load of the medical staff | |||
2103 | My family have benefited from Medicaid we are able to get quality healthcare. All jobs does not offer healthcare insurance such as hotels, restaurants, and stores | Dental health is directly related to overall health. Cutting those benefits will be extremely detrimental to current Medicaid enrollees. Furthermore, some options are not covered for patients because it's cheaper just to extract the teeth rather than repair them. Dental care should be expanded. | ||
2104 | My family is healthier and happier. Less stress of worrying how to pay for all the bills. | I would probably not seek medical treatment. | ||
2105 | My family is not on Medicaid and has never been in a situation where we needed Medicaid coverage. I know there are people in my community that NEED their benefits. Charging for a program that has a purpose to help people goes against everything it is meant for. People need help! Devote more time into getting the people off Medicaid that are abusing the system instead of throwing a blanket over everyone. | They will put budget and money matters on the backs of the poorest and most disadvantaged of us. Why are those with the least supposed to be the first ones to make the budget balance? How about the wealthiest and most privileged be expected to play a part in helping our society function?! | ||
2106 | My family member has better coverage than my commercial plan. They have been able to have complete coverage of any needed medical care. | Just give decent health care to everyone, and charge a little bit if you need to. Don't lock people out for any reason. | ||
2107 | My family member has had annual check ups and preventive dental care that she hadn't accessed without insurance. Where I work, patients have come in for preventive care and have come in earlier in their course of illness - when things are easier to treat. We assist many clients in accessing non-emergency medical transportation to specialty appointments they would otherwise skip. | |||
2108 | My family member has mental health issues and cannot work, but is able to receive treatment due to medicaid | People will be unable to afford healthcare and basic necessities. In the long run, this will cost the community in more expensive healthcare down the road. | ||
2109 | My family member is getting treatment before tragedy..he has schizophrenia, and he can get monthly shot, pills and therapy that he would not get otherwise. He would be homeless, and/or in jail or dead if he did not have this. If I am required to have hours or work, he suffers and can go off the rails! I, as his mother am not considered a caretaker..by the govt. Definition. But I am his full time caregiver. He, and my family would be devastated without me doing this! It affects our family economically! So Medicaid is necessary for me..without any work requirements or hours. It is vital ..for him to live ..just to stay alive! And I need it too to keep him safe and alive. I cannot do that with the restrictions! | |||
2110 | My family personally has private health insurance via Anthem, but I believe that Medicaid does a lot of good in the community; a community is only as strong and healthy as its people. | |||
2111 | My family would not have insurance if not for Medicaid not allowing them to access to care. I see the benefits on a daily basis with people having access to appropriate medical care that without Medicaid they would not get. | As above, the health of my community affects all of us. Plus healthcare for all Is the Christian, moral, and humane thing to do. | ||
2112 | My family's fine. The healther my community is, the better for us all. | This would greatly reduce the access to treatment for those who are not able to work. | ||
2113 | My father has had Medicaid since the expansion. He works as a self employed individual and was able to be on Medicaid due to his low income. He has now moved on to a marketplace plan as his pay has increased. But over the last 4 years having Medicaid has helped his health and ability to go get regular check ups. Before the expansion he had not been to a primary care doctor for 10 years. | I wouldn't be able to get medical services and I am the major care giver to my grandchildren | ||
2114 | My father has stage 4 cancer that my family would not be able to treat if he did not have Medicaid covering his treatments. My father could not afford health insurance and the cost of treatment. Medicaid has greatly extended his life. | Health would suffer. | ||
2115 | My father is a retired county government employee & he is a healthy 83 because of the insurance that pays for his care. | |||
2116 | My grandkids all have KCHIP, which takes so much worry off of their parents.Additionally, my son and daughter in law have benefited from expanded Medicaid in the past. | Too many penalties and obstacles could easily prevent my son from being able to pursue his dreams of becoming self sufficient. | ||
2117 | My grandmother was on Medicaid for a brief time before she passed away. It was helpful to not have to worry about how we were going to cover her medical costs those last few months. | My husband and I both have non-traditional jobs. My husband works for a Christian non-profit organization and loves his work, but it does not provide health insurance and he is required to raise support to cover his monthly salary and expenses. I work as an in-home childcare provider so my income varies month to month depending on how many kids/hrs I have each month. Some of the new regulations would make it more complicated to ensure that our family continues to receive the coverage we need. Also, our community contains so many immigrants and refugees who are no doubt going to lose coverage as they struggle to understand the proposed changes. Navigating the Medicaid system has been a challenge for us as white, English speaking college graduates, so I can’t even imagine how challenging these changes would be for those who are not native English speakers. | ||
2118 | My grandmother, whom worked all her life, either in restaurants or grocery stores, but never had a retirement, has medicaid. It helps pay for her medicine and her pcp care. She is almost 80 with heart problems (Afib) and kidney problems. Even though she worked since she was 17 her ssi benefits are only 750 per month. She could not afford to go to the doctor without this or afford her life saving medications. | These changes would affect our community by limiting the care that human beings need in order to work and provide for their families. It would also affect Refugees and the ability they have to have insurance to cover them for the years that they didn't have medical care, while in the Refugee camps. | ||
2119 | My grandparents health would have been compromised without it. | |||
2120 | My grandson suffered from seizures and required extensive testing to determine the nature of his illness. He was also born premature and required extensive hospitalization upon birth. Due to this assistance he has been working for the past 2 years although he is not yet 18, has his driver's license and his own paid car with insurance, is about to graduate from H.S. in less than 4 yrs. and is about to receive his Eagle Scout award. All this would not have happened were it not for the assistance that he received early in his life from Medicaid. | Worse health, fewer employable citizens, fewer jobs coming to town. | ||
2121 | My grandson would have to go without medicine that helps him focus in school. | Family members would likely lose coverage, at least for significant periods. | ||
2122 | My great nephew, age 11, who is being raised by his grandparents has been able to see the dentist regularly and has been diagnosed with and treated for asthma. | |||
2123 | My health has almost stabilized. I have about 6-7 chronic illnesses that i should probably be on disability otherwise | People who are ill and poor do not Ned to have additional burdens placed on them when they need help. It is expensive to be poor in this country. | ||
2124 | My husband after working the same job for 20 years, has become disabled. The entire family of 6 lost their medical coverage because of this. Have applied for disability, but have been told it could take 2-4 years to be approved.medicaid has allowed him to keep his specialist appointments, refill his needed medicine. I have been able to keep my dental appointments, and refill my medicine. My son will hopefully be able to go to a needed dental appointment and vision appointment. | Eliminating or restricting Medicare will adversely affect the most vulnerable, causing them to become sicker and able to contribute less to society. Caring for them when they're catastrophically ill will cost more than treating their illnesses early. | ||
2125 | My husband and I are able to go to the doctor now and have our teeth checked and have our eyes checked, we never could afford to that before. We also now have transportation, where as before we didn't. | Be devastating to members of my family into the community | ||
2126 | My husband and I both have chronic pain problems, so we absolutely need access to doctors, otherwise we may not be able to work. Our children benefit from the coverage because they are in school. With all of the germs floating around, it is always better to have peace of mind knowing that they will be covered if they get sick. We could not afford to pay for commercial insurance on our own. Honestly, Medicaid coverage has saved all of our lives at least once. | Without Medicaid my husband can not afford his medication. He has diabetes and COPD as well as high blood pressure | ||
2127 | My husband and I both have had serious medical issues that would not have been treated without our ins coverage. | |||
2128 | My husband drives a Medicab transport service and earns extra income above Social Security. | |||
2129 | My husband has preexisting conditions and relies on Medicaid for care, the insurance provided through his employment is unaffordable. I need Medicaid for my own health, if I had to pay I wouldn’t ever see a doctor. I am a caregiver for my 3 young children, one who is disabled- I need to be healthy for them. My daughter requires tumor screening every 3 months, Medicaid pays for that. | These changes, as they are explained here (and the explanations do not seem very reliable or complete -- too many unanswered questions) would place an undue burden on too many people. If there was more complete information, it may have changed some of my answers, but there are too many unanswered questions. Too many people I know would be harshly punished by these changes -- these changes seems to assume that people are always just too lazy to work; therefore deserve to be left out of health care. | ||
2130 | my husband was eligible for the ABI waiver and without it, I would have had to file bankruptcy because his premium under ACA was 9.5% of my income, plus I was paying 10% of my income for mine, and his did not have benefits until we met a huge deductible... basically, it would have been over 35% of my yearly gross without the ABI waiver, but.... those that can work should have to contribute, otherwise, the system will go broke and then everyone is S.O.L. | |||
2131 | My husband works for a non-profit organization and I babysit kids in our home as well as taking care of our own kids. Our family loves the organization and work and my husband does but they do not offer health care and the pay is very low since it is a small non-profit. It has been such a huge blessing for our family to be covered by the Medicaid expansion so that we can continue to do the work that we love without having to stress about healthcare coverage for our family. | |||
2132 | My husband works full time. He has health issues which require prescription medication The plan he is offered through his work does not cover his medication through Medicaid he has access to his doctor and medication | Many would lose coverage and have no options. | ||
2133 | My husband's income dropped one year and made him eligible for Medicaid. It took very good care of him as he had some previously undiagnosed health issues. I also have a child who is on the Michelle P. waiver. I don't think these proposed changes would affect her, but I'm not really sure. Medicaid pays for services she needs to address her developmental disability. | |||
2134 | My job is impacted by medicaid since I'm a provider | My children may not have health care and my business may not survive if people can't use their insurance for mental health care. | ||
2135 | My late Mother was in a nursing home after being disabled by a stroke and Medicaid made a huge difference. | |||
2136 | My middle class family was without health insurance after losing our jobs. We couldn’t have afforded care for our daughter without it. I worked 3 part time jobs and my husband a full plus part time job at this time and still could barely make ends meet | Health care is too important to take away from people. Not everyone can get to jobs or perform community service in their area. | ||
2137 | My mom has been able to see a doctor and get her meds. | My brother in law & niece would not have medical or dental care. | ||
2138 | My mom received Medicaid after 2014 with the ACA expansion and was able to go to the dentist to get her teeth removed. Her teeth were severely rotten and endangering her life. With the help of Medicaid she was able to get them removed and later received a set of dentures helping her confidence and well being exponentially increase. | If we have to pay co pays or a percentage of our medical bills it will be more than we are able to pay for. It would cause a strain on us financially and physically due to the fact that we wouldnt be able to pay for all of our medications and preventive care procedures. | ||
2139 | My mom would have died | Requiring recipients to be vested in Medicaid through both charging premiums/copays and requiring them to work/volunteer if they are able-bodied is a positive for all involved. I believe every person is valuable and has something to offer to our communities. My church ran a sports program in our community. Overwhelmingly, we found the children who received full "scholarship" to cover the registration and uniform costs, failed to regularly come to practices and many missed games. Some never even showed up again, despite knowing their child had a complete uniform kit ordered and paid for. You know why?? They had no skin in the game - it didn't cost them anything. Medicaid is similar to me. I have friends who work for the ambulance service. They have Medicaid patients call an ambulance for non-emergency situations ALL THE TIME. Some even use the ambulance service as a taxi. They tell the drivers "I have a medical card. You can't tell me no." Maybe its just where I live, but I think Medicaid fraud is rampant. If Kentucky starts placing requirements on them - gives them a little skin in the game - maybe it would cut down on some of the frivolous use and save the state money. | ||
2140 | My mother and father had to use Medicaid Insurance later in life. They were productive citizens, business owners, and wonderful people who paid MORE than their fair share of taxes throughout their lives. Eventually, medical bills drained their savings and eventually had to go onto medicaid. | |||
2141 | My mother and stepfather were on Medicaid for the last few years of their lives. He had been a pastor with a very modest income. | |||
2142 | My mother benefitted from Medicaid for long term care after she spent her life savings on her care. Without Medicaid, she would not have received needed medical care would have likely suffered and died a miserable death. I also have friends who have family members that suffered severe injuries and would not have been able to afford needed rehab and long term care. The community benefits because overall it is healthier and many individuals who would simply cycle between ER visits and worsening health, which places a burden on several community resources, have access to on-going needed healthcare. | Less availability to healthcare leads to sicker folks, less productive, deeper financial debt. | ||
2143 | My mother has been without health insurance for decades - Medicaid expansion has allowed her to get antibiotics when she had bronchitis, repaired her cataracts, and enabled her to continue caring for my father who has multiple health issues. My clients (I am a case manager) are able to get their basic medical needs met so that physical health problems don't escalate to more expensive complications - it's ethically right to take care of our community's most vulnerable, and far more cost effective to do preventative care rather than crisis intervention. | We live in rural KY, where public transportation is very limited. The Medicaid transportation is very important. Also, it will be impossible for people in surrounding counties to meet work requirements because there aren’t enough local opportunities. | ||
2144 | My mother has Medicaid and she needs Medicaid because she cant afford to pay for her prescriptions. | I know from personal experience that when the cost of health care goes up, due to increased premiums or higher deductibles, I am less likely to go to a doctor and less likely to get preventative procedures such as pap smears and mammograms. | ||
2145 | My mother has no vehicle and is unable to work due to taking care of my grandmother, she also has a lot of health issues and having Medicaid has helped with her still being able to see her doctor and get her medications. | These friends are already have full schedules due to jobs, school, and kids and could not be able to keep up with an additional volunteer requirement. | ||
2146 | My mother has severe asthma and also celiac disease. She was recently forced into early retirement and now needs Medicaid until she is eligible for medicare. I'm afraid if she loses Medicaid she could die because she couldn't afford the healthcare she needs. | I am a social worker in Kentucky. Implementing a complicated system of premiums, copays, rewards, penalties.... this is just not a good idea. It is going to result in more people losing access to healthcare and we will return to the days of everyone without insurance showing up in the emergency department for treatment. There is clear, overwhelming evidence that is the worst possible way to provide healthcare to anyone. Research shows us that most of the people that are "able-bodied" and receiving Medicaid are already working - imposing work requirements is unnecessary. While $5 or $10 a month doesn't sound like much for a middle income Kentuckian, it can be a substantial barrier to a worker that lives on a low-income, hourly wage. One bout of the flu in a single-parent family with two children can easily result in a negative income (hourly wage earners don't get paid when they can't work). Further, Kentucky agencies are struggling to administer the programs we already have in place. The Kentucky HEALTH program is complicated and cumbersome - who is going to oversee this program and ensure that eligible Kentuckians are able to access it? What will happen when a recipient in the middle of treatment for a specific health condition fails to submit a monthly work log and loses benefits for six months? While there is certainly room for improvement in the current Medicaid program, this current proposal is not the correct approach. | ||
2147 | My mother is 87 years old, is blind, and suffers from Alzheimer's. She is currently in a nursing home, and has been able to receive the care she needs for the last two years because of Medicaid. | Currently, KY has a large rate of unemployment. There are also those who are working in minimum wage level jobs (1or more) and who can barely afford to pay minimum house rentals. This simply means that cannot afford viable health insurance and certainly would not have the time free of their child care responsibilities to offer additional community volunteer services required for them to retain the Medicaid coverage. Furthermore the so called "War on Coal" would only be an extension of the KY war on coal miners suffering from black lung disease. | ||
2148 | My Mother is 95 & worked most of her life. Without Medicaid, she would be unable to have access & transportation to medical care. I have serious, life threatening diseases & don't qualify for Medicaid. Although I have been very ill since January I have been unable to get medical care because I can't afford it. I also cannot afford much needed dental care & I feel that my life is at risk because of it. | At this point I am not sure | ||
2149 | My mother is in a nursing home and has a Medicaid waiver. | |||
2150 | my mother lived in a nursing facility for 15 years. her money ran out in less than two. They let her teeth rot. Your mouth is the way we ingest food. Poor dental care can cause pulmonary and heart problems increase the cost of care. | These proposals are another way to control and challenge poor folks who already struggle in a way people who fit into the mainstream of capitalism cannot understand and believe is real. (especially people who can afford to become politicians, another huge problem with our capitalistic "democracy") | ||
2151 | My mother receives Medicaid to help pay the Nursing Home costs each month | making Medicaid more difficult to obtain or keep would hurt those who need it most | ||
2152 | My mother was on it for a period when she needed a lung transplant | It would make healthcare much more difficult for my partners special-needs adoption kids. | ||
2153 | My mother was on Medicaid the last 4 years of her life. Without it she would not have been able to stay in the nursing home where she required 24/7 assistance with all ADL's. | They would not get care and I ( retired living on a fixed income) would have to pay for Meds, etc. | ||
2154 | My mother would not be able to get out of bed without the diagnosis and medication provided by Medicaid. My local doctors and hospitals would be out of business for lack of customers. In McCreary County, we have a Tennessee county just across the line from us that is just as poor as we. We have Medicaid, Scott County doesn't. McCreary County's nearby KY hospitals and doctors have stayed in business, even seen small growth, because of Medicaid enrollment. Scott County's hospital shut down for three years and only reopened under a mass, precarious charity scheme. Medicaid money makes the healthcare sector viable in poor regions, and has saved the lives of many of my family members. | I will see less fraud coming through my drive thru window at the pharmacy where I work. | ||
2155 | My mother would not have been able to have the medical care she needs or the medications if it were not for her Medicaid coverage. She has heart disease and diabetes and depends on this coverage for survival. | Governor Bevin's changes deny that health care is a human right, but rather a commodity---those without money might as well just go die in a ditch! | ||
2156 | My neighbors and friends have benefited by improved access to preventative health care. | My family that works still cannot afford insurance and we need support from medicaid | ||
2157 | My nephew is a single dad who the mother has walked away. He is trying to get back on his feet and this helps him save money so he can get a place for him and his son to live. | no affordable healthcare or dental | ||
2158 | My only health insurance for most of my life has been Medicaid. Without it, I do not visit a doctor, dentist, eye doctor, gynecologist, etc. For me, I have endometriosis and was undiagnosed for several years costing me lots of unnecessary pain (extreme pain) and missed days of work. I could not be a productive member of society and adequately take care of myself before I got coverage through medicaid expansion and had a much needed surgery and support from a doctor. I have bad teeth. So do lots of kentuckians. Having good dental health is a precursor to overall health. Because of not having dental insurance before medicaid expansion I have had to have 2 root canals because of having to let cavities grow into the nerve and root system of my teeth because I cannot afford to visit a dentist. Root canals cost a lot more money both for Medicaid. Also, it costs individuals more because crowns that are needed to cover a root canal are not covered under medicaid and must be purchased out of pocket. If you don't cover the root canal with a crown you are at risk for serious infection and even cancer of the mouth. Not having access to counsellors and medications for mental illnesses has seriously hurt me. | |||
2159 | My parents worked and saved all their lives, but nursing care exhausted their savings. Medicaid was the only thing left to help. | As a parent of an adult disabled child who can not drive to dr appt. etc. transportation is paramount. He needs and deserves vision and dental care. He could easily misunderstand or forget deadlines that would end his coverage and be punished for these shortcomings. He certainly can not finically afford any extra cost for dr care or medications. I feel this is a cold hearted approach that shows a lack of empathy for the people in our state that have been less lucky phycially, mentally and financially than some others in our state. | ||
2160 | My partner and I own and operate a small business. I have two kids, age 7 and 9. I have had Medicaid for my family since they were babies in Texas and then in ky when I moved back home in 2013. I would not get individual insurance if Medicaid were not available for me, I would just count on staying healthy with diet and other practices. But Medicaid gives me peace of mind for if I were in an accident or similar. I’m not for the work requirements— not because I don’t work enough— but because I don’t want more paperwork in my life. We’ve done enough paperwork. I think it will be hard to prove that I meet work requirements since my husband and I both work for ourselves. | Medicaid recipients should have as much but not more than the elderly Medicare recipients, and should pay as much as they do. | ||
2161 | My partner did a special-needs adoption of two older children. Their good Medicaid coverage made it financially possible. | I'm disabled and barely surviving. I can't afford changes | ||
2162 | My partner has severe mental health issues as well as a chronic pain from what his doctor describes as "a very aggressive" form of psoriatic arthritis. He doesn't earn very much. His medication costs $2000 a month. If I were to add him to my employer insurance, in addition to my premiums increasing threefold, we would have over a $6000 deductible. We cannot afford to pay $6000 out of pocket. His doctor told him recently that without his medication, he'd be in a wheelchair by now. He'll be 35 this year. We spent about 8 months with him uninsured once and he could barely get out of bed. Medicaid is important to us. Without it, the anxiety of dealing with medical issues would overwhelm us. And the lack of affortable medication would mean certain disability for my 35 year old partner. | I need this insurance. Without it, you might as well kill me | ||
2163 | My patients are finally getting consistent healthcare. We work with a huge homeless population and Medicaid is helping these individuals get the help they need, both mentally and physically to hopefully lead a more fulfilling life. | My brother works 12 - 15 hour days as a caterer. He got Medicaid insurance and he finally got preventive care done like a colonoscopy. Before he would just go to ER or urgent care to treat illnesses, preventive care is so important and saves money. Going to dentist regularly is important to. Dental infections can go through the bloodstream and infect other organs in the body. | ||
2164 | My sister benefits from Medicaid coverage because she would not be able to afford healthcare if it were not for Medicaid. | If small health problems become large health problems then cost increases. It only makes sense to treat the health issue early. | ||
2165 | My sister had my nephew and was on medicaid for a few years. This is a crucial service that helps people. | Everyone suffers when a community is unhealthy; a child's school performance is compromised, as is daily life for adults who are income insecure. | ||
2166 | My sister has a bi-polar disorder. Although she worked her entire life, she has no savings and currently lives on $900 a month from Social Security. She relies on Medicaid in order to see her mental health providers and to pay for her medications. Without Medicaid, she likely would be quite ill and possibly a danger to herself. She relies on me to interpret the mailings she receives from the state and managed care plan. She is not able to focus on the verbiage nor is she able to understand the sometimes, confusing, ever-changing rules about Medicaid coverage. This inability causes her a great deal of stress which frequently triggers episodes of mania and depression. She has allowed her coverage to lapse in the past because the information she received in the mail was too overwhelming for her. Unfortunately, she did not show me the notices in a timely manner. It is facile to talk about "helping" individuals take responsibility for their own health and enabling them to have "skin in the game." Medicaid is a lifeline for my sister. It is not a luxury nor does she try to game the system. | Many people I care about would have a loss of some or all benefits or have a financial burden of making payments on very limited incomes. | ||
2167 | my sister has a chronic diabetic issue that requires medication and rehab services, without Medicaid what could she do? | These changed would disqualify people from receiving what is their right: good medical access I strongly oppose these proposed changes as contrary to the intent of the law | ||
2168 | My sister is critically ill. Medicaid has saved her life. | They would be devastated! | ||
2169 | My sister was born with Down Syndrome and Autism and suffered from absent seizures for the first year of her life which left her with severely low muscle-tone, legal blindness, and impaired coordination. She has suffered from numerous health complications since birth, including a tethered spinal cord. Without Medicaid, my sister may well have died early in life due to a lack of proper care, much of which my mother fought for. | My friend can no longer work. My family member was in a car accident after being sober for a little longer than a year. Without coverage, she cannot have her many medical issues taken care of while waiting for auto insurance companies to decide who is going to cover her care. | ||
2170 | My sister who is living with mental illness and an intellectual disability has Medicaid which covers her medically necessary services including, housing, daily support staff to help with activities of daily living, mental health services, case management, prescriptions, and transportation to receive services in the community. Additionally I work for a mental health agency which provides services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community - the homeless and severely mentally ill. Medicaid covers individual and group therapy, case management, peer support specialists, and transportation, all of which are vital components in helping people manage their mental health symptoms. | Poverty should not be the new form of genocide in Kentucky. I am watching a relative die a slow and painful death because she is unable to access the care she needs. We need comprehensive expansion and healthcare for all! | ||
2171 | My sister-in-law has been able to have a surgery on her foot thanks to Medicaid expansion, which in the past had impaired her mobility and ability to work. Her prior employer did not offer employer-sponsored coverage. She currently is caring for my parents-in-law 10-12 hours per day, one of whom is a retired state employee and recently suffered a stroke, and the other who is completely disabled and on traditional Medicaid. This would not have been possible five years ago. | My son has Medicaid because of Bipolar Schizoaffective. He can't read or process any of the forms required to keep up with the new requirements. I work for a National Healthcare organization and I'm a nurse. I don't understand the forms and requirements either. My son already lost SNAP (food) benefits because the forms and process are so unclear and the lockouts are so swift. No one has been able to answer questions from government agencies about what forms need to be proactively completed to keep or maintain coverage. As a national consultant for complex patients, if I can't keep up with the requirements - how will the vulnerable people on Medicaid be able to do it?especially those without homes, phones, computers and transportation - and those who are mentally ill or developmentally delayed? I think many people will lose coverage and the cost of care will shift to the health systems as many more will be uninsured and will have no preventative care. | ||
2172 | My son and his family have work insurance that is very high and not good benefits and their 2 children are eligible for medicaid benefits. It allows the children to have exams etc as they need. When my son lost his job medicaid picked him up. The only thing he has used it for is counseling and medicine so its so beneficial for them and they don't abuse it. My brother had a stroke and had medicare only. I am his power of attorney and though it was extremely difficult to work through the system we were able to get his medicaid and he is cared for in a local nursing home. We had to use transportation services for several months until he got more mobile due to therapy. I now transport him on the shorter doctor visits but have to use tranport services for the longer trips to doctors. In my job I see lots of folks abuse medicaid who are physically able to work and just won't. We need change that will allow low income families to stay healthy while forcing those able to work to work in order to get benefits. | Above..my son benefits from Medicaid by being and staying alive and safe! | ||
2173 | My son and I have been able to get regular dental and vision care, which is crucial for our health. I have been ab able to see my primary care doctor instead of having to go to the er for treatment. Thanks to expanded medicaid I have been able to get my chronic health conditions under control and now I rarely have to see the doctor. | Destroy my life. | ||
2174 | My son doesn't make enough money to cover medical emergencies. Medicaid is critical. | With the elderly issues with eyes, teeth etc would not be handled. Issues with continuing dialysis. Would have problems working a set schedule due to health issues and frequent hospitalization | ||
2175 | MY SON EARNS LOW WAGES AND HAS NO HEALTH CARE AT WORK. MEDICAID MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. | Poor people will use the ER for primary care. Private healthcare policies will increase in cost to pay for their healthcare by people with health insurance. | ||
2176 | My son had to utilize the program, however he can not get coverage at this time. | I could develop Glaucoma & not know it or have the tear in my eye get worse, & not know. Without eyes, you put me in a more disabled state than I’m already in by eliminating my access to vision care. My uncle is covered by Medicaid & he has an enlarged heart, so he’d have problems too. | ||
2177 | my son has access to dental benefits provided by Medicaid. I am not financially able to provide insurance for my child through my work. | Could not get proper care | ||
2178 | My son has autism and he would not be able to receive his therapy services without it. He does not have waiver services due to waiting list. He needs dental care and vision care. He has vision needs and has special glasses. | Without my medicines I would die | ||
2179 | My son has autism and I am semi retired. We could not afford our health care without medicaid | Lack of healthcare destroys lives, families, and communities. Why would anyone deny another human being access to a better quality of life? To cause people to go bankrupt and or lose their homes benefits no one. | ||
2180 | My son has been able to receive mental health and substance abuse treatment | This would affect my job and community directly. I am a social worker and get to experience a different view of life through others eyes. I see first hand how we have an epidemic of drugs, addiction, economic hardship, and educational challengies in kentucky. I am able assist people who desparately need help changing their lives around due to the behavioral benefits of medicaid. They need therapy, case management, and medication management to get on their feet and become contributing members of society. They are often uneducated, without guidance and support, and if we take away their benefits then they have no hope and no way to take care of their health or mental health, which are basic needs for all humans. | ||
2181 | My son has cerebralpalsy, I am a 1 income family if he did not have ky medicaid coverage i dont know how we would pay for his Dr. And the equipment that he needs. | It would cut my monthly cash for necessities to 1/3 due to copays. Its keeping people from receiving necessary treatment needed to stay healthy. | ||
2182 | My son has chronic pancreatic disease. Without Medicaid he would have no medical support at all. | It would be devastating to this community. People would die. | ||
2183 | My son has coverage | I'm 68, in reasonably good health, have Medicare, Social Security, and at this time can afford a Medicare supplement. I can't predict the future, but should any unforeseen circumstance render me in need of long term nursing care, my resources would be quickly depleted and in the absence of family care-givers I would be required to apply for Medicaid once my Medicare benefits ended. Dental and Vision Care: While seemingly inconsequential, they aren't! Just think of the children whose educational success would be compromised if they're vision is impaired and goes uncorrected. Would discouragement and frustration lead to early drop out? Think of the elderly whose undetected glaucoma or untreated cataracts prevented them from reading correct dosage on their medicine bottles or OTC medications. Poor dental hygiene, untreated cavities, gum disease can lead to otherwise preventable systemic disease, especially on heart function. Poor nutrition is common which then weakens the immune system leading to more challenging problems in terms of chronic health and cost. We can't further punish people because they're poor. If families and individuals are already struggling to exist, placing additional burdens such as co-pays and premiums, denying transport, requiring community service (when perhaps someone is already working two low paying jobs just to make ends meet), etc., is simply defeating the purpose of providing Medicaid in the first place. Those who need it most won't qualify if these new 'guidelines' are put into place. If there are abuses in the system, identify those and work toward effective oversight, but don't punish all for the actions of a few. A thriving community is a health one! Does our drug problem correlate with frustration, anger and despair over the destitute circumstances more and more people are faced with? Is crime related to our drug problem? Overcrowded jails? We MUST give people a lifeline to healthcare, not deny access to Medicaid because of additional, impossible to meet, criteria. | ||
2184 | My son has had addiction problems after 13 back surgeries. Finally got Medicaid to help pay for treatment. | The changes will not really affect my family member who is enrolled in Medicaid. Not sure how it will affect the community but I do believe that Able Body people should have to go to work to be eligible for this. | ||
2185 | My son has multiple handicaps and would have to live in a nursing facility if his Medicaid coverage were not robust. A single one of his seizure medications that preserve his life would render us homeless after 1-2 months of trying to obtain it. | Without Medicaid people will be dying in the streets. | ||
2186 | My son has PPMS and it has allowed him to continue needed treatment after his job was eliminated. | |||
2187 | My son has received mental health care we could not afford otherwise. | If the work requirements were in place, it would be impossible for me to be a successful student and complete the these hours every week/month. I’ve added an extra class just to make sure I don’t fall below 12 hours, so I’m paying more money and focusing more time on something I don’t need just to protect my student status. It’s also incredibly insulting as this rule implies we do not work at all or don’t work enough, which is untrue. Government should improve the lives of its citizens, not tear it down and make it harder. | ||
2188 | My son in law has been able to help support his family and recieve medical care that the family could not afford. My granddaughter and great granddaughter are receiving services while my granddaughter works toward getting a college degree. | If I lose my Medicaid, I will be forced to apply for food assistance and perhaps government housing, likely costing the state more than it did by covering my Medicaid. | ||
2189 | My son in law is a minister of a small congregation that is not large enough to provide his family with insurance coverage. He and our daughter have NO coverage, but the children have Medicaid. It is the only reason they have been able to have medical care when needed and has been a tremendous relief to know if one of the children needs medical attention they can get it and not be turned away because of no payment. | I am considered medically frail. I don’t own a car and so now I need assistance getting to a doctors appointment if one of my family members is unable to help me. I am unable to work and cannot participate in any work/volunteer requirements. I do not have money to pay copays or ER visits. All of the Medicaid services as is work for my situation. If there are changes I will suffer potentially grave consequences. | ||
2190 | My son is autistic and works part-time. He does not receive benefits from his employer and my employer does not cover family members (also, He is 30 years old) He is very healthy physically, but it gives us peace of mind to know that he would be covered in the event of illness or an accident. | I am considered medically frail. I don’t own a car and so now I need assistance getting to a doctors appointment if one of my family members is unable to help me. I am unable to work and cannot participate in any work/volunteer requirements. I do not have money to pay copays or ER visits. All of the Medicaid services as is work for my situation. If there are changes I will suffer potentially grave consequences. | ||
2191 | My son is Bipolar Schizoaffective. He doesn't have disability yet - its takes several years for processing. He would not have any healthcare without Medicaid and it pays for the psychiatric care that keeps him stable. He would be much more expensive on the healthcare system without the on-going coverage of Medicaid. His mental illness makes it impossible to get a job. He would be homeless and unsafe without the psychiatric care he gets from the Medicaid coverage. | I am considered medically frail. I don’t own a car and so now I need assistance getting to a doctors appointment if one of my family members is unable to help me. I am unable to work and cannot participate in any work/volunteer requirements. I do not have money to pay copays or ER visits. All of the Medicaid services as is work for my situation. If there are changes I will suffer potentially grave consequences. | ||
2192 | My son is disabled and without Medicaid his medical and prescription costs would be too much for him to afford. This would definitely be detrimental to his health. | I am considered medically frail. I don’t own a car and so now I need assistance getting to a doctors appointment if one of my family members is unable to help me. I am unable to work and cannot participate in any work/volunteer requirements. I do not have money to pay copays or ER visits. All of the Medicaid services as is work for my situation. If there are changes I will suffer potentially grave consequences. | ||
2193 | My son is disabled. Medicaid coverage allows him to have regular doctor's visits as well as ensures he has his medications, eye exams, and dental care when needed. | I am considered medically frail. I don’t own a car and so now I need assistance getting to a doctors appointment if one of my family members is unable to help me. I am unable to work and cannot participate in any work/volunteer requirements. I do not have money to pay copays or ER visits. All of the Medicaid services as is work for my situation. If there are changes I will suffer potentially grave consequences. | ||
2194 | My Son now has a regular doctor that he can go to, | many people in my community cannot find a place to volunteer or work for 80 hours. Making this a requirement would unduly punish people in rural communities. | ||
2195 | My son receives medicaid and we have applied but do not quite qualify | His neurologist has recommended that he file for disability. He has completed all requirements through an evaluation of a disability doctor. Required monthly premiums and co-pays would eat into a limited monthly check. He would also lose vision and dental services. Some of his medicines raise in price. Due to tiring easily and needing to avoid becoming heated he may not be able to fulfill the requirements for community services. I am currently living on a pension but and am supporting him at this time. | ||
2196 | My son recently had the opportunity to apply for disability. Instead, he has chosen to work part time and begins taking college classes next week. Because of Medicaid, he has been able to receive appropriate healthcare so he could achieve these goals despite having chronic and incurable health conditions. | Without the dental and vision, all costs would be on me. The MS infusions and other costs would prove prohibative. | ||
2197 | My son suffers from traumatic brain injury and with Medicaid we are eligible to be on the car brain injury waiver | See above | ||
2198 | My son was able to get care for health problems that kept him from functioning and developing his business. | I think my community would benefit from the changes I clicked on, because we have jobs available in our county, but not enough people want to work for their money.. because these jobs are minimum wage jobs.. if you only take away half of their benefits instead of all of them.. they have an incentive to work for a living...and help pay the taxes in this county. | ||
2199 | My son was eligible for a year for a Medicaid card, and it was the only time in his life he has had good medical coverage. three of my grandkids have KCHIP and this has been a Godsend in keeping them healthy. | The working poor need medical services in order to keep employed. | ||
2200 | My son’s birth was covered by Medicaid. Now I’m a nurse and I pay back into the system that helped us when we needed it. I want my neighbors to have good coverage and I’m happy to pay my taxes for that. | Unable to pay for medical, prescriptions, transportation to doctors. | ||
2201 | My son’s severe autism diagnosis requires a lot of medical care and therapies. | I am currently applying for disability for several issues. I cannot complete the work/volunteer requirements on a monthly basis. | ||
2202 | My story is different, I took Xanax for 15 years and then stopped cold turkey. That decision would go down as the worse decision ever. I have have severe anxiety now, I'm afraid to answer the door, answer the phone, walk outside or even to the mail box. It has has been 4 years now since I've seen to a doctor, my parents keep trying to get me to go but I'm just too scared. I'm telling you all of this because the KY HEALTH program has recently deemed me "able bodied". Why should anyone have trust in a program that misses something so obvious? I haven't been to a doctor in FOUR years, in fact I've barely been out of the house... but apparently the KY HEALTH PROGRAM has enough info to to determine me "able bodied" and not "medically frail" at all. How could a program responsible for screening for whos able bodied or not, miss such a huge red flag? So while I try to build up the courage to see a doctor, I have to deal with the extra anxiety and stress of losing health coverage to a program so flawed it misses I haven't been to doctor in 4 years. Hard to trust anything that doesn't catch that | I think if you look at the above answer it is self explainitory. | ||
2203 | My uncle is a retired, single man. He has many health issues (obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) that prevent him for working again. Medicaid has allowed him to receive the prescriptions and medical services that he needs. | It would be devastating. I don't know if we could get the care we need. | ||
2204 | My whole family is healthy | I will likely lose my coverage or be unable to afford care. | ||
2205 | My wife is retired and uses some of the benefits Medicaid offers and pays more for added benefits. I work for a non-profit mental rehabilitation facility and have seen many of our members (on Medicaid) make progress in many fields, and many are returning to the work force or joining the work force for the first time. | It saves lives and money. | ||
2206 | My wife, children and I benefited in the past; none of the proposed changes would have affected the children. I am now employed and have coverage for my children through my employer. Should I still have been in the program, I am supportive of being required to pay a small premium and required to seek active employment. It's necessary for the sustainability of the program as well as incentive's those able to take control of their life. These changes are welcomed, as it will allow the state to better serve those who are truly in need. | My child has a borderline IQ and was adopted through foster care but might not qualify later in life for waiver services because his IQ will be over 70, even though barely. I for see him needing Medicaid and not being able to understand the requirements but not qualified for the kind of assistance he would need to do the reporting. If we die he will have potential no supports. Medicaid will be life or death for him health-wise if he gets physically sick or something like diabetes for example. | ||
2207 | my wife's chemotherapy | Kentucky families who are benefitting from Medicaid and who cannot afford an added financial burden under these proposed changes will mean an unhealthy Kentucky. I support a healthy (financially, physically, and mentally) Kentucky and these proposed changes do not share that sentiment. | ||
2208 | Myself and my family have no Medicaid and have not benefited. Community members are allowed to go from doctor to doctor at no cost to get "pain" meds to abuse or sell. Community members have been allowed at no cost to visit the ER instead of waiting to see a regular doctor during regular hours as I have to do. Community members regularly go from one doctor to another if the first doctor doesn't give them what they want. Community members have no appreciation for the "free stuff" they get from the gov't, think they are entitled and want more. Whereas, my Social Security is deemed an entitlement after I have worked since I was 16, saved, scrimped and paid in to Social Security for 52 years! PLEASE take care of those who have worked to provide for themselves and never touched government handouts!!! | Some of the coverage/meducal care my friend receives for her children with disabilities would be eliminated. | ||
2209 | Neighbors, friends and others have kept their life and been able to improve their health by having access to healthcare they can afford. I know many seniors on fixed income who wouldn’t be able to afford medical care otherwise. Medicaid saves lives. | Community members who cannot obtain adequate medical care are more likely to lose employment or are unable to obtain employment, which lowers our tax base and consumer spending, which in turn negatively effects our economy and hinders all of us. | ||
2210 | No one in my family is on Medicaid. I live in a county where jobs that provide some health insurance benefits are available. However for those less fortunate the ability to get care is critical. I am healthier when my neighbors are healthy. | I think I would still be eligible for Medicaid if these changes went into effect, though I am not sure. That said, I don't believe that these changes would do any good for the people of Kentucky. Having a work requirement wouldn't encourage people to get to work. Instead, I believe it would make it even harder. The proposed changes are cruel and give no thought to the honest men and women who depend on Medicaid for health coverage. | ||
2211 | numerous people in my community rely on Medicaid | Many people I work with are disabled and receive Medicaid. Due to their disability and trauma related to domestic violence and sexual assault, their ability to work is limited. Many of them do work, but part time, which is all they can physically or mentally handle, which may make it difficult to complete work requirements. I also worry for clients in crisis, that a month after leaving a domestic violence relationship may not be long enough for them to obtain what is needed to meet the proposed requirements, as often it can take time to obtain the documents and other information needed to obtain a job, etc. | ||
2212 | Obtaining services when not otherwise able to afford. | These proposed requirements and restrictions would limit access for victims of domestic violence greatly. These proposals are unjust and unfair. | ||
2213 | obviously health coverage should be available to citizens of such a wealthy country that cannot get it through other means. | Benefits should be provide with at least a small premium. Taking away dental and vision is not the answer as it is a needed service for individuals. | ||
2214 | Once I was a divorced mother who received no child support but worked full time. My children were able to get coverage I could never have afforded. After a period if time I was able to get a better job and leave the Medicaid system. THIS IS A NEEDED PROGRAM! | Most of the families that we assist are without transportation or internet access. These changes are requirements that most families would not be able to meet and therefore would lose their medical coverage. | ||
2215 | One member of my family has Medicaid, and it covered an emergency appendectomy, which probably saved his life, and a serious hernia repair. If he had to pay for these things out of pocket, he would be in crippling debt for the rest of his life. | It would force me to pay co-pays that I cannot afford. | ||
2216 | One of my daughters is on Disability and has Medicaid. | My grandson would not be able to go to the dentist or eye doctor. | ||
2217 | Ones who can't afford insurance is covered | This would have a drastic negative impact on me and my family and my community | ||
2218 | Only way to get medical assistance for chronic illness | |||
2219 | Opportunities to have health coverage | If fewer are eligible for medical care, then it is more likely that illness will become prevalent in the community. | ||
2220 | Our adopted children would not otherwise have coverage | Our homeless community will be negatively affected. They will not be able to even comprehend all the things they need to do to keep up with Kentucky health. Most will loose it and not even know until they go to an ER, costing the state more. | ||
2221 | Our community benefits when ALL PEOPLE are well and healthy. I'm happy for my tax money to help. | If Medicaid is taken away then many people with mental disabilities will no longer receive treatment plus limited public transportation would hinder many from getting to doctor' appointments. | ||
2222 | Our community has very limited transportation, and the elderly here are too poor to pay for medical insurance or medical treatment. | it would limit survivors of intimate partner violence to be able to safely access services and remain safe | ||
2223 | Our community is better when we are all healthy together. | My son, who is in grad school could not afford private health insurance, and does not have enough extra time to do “community service”. He cares for his elderly father, in his home. | ||
2224 | Our community is small depressed with not much employment options and is getting older because the younger generation is moving away to better areas. | Adding all these requirements and conditions to healthcare makes it difficult for people and the systems to respond effectively. Pulling healthcare away from these individuals and families, and/or increasing the cost of the services through premiums and co-pays, would ensure that people would drop the healthcare, as it would now become unaffordable. | ||
2225 | Our daughter was working on a horse farm out of state. She made $400 a month and was basically indigent. A horse fell on her and broke her hip. Her employer refused to pay workers' compensation and the workers' compensation people agreed. Because she had been on Ky. Medicaid prior to moving to Louisiana, Ky Medicaid paid all of the emergency bills. It didn't cover nearly everything but it was still a life saver. | We live on a fixed income. Any extra charges for medical purposes would ruin us. | ||
2226 | Our friends, loved ones, and neighbors deserve healthcare. We all benefit from healthy citizens. | Without Medicaid, there would be higher medical costs in the populations above due to the lack of foundational care. | ||
2227 | Our granddaughter got it shortly after birth | I would not be able to work and am quite unsure of health if unable to see dr or get meds | ||
2228 | Our kids were able to get reading glasses to protect their vision. I was able to be hospitalized for a bad staph infection because of our coverage. | Would help put people to work to keep their coverage. | ||
2229 | Our two sons have severe autism, have the Michelle P. Medicaid Waiver | my son has cancer and he cant work so this would cause him to lose his coverage. some of these changes would really hurt people that have no job or are very low income. I work and have insurance and I still can't afford to pay my co-pays and 20% of certain visits | ||
2230 | Our underserved population received quality medical care at a far lower cost than being forced to go to an ER with illnesses that could have been prevented. The Medicaid program is a solid investment economically and of course socially in that it creates equality in medical care for all. | These kind of changes ignore the many different situations Kentuckians can face as described above that keep them from work or having insurance. Providing Medicaid is helping people in our community get back on the right track in many instances and also is helping people get much needed medical care they have neglected for years. In the long run it is keeping our local medical providers from writing off bad bills for people with no coverage and no way to pay and in the long term this will make us a healthier community and one where we don't have to pay hospitals more to make up for all the nonpaying patients. | ||
2231 | Out patient opioid treatment has allowed them to continue to maintain quality care while getting back on their feet. | Health is a fundamental need. Without health, people cannot work, cannot easily work toward their dreams and cannot be stable. This is drastic implications for the family life and the community, and financial stability. Being in need is not a contest, and those deemed the lowest being rewarded with a minimal amount of benefit. It should used as a tool to help improve quality of life for those in need and those stuck just short of making enough to save and improve their situation. | ||
2232 | People are able to take care of their health. When my son lost his job he was able to have health insurance. | at this time I am NOT working due to health issues. Without the coverage of dental and vision this will only make the ISSUE of working at all almost impossible. | ||
2233 | People are not dying in the streets. | I would put money back into the medicaid system for people with real needs to use. | ||
2234 | People can now be treated for medical conditions and that keeps Kentucky working and healthy. | Premiums or copays may prevent from maintaining my Medicaid health insurance. This may result in having to go to the ER when I am very sick. | ||
2235 | People get to go to doctor and get treatment they have long needed | |||
2236 | People go to the doctor before their condition becomes an emergency, That means that jobs are more likely to be continued or maintained and income stills comes into the home. | Using dental coverage as one example, if a person has significant dental problems, but never had routine dental care, it can be a barrier to obtaining employment. In other words, if you have a mouth with rotten teeth or no teeth, competing for employment with persons who have attractive teeth is difficult. Not only is there a cosmetic aspect (particularly with jobs that require interaction with the public), there is the fact that untreated dental disease can be painful and is linked to other serious health problems. Given Kentucky's poor ranking in dental health prior to the ACA, creating barriers to health care makes no sense. There is no definitive evidence that work requirements increase access to health care, but the literature does suggest that restricting access to health care can be a barrier to employment (https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/the-relationship-between-work-and-health-findings-from-a-literature-review/). | ||
2237 | People have been finally able to get health coverage and seen by doctors who were not able to afford care. More chronic conditions have been cared for leading to a bettter quality of life. | My two adult sons who are severely developmentally disabled will never have employer insurance plans. Bevin's proposed Medicaid changes are a huge additional burden for their care support team. | ||
2238 | People have obtained mental health care for the first time; they can afford medications. Before doctors had to beg around for samples. This means they can be predictive members of society not on the margins trying to survive a horrible illness. | What education will be provided at all levels of the community (schools, jobs, libraries, doctors' offices) to inform community members of what qualifies as the "non-emergency use" of the ER? What alternatives will be provided or made known to community members about appropriate and responsible use of services? --- My concerns lie with a powerful historical trend of using stigma, prejudice, and the Puritan work ethic of "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" to justify adding additional barriers to basic health care and resources: "They're not trying hard enough." "They're just lazy." Part of the problem lies in severe and pervasive socioeconomic barriers, such as poverty, and a failing KY education system that does not have a structured means of teaching children about financial responsibility, adult daily living skills, and legal rights at a developmentally appropriate stage. (For example, should we teach basic budgeting skills to 6th graders or high school juniors?) Factoring in all these concerns, how was it that the government decided the best solution to this problem was to increase time and financial barriers to services for low-income individuals? | ||
2239 | People have the oppertunities to lead healthier lives as they work toward a better life. The expansion members are the 'working poor' that wouldn't get healthcare without theses benefits. | Every change would affect me, directly....I could also go to the dentist when I needed. My son is almost 2 years into waiting on a disability hearing, has not been able to work but was expected to pay a premium...with what? | ||
2240 | People in greatest need of health care receive Medicaid. By supporting their well-being the community benefits. | I think it could literally be the difference between life and death. It could be the difference between someone ever being able to “ get on their feet” financially and be a tax paying citizen or being broke for their whole life. | ||
2241 | People in my community can receive medical care and benefit from provider advice on prevention and developing healthier lifestyles | Dental and vision care is important for health and daily living. I have low vision; without glasses, I would not be able to work; without glasses a child might not be able to see the blackboard; that happened to me as a child. Putting health care in jeopardy because of failure to meet a deadline, or report a change on time is not acceptable. Not everyone has access to resources they need to meet deadlines, like transportation, for instance | ||
2242 | People in my community would have no access to health care if Medicaid was gone. It would be devastating. | |||
2243 | People on Medicaid are vulnerable. I had an uncle (now passed) with mental illness who was incapable of maintaining employment and would have had no coverage if not for Medicaid. Treatment made him semi-functional in the community. When he was well, he helped neighbors, maintained his property, and volunteered with the local church to do various small jobs. When he went off his meds (usually because of his disorganization) he was unpredictable and sometimes destructive. It was hard enough for him to navigate the system as the laws are now, but I can't imagine how impossible it would have been to keep up with all the new requirements that are being proposed. He would almost certainly have lost Medicaid under the new system which would mean more bad days, less community involvement, and potentially more encounters with law enforcement. | Her situation is life threatening | ||
2244 | People who are unable to work for mental or health reasons can get care till they can get back on their feet. | These changes would decrease access to medical care and improved functioning. More folks will suffer and many will resort to using the ER for basic treatment! | ||
2245 | People who cannot afford medical charges and do not have Medicaid will postpone getting care until their condition becomes an emergency visit, which escalates the cost of care and puts it on the hospital or taxpayers. The whole community is better off when everyone can get preventive and supportive care before it escalates to serious or deadly levels. | Living on the small amount I get its so hard to make end meet. If I had to pay out more for me or anything no way I could do it. | ||
2246 | People who have access to Medicaid are more likely to be able to help themselves. Untreated medical problems create more problems than having people on Medicaid. | |||
2247 | People who have never had health care that now have are more productive people. I had one start s business | The waiver would help the Commonwealth by preserving the Medicaid program. As we are currently on the path to it going broke - or to having to unexpand. | ||
2248 | People who have never had health coverage are now able to afford access. | Cutting out dental and vision care would at times cause him a real issue. | ||
2249 | People who have no other options for health care can get some of what they need. Some of them are already working to capacity or are unable to work. They don't need motivation. They are doing the best they can. | all of them | ||
2250 | People without a job have benefitted. | |||
2251 | Physicians and hospitals get paid | |||
2252 | Poor Knox countians depend on Mediciad for basic healthcare needs. There are no jobs and without people will die. | Most Medicaid recipients can not afford copays /prem..choosing between food and copays is a daily issue for many people in KY, if they are in need of Medicaid then they fall in the poverty guidelines, choosing between medical care, medication and buying food is NOT nor should it ever be an issue in the USA!!!!!!! | ||
2253 | Poverty is genocide. Medicaid saves lives. I was able to access long term care for my Mom. | |||
2254 | prescription coverage, and pays the 20% medicare deductible expenses, | The complexity of enrolling and staying enrolled will create barriers to coverage. This is not an employment program. This program is intended to be health care for low income persons. Premiums and copays create barriers to care of those who are most vulnerable. | ||
2255 | preventative care | |||
2256 | Preventative medicine | More stress on their life and more to juggle and handle in their busy life with their disabilities and balancing family. | ||
2257 | Prior to having healthcare I was forced to live each day with life threatening, treatable, conditions. I was a walking timebomb. | My sister has had numerous medical issues, both related and unrelated to her disabilities, which would not have been covered under our regular health insurance. She requires special accommodation for her vision and dental care. She has received medications for severe reactions to medication that our regular insurance deemed unnecessary (despite involving hospital stays and vital attention from doctors who agreed that leaving such conditions untreated would be dangerous and harmful). My sister is now an adult, and though she is not considered able-bodied, I shudder to think about how increased scrutiny on the most vulnerable members of our community could limit their access to healthcare. My sister may have died without Medicaid, as our family would have struggled to access expensive healthcare. Cut costs elsewhere; fight fraud another way; please do not punish innocent people with sweeping restrictions that make it harder to access care and easier to be disqualified from it. | ||
2258 | Prior to receiving Medicare last year, my mother qualified for Medicaid expansion insurance. After being uninsured for years, she finally was able to get regular healthcare again. She was able to get back on her depression medicine, get mental health therapy, start seeing her regular doctor again, even got glasses and finally dental care. She was able to get out of the terrible rut she was in and be a grandma to our two young sons. | When this waiver was close to being implemented in June the Hospitals had already put up signs about what was considered an Emergency. I had a friend that was turned away because she was not considered an Emergency Case. I think that is what will happen when the waiver goes into effect is that people who are sick will not be treated because the Hospital will be afraid they won't get paid if they treat people that don't meet the criteria that is set forth by some committee who is more worried about the bottom line that the Health of the people. Are the people who are required to work going to be able to get to work or volunteer? What does that have to do with whether they should have Health Care? | ||
2259 | Provided necessary supports enabling him to live in the home of his choice having better quality of life | It would negatively affect the individuals who need mental health assistance. | ||
2260 | Provides important coverage for children for checkups, sick visits, medications, vaccinations and hospitalizations, diagnostics etc. | It seems the current administration believes individuals that qualify for Medicaid assistance to be lazy, uneducated and non contributing members of society. I have family members that do not have transportation nor do they live in an area where public transportation is available. Trips to the grocery store, doctor, etc. must be coordinated with another family member or friend. These are people that rely on a garden to supplement their families meals and see them through the winter. They do not have access to a computer or wi-fi. I am just amazed how out of touch this administration really is, you have no idea how a large majority of Kentuckians live. | ||
2261 | Provides more consistent care. Patients are better and don't let their health care lapse when they are without coverage, then get worse or hospitalized | decline in individuals who have access to healthcare. Raise in poverty level | ||
2262 | Provides much needed mental health and behavioral health services to our clients and families in our local community. | It would make our community healthier. We need more education on how to use insurance, not penalties! | ||
2263 | Providing Medicaid helps keep medical costs down by providing preventative care, reducing long term illness that are much more expensive. | The proposed changes would make health insurance premiums and co-pays higher for working people. My daughter is currently paying on a $2000 bill for a heart test that went to her deductible whereas if a Medicaid person who desires not to work had the same test, they would pay nothing!!! How is that fair??? | ||
2264 | Providing necessary care from those who are poor by a health care system that is challenging to navigate especially those persons with medical issues- physical, mental & emotional. | I work in a CMHC and see the need for all of the services they are planning to cut (such as transportation to appts). Most Medicaid recipients cannot afford to endure these changes. | ||
2265 | Putting additional barriers to care will be detrimental to our most vulnerable citizens. We should be making it easier not harder for people to get the care, especially behavioral healthcare that they need. | Providers need to be paid for services provided to vulnerable consumers | ||
2266 | Reduces long-term health risks thru coverage such as dental and vision. Provides coverage for preventative checks, which decreases the public financial burden for unchecked health problems that develop into chronic conditions. | having to pay a co-pay sometimes we don't have it | ||
2267 | Refugee communities who tend to "follow the rules" are receiving the medical services they need at little or no charge. | |||
2268 | Saved my life a few times. Kidney failure and a tumor on my hyperparathyroid gland I have other things to manage as well | More healthy people will contribute more to the benefit of community. | ||
2269 | Saved my life. | |||
2270 | Security of knowing their children have access to care when needed | We know that good dental care provides for a healthier body especially the heart and self esteem. All need to be able to see to read and drive. KY has poor public transportation, some need to have transportation to get to medical appointments. Making people to show that they are working/volunteering 20 hours per week, adds to peoples' life additional steps, adding time to go to find a computer, also just more for ways to get kick-out of the system...lots of headaches. | ||
2271 | Services are provided to those that weren't before. | If I were to loose my coverage I could not afford to maintain my health and well being. | ||
2272 | Several family members have been able to access appropriate preventive and treatment services and prescribed medications with Medicaid coverage. | The changes raise costs in health care in other ways due to the worsening health of our population if individuals don't have access and funding for good care. | ||
2273 | Several of my friends who work and go to school full time have been able to keep medical insurance because of Medicaid. | Community would suffer if Medicaid coverage was not available. Many of our community members don't have money for groceries that they need or fuel to drive from place to place. By forcing community members to pay a premium or a deductible will literally take food out of their families mouths. Families would go without medication, access to transportation, dental and vision insurance. Many of our families in the community I live in are poor families that can not afford extra costs without it affecting their families in a devastating way. | ||
2274 | Several of the people I have known with Medicaid had mental disorders that made it impossible for them to hold a normal conversation much less a job. If we can't provide adequate mental health care to our citizens, we should at least provide medical care so they can take care of their physical problems. Having a bunch of sick people who can't afford treatment is not good for society - it makes it less likely that they will ever get out of poverty. | Emotionally and mentally challenged people will fall thru the cracks these changes will hurt those that need the help the most. | ||
2275 | Several years ago when I was struggling and receiving government assistance I was able to get an infected tooth extracted and antibiotics for the infection, I wouldn't have been able to afford it if it were not for Medicaid. During the same time period I was struggling with depression, for which I was able to get therapy because of Medicaid. I am now making 70+K per year and free from any government assistance, and there's no way I would have made it to this point if I had to pay anything close to the healthcare rates at that time. | |||
2276 | Simple. People get sick, people gave mental health problems, people need glasses and their teeth cleaned. These things will go unchecked without Medicaid coverage. | More people will not receive care. | ||
2277 | Since I've been enrolled, I've been able to afford my diabetic and other medications and I have received treatment for my other health problems. | I work with consumers and they are struggling now to even have food and some have went without medication because they can not pay for some of them. | ||
2278 | Since the expansion many more of my friends and neighbors have health care and don't have to put off going to the doctor because they can't afford it. Our state is one of the poorest in the nation....our people deserve the basic right of health care. | |||
2279 | Sister is in nursing facility with Medicaid coverage for some of her care. | These changes could greatly effect the population that I work with. | ||
2280 | Sister was born mentally retarded.. must have coverage | The proposed changes would most assuredly create an additional barrier for vulnerable populations to be able to access needed behavioral health care services. I have already witnessed this at my clinic, when we briefly charged consumers co-payments. Several consumers were worried that they would not be able to afford coming in for behavioral health services due to the new co-payment requirement. By charging premiums/copays and creating lock-out periods, this would not only hinder consumers from accessing care, but also significantly affect the resources of the community mental health centers, which rely on revenue from Medicaid billings to fund programming. | ||
2281 | So many more people have access to healthcare and dental care | |||
2282 | Some of our parishioners have needed to rely heavily on Medicaid. The current coverage promotes the truth that health care is a right for every person, and that a strong community is built upon respect for all such basic human rights. | possibly one of both of the parents would have to take a job to meet work requirements, and that job would pay enough to kick us off medicaid, but not enough to be able to afford to buy decent insurance... | ||
2283 | Some would not have coverage if it wasn’t for Medicaid. | By going forward with these proposed changes the great divide in our society would be somewhat leveled which could possibly have positive effects on the animosity between the haves and have-nots. Those who pay feel very harsh towards those who do not pay something for their own well-being. | ||
2284 | Speaking for myself. I did not have health care coverage prior to Jan. 2014 and have benefitted from having current coverage. | |||
2285 | Takes the worry out of getting good health care. | It would stop the "free-ride" and remove the incentive not to work in order to take advantage of free healthcare. | ||
2286 | Taking care of my mother's needs (ie.. Transportation, housekeeping, etc) I cannot find a job to work around her schedule (work and dialysis). So I had to enroll in medicaid in order to continue my prescribed medication. | I would lose access to specialists that see me for chronic lung disease. Er would become my best friend since I can’t get disability or access to specialist. | ||
2287 | The changes in 2014 that allowed mental health providers to bill Medicaid, persons are able to access mental health services previously unavailable. This has improved well-being and quality of life for many persons - children and adults. Access to mental health services increased likelihood children are not placed in out-of-home-care, decreases abuse and neglect, and collaborates with CHFS for well-being of Kentucky citizens. Copays will likely significantly limit who will seek mental health and substance abuse treatment. | It will be a public health crisis. People who cannot go to the dentist will end up in the emergency rooms and cost will skyrocket!! | ||
2288 | The community has benefited by allowing people to receive primary care to prevent illnesses from going untreated which often requires a much more expensive trip to the ER which without follow up just becomes a vicious cycle | It would cause a hardship and would cause me to be without vision, dental, and health insurance. I would have to choose to risk not having coverage in order to ensure I can keep my mother at home and provide her with the love and care she needs and deserves. Many others in the community would have to make the same decision for various reasons. Whether they are caregivers or are in poor health and unable to comply with new restrictions . | ||
2289 | The community has benefited from Medicaid coverage with healthier citizens. Healthcare jobs are created as more individuals can afford to visit medical facilities and receive healthcare. | |||
2290 | The community has fewer persons begging or homeless. We have fewer suicides and bankruptcies. We have preventative medicine so the sick don't get sicker and cost more. | The full impact of the proposed changes would be to discourage and confuse people in need of health care, so that they don't or can't use the services to which any human being is entitled. | ||
2291 | The community has healthier people who are not impoverished by medical expenses. | The proposed changes will mean that tens of thousands of Kentuckians, perhaps more than 100,000 people will be pushed off health insurance due to burdensome requirements and restrictions that have nothing to do with improving health, and everything to do with an unfounded ideological position. There is no merit to the Governor's ideological position that only certain people deserve health care and that poor people in particular must be punished in order for them to thrive. Nothing could be further from the truth. We've already seen what happens when work requirements are imposed on low-income residents of eastern Kentucky, which is one of the poorest regions in the nation with persistently high levels of unemployment and few opportunities to access good paying jobs. What happens is NOT some magical creation of good jobs or some mythical movement of poor people into those jobs. Instead, what happens is that people who are going back to school to seek degrees or certificates that could put them on a path to a better paying job are blocked from pursuing post-secondary education because they must clock hours in a crappy job to keep their health benefits. What happens is that people who don't have access to a reliable car (or the funds to keep it running) lose their health care benefits as well as their job when their car breaks down. What happens is that people who work uneven hours in service, restaurant, landscaping, or retail sectors are at great risk of losing their health benefits due to fluctuating hours and seasonal employment. What happens is that people without internet access, or who have limited literacy or other cognitive challenges, are at risk of losing their health benefits because of the burden of trying to comply with complex reporting requirements. The Governor's proposed changes will also cost taxpayers more to administer, while providing fewer people more expensive and less good coverage. That's a terrible idea and is inconsistent with the purpose of the federal Medicaid program. | ||
2292 | The community in which I live is healthier because of Medicaid. This program, is especially beneficial to those who are minority, lacking in education and/or marketable job skills. It acknowledges that work opportunities are not always available depending on where one lives within the state. | My sister is currently on Medicaid coverage. She is a student and works two jobs. But I am afraid that these changes will make it difficult for her to afford Medicaid coverage. | ||
2293 | The community needs Medicaid for substance abuse Rehab Services | I would go back into deep depression without healthcare | ||
2294 | The coverage has allowed my daughter to receive care from her cardiologist without fear of being unable to afford visits and scans. The coverage also allowed my son to have a bone tumor removed and the necessary care and scans leading up to the decision that he needed the surgery and was able to receive the surgery. As a mental health provider in the community, I provide service for many adults in the community and see drastic improvement in their lives and ability when they are able to take care of themselves using their Medicaid insurance. Most of my adult clients with Medicaid work full time jobs...many are women, mothers, single following abusive relationships or loss of loved one. Everyone deserves MA! | |||
2295 | The coverage has helped with medicine that is needed to control health problems and just being able to go to the doctor for the prescription | |||
2296 | The coverage of more Kentuckians provides more revenue to create a more robust health care system from which we can all benefit. More employment in health care has trickle down impact on the entire community. Better community health is good for our economy. | I feel the proposed changes would knock many people out of coverage and lead to increased disease and societal cost. | ||
2297 | The current Medicaid program has made Kentucky citizens more healthy. Medicaid allows for a healthier work force and makes Kentucky stronger and more competitive economically. | My adult son has CP, seizure disorder, severe venous stasis, and legal blindness. He requires an electric wheelchair and adaptive equipment for even basic independence. Outside of our home environment, he would not even be able to toilet himself. The volunteer requirements, earning back benefits, etc., is hard to even comprehend for him—the money spent on getting him to such a thing and safely supporting him while he’s there, and the attendent care that would be needed—I don’t understand how this benefits anyone. The lockouts—one time there was an error on his paperwork that took several weeks to resolve (we did not make the error). During that time he lost coverage and his waiver slot was in jeopardy. The thought of him being locked out for 6 months—he would be dead and we would be living in the streets, unable to work. Again, these things sound good on paper, but in the real world, people will die. I can’t support most of them. | ||
2298 | The elderly and children have insurance. However our local ER is over run with non emergency visits because they are not responsible for the bill. I see this too often in my job. | |||
2299 | The expansion allowed some to have medical for the first time ever. A healthy community is more beneficial to all. | The copays or premiums would negatively affect our financial situation. We just need a little help until we are finished with school and able to work. We have a one-year-old son who depends on us and Medicaid to meet his needs as well. | ||
2300 | The expansion of medicaid allowed me to have health insurance for the first time in my adult life. Previous to having it all jobs that I had either did not offer coverage or made sure I consistently worked just under the required hours to be ineligible for enrollment. Because of medicaid I was able to enroll my husband after he sustained life threatening injuries in an accident to help cover medical neccesities. | Our son will need it soon. | ||
2301 | The impact has been profound. As a service provider, we had many new recipients come in for care that had not been to a medical provider for routine preventive care in years. As a consequence, many were in poor to fragile health and were using the emergency room as their "routine" care. In many cases they were in deep medical debt and were refusing to follow up on costly specialty care referrals for chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung disease, and cardiac issues. Since establishing care with a family medicine provider, many have been able to get their health stabilized, reduce emergency care admissions and hospital admissions. They are accessing primary care more at a far lower cost, while decreasing their dependence on high cost emergency and urgent care. Further, they also accessed dental care - many for the first time in decades. Poor dental care leads to many other physical ailments and exacerbates cardiac issues such as valve issues. Low-cost routine dental care, therefore, also helped avoid high-cost cardiac issues later. Lastly, the impact on lost productivity, school attendance, and job retention cannot be understated. The majority of our Medicaid recipients also work, some more than one job, but by in large are in service-industry jobs that pay very little with no benefits. Those jobs tend to be very susceptible to absenteeism, and when recipients miss days of work due to illness or to go to specialty care, they often lose their jobs. This is a strain on the members as well as employers. | Psychiatric hospitals would be forced to close or seek grants to provide services to all who seek them | ||
2302 | The medicade expansion allowed for call centers to employ multiple people from my graduating class. To remove these benefits is denying them their right to work. | The changes are irrational. There are people who don't have any capacity to work-- extremely low IQ, severe brain damage producing instability and who barely make enough to live-- a $20 bill would mean they didn't eat or pay for heat..then they get sicker and the community pays more. | ||
2303 | The Medicaid expansion has been vital for community mental health treatment across the state. Services are now being provided to individuals that prior would have not so easily accessed those services. Adding additional barriers to the Medicaid plans and charging premiums/copays creates yet another roadblock for our system of care. We need to be eliminating barriers to treatment, not creating them. | People with low incomes and in rural areas do not have access to reliable public or private transportation or communication. The proposed requirements would be difficult for them to meet and would be cost ineffective. Who will supervise and document their volunteer activities and time? Who will pay those folks? | ||
2304 | The Medicaid expansion has insured more people and will improve lives. We should not be going backwards from that. | I am continuing to work to put myself through school and I'm currently working on my second Master's degree. Living continuously below the poverty line as a student is difficult, but I know it will pay off. But if Governor Bevin's proposed changes to Medicaid pass and I lose access to Medicaid coverage or have added medical expenses, I don't know how I'll survive. What people who criticize the Medicaid system (which is admittedly not perfect) don't seem to understand is that very few people survive on Medicaid because it's the easier choice. Applying for and maintaining Medicaid coverage is a clunky, unwieldy process, especially for someone whose life is marked by frequent transition as a student. I worry every day about whether I've done everything correctly, kept everything updated, or whether I will lose coverage. Using Medicaid by necessity is something I wouldn't wish on anyone, and it doesn't make sense to me that Governor Bevin would strip Kentuckians of coverage or make the system even more burdensome to supposedly increase funding for other programs (e.g., education, mental health treatment) that he himself decreased funding for. Governor Bevin is attempting to roll back Medicaid expansion to solve problems that he and his policies created, and Kentuckians are suffering because of it. | ||
2305 | the organization I work with provides low income supports for over 80% of population - cutting these benefits will potentially hurt the business | The proposed changes are punitive and unnecessary resulting in hardship for many Medicaid recipients. | ||
2306 | The people I know with Medicaid are able to work, volunteer, avoid prolonged hospitalization, attend school, be better parents, get and maintain housing, and stay out of the legal system. | see above | ||
2307 | The population I work with has greatly benefited from Medicaid coverage. | |||
2308 | The program has a focus on prevention of disease and has educated recipients on healthy life choices through the rewards program. | If family member did not have Medicaid and became ill they may not be able to complete their degree. Without their degree they would be unable to be appropriately employed. Without employment the family member would need to still be on Medicaid and not be able to pay taxes. I believe that it is important to help provide a means for all individuals to become productive members of society. And, without proper health care it can become an almost unachievable goal if illness strikes an individual. | ||
2309 | The underprivileged do not have the same access to jobs and therefore health insurance. It is vital that our community continues a no requirements health care coverage program. All people deserve health care coverage. | My community needs healthy people to function properly. Medical services, including transportation and emergency services, should be readily available to all without penalty or consequence so people won't be afraid to use it. | ||
2310 | The whole Commonwealth benefits when its members are supported in staying healthy. Stress, disease vectors, dishonesty fomented by setting up systems that require gaming them to get anything--these are deleterious in ways well-off opinionators probably haven't fully considered. Do you want your childcare worker sickly and desperate? Your food server? The people a few streets away, or who may end up in the same emergency waiting room as you? See, even from a strictly self-interested standpoint, this is bad policy. If you have any decency or conscience, you can see how it's even worse than that. | My community would suffer because vulnerable people wouldn't have adequate healthcare | ||
2311 | There are many poor people in my neighborhood. They need medical care. | I would not be able to live.. My life depends on it. | ||
2312 | There are no benefits to the community or people paying the bills. | We have a family member who suffered two strokes and lost his job and healthcare coverage as a result. He would be unable to pay for health coverage without employment income or receive medication he needs to stay alive, recover, and return to the workforce. | ||
2313 | These medical benefits help patients that are unable, or are currently going through a tough time, get to a point that they can hopefully provide for themselves. I've seen families have to make decisions about whether buying prescriptions, or going to the doctor, or food. Not easy decisions if someone is ill. If we don't provide up front coverage, these patients may fall a state of being disabled and then we end up paying even more for their medical treatment. | It would not affect my family as far as I know but that could change in the future. It would adversely affect many people in my community and state. | ||
2314 | These services have allowed my family members to receive medical treatment they otherwise could not afford. | With a rampant drug epidemic, many rehabilitation centers would be out of reach for most users seeking help with drug abuse. Further, many of us in or near the poverty line would not be able to receive basic medical care | ||
2315 | They are able to see all the doctors and specialist they need to see. | |||
2316 | They are alive today because of Medicaid benefits | It would devastated the moral core of the body politic. | ||
2317 | They can receive treatment when needed for ailments and are able to work to keep a roof over their head and eat. | not being able to see a doctor when sick is a bad thing for everyone | ||
2318 | They have allowed them to have affordable access to basic and advanced medical care. | The premiums, penalties, and lack of transportation will hinder the people to get health care needed for the well being of the community. | ||
2319 | They have benefited by knowing they will have coverage and help when needed. | It would help make some more accountable for the choices they make so they would have to make wiser choices. | ||
2320 | They have received medically necessary services that they were unable to afford in the past, which has helped them maintain health and continue working part-time. | The proposed changes would hurt the most vulnerable among us, and should not be approved. | ||
2321 | They have saved a hug amount of money from not paying for healthcare. | I live a minimum 35 minutes away from any place I can volunteer. Gas, tires and oil changes are expensive. I question if I'd be able to afford the transportation costs. Secondly I have COPD, ruptured disks and previous surgery on one knee which has left it weaker. My husband is 63, disabled because of a gun shot to his head, several heart attacks and strokes, he is prone to falling, and has vertigo and almost no short term memory. I'm one my 80 year old mother's care givers, she had Parkinson's and frequent medical appointments. I also babysit my granddaughter while my daughter works. I have been volunteering my time and effort since before I received assistance through gathering donations of vegetable seed to be distributed to low income families and operating the groups facebook account. Those seeds get packaged, labled, sorted and distributed to area food banks, community gardens, veterans garden, 2 FFA programs and senior centers. It allows me to stay home, avoid exposure to lung infections, move at my own pace and be available to help my husband and I still processed 300- 400 pounds of seed each of the last 2 years. If I wasn't home we'd have to have some kind of adult care services come stay with my husband while I was gone. I'm limited on speed because of COPD and limited on how much I can lift. My mother would require in home care services as well. I provide more value to the state continuing to do the seeds and saving the government the cost of 2 in home sitters for the limited ability to work I have. | ||
2322 | They would not be able to afford their healthcare without Medicaid. | Many of the proposed changes will impede the lives of many Kentuckians. Sick individuals can not contribute to the economy as they should, which hurts ALL Kentuckians. | ||
2323 | They've been able to maintain their health and live a fuller life through Medicaid's support. | Helping someone who is not in a position to help themselves has a positive effect on everyone they come in contact with. | ||
2324 | This coverage has prevented higher costs from arising. | See answer above. | ||
2325 | This helped a family member and needs to stay. | |||
2326 | This is a must for our community, incentives to participate in preventive care should be offered instead of penalties. Our entire community benefits when it's members are healthy and get the care they need. | None | ||
2327 | This is not applicable but I care about other families. | |||
2328 | This translates to life or death. This coverage is needed for the most vulnerable. | If changes are made the tax money saved could be used for projects that benefit all citizens instead of those who refuse to support themselves. | ||
2329 | Those of us with little have always sacrificed to help those who have none. Those with the most never help anyone. | I'm hopeful that they might relieve the state from unnecessary tax burden. | ||
2330 | Those who need medical help are now able to get it | If the changes are made, it is possible that my mother would become disabled more quickly than she should, she is only 46. | ||
2331 | transportation to and from Dr. appointments. Being able to get the help from the right Dr or specialist . And by case management services as well as Peer Support Specialist services | If premiums are raised and the 80 hour work mandate is enforced, as a single parent who is solely responsible for 2 elementary aged children, I will not be able to keep my coverage. I cannot afford, even working 2 jobs, the cost of childcare to keep up with the mandated hours. Right now I can only work while my children are at school because I cannot afford daycare or a babysitter. | ||
2332 | transportation, case management services, | I see a variety of problems with this proposed change. One of my concerns is asking people to participate in work/community activities. While I feel this is a good idea in theory, when you look at the impact it would have on families I feel it would be huge! Parents who work full time but fall below the FPL would now be required to spend even more time away from their children and home participating in these activites. Second my concern is with the enactment of a premium. While to some $5 dose not sound like much, to others that may mean they do not eat for that day. I do not feel this is a fair policy. Third, the elimination of non emergency transportation. As an ER nurse, I could see this causing an increase in the inappropriate use of ambulance services. It is VITAL to a patients health to get to appointments and by eliminating someone’s access to transportation you are eliminating their access to physicians. Lastly, while I support penalties for inappropriate ER usage I would like to see those parameter more well defined as to what qualifies and who will be making that qualification. I do not feel that is an appropriate determination for a lawmaker to decide that should fall to the physician caring for that patient. | ||
2333 | Tremendously Helpful | I would go back to ignoring health concerns. | ||
2334 | Two of my sisters in law have Medicaid and would not have medical coverage due to their disabilities without Medicaid. It provides a safety net for those with mental and physical disabilities. | These changes would impose more work on people who already work hard in our community -- some of those who do the toughest and lowest-paid jobs. These people are busy with working -- in stores, in restaurants, on construction sites. They do not need more impositions on their time. They deserve to stay healthy. They deserve good dental and vision care, so they can continue to be contributing member of society. Beyond that, though, they are our neighbors, our family members, our friends, the people we see every day. These changes would rob them of their livelihoods and hope. | ||
2335 | Two of my sons are on Medicaid through the expansion in Kentucky. Both of them have pre-existing conditions. One of them works hard, but at minimum wage. The other is unable to work because of severe depression and anxiety. He receives life changing medicine through Medicaid. | Not having transportation to and from doctor's appointments would be devastating to patients. | ||
2336 | Two of my sons work but their work does not provide health insurance and their income is so low they qualify for Medicaid under the expansion program. One of my sons is semi-disabled and medical care directly improves his ability to work. | By changing eligibility you will make Kentucky's population sicker and poorer. In the long run, everyone will pay more for increased health care bills and crime from poverty. Kentucky should be seen as a generous and welcoming place. | ||
2337 | Two sisters in our religious community received treatment for breast cancer through medicaid. | |||
2338 | Under the current Medicaid plan the homeless populations only draw back are address suspensions. | The work requirements and lockouts especially are cruel and counterproductive. People who are "able" to work and low income often juggle low-wage jobs with unpredictable schedules, and it would be nearly impossible even for a high-functioning person to accurately report hours and earnings that are variable and beyond their control. If you're not going to guarantee reliable jobs to people who are already stressed financially, this would only have negative impact on their health and the community, who will be left to pick up the pieces. | ||
2339 | Underserved children, dusabled and elderly are able to get the healthcare they need. | I would lose my ability to receive treatment for my mental illness and I couldn't afford my psych meds that I desperately need | ||
2340 | Very few jobs in our community so that makes it hard to pay premeiums and copays. | I feel that if they have to pay they it will put them a financial hardship | ||
2341 | Was unable to afford health insurance and past employer did not offer. | |||
2342 | We have a healthier , people , and that good for all. | I would be less effective in my job without my hand surgery. People in my community would have no access to substance abuse treatment and be at higher risk for relapse. They would also have less access to mental health services. | ||
2343 | we all are able to go to the doctors that we need we are all able to get the medications that we need we are all able to get to our doctors that we need we are all able to get testing done it is very important that we need now I am writing about me and everyone in my community I stand up for all now, without my Medicaid I would lose many of my specialist all of them in fact. I would lose my medications I would be stuck in my house you can't do this the poor people you're going against what the Bible says Rich due to poor someone should open up the Bible and read it. Are not paper money it says In God We Trust if you're going to change medicated and take things away from the poor take the word God off the paper money If you have two coats and someone has no coat you give the person your coat it's in the Bible it's harder for a rich man to get into heaven than a camel to get through the eye of a needle is in the Bible The one thing is in common between the poor man and rich man is we both have the same maker one God our Father It says in the Bible for the poor should be taken care of it says you will be greatly rewarded on Earth with more than you had before It says in the Bible if the rich could not take care of the poor the rich that are doing wrong will go through bad times of some kind in the Bible it is written I don't have the verses in front of me right now but you won't be rewarded and you won't be in heaven do you believe Jesus Christ as your savior and he died on the cross for your sins This law should be simple all you should do is open up the Bible and read what Jesus spoke to his disciples before he died on the cross and rose went to heaven There are people like me with chronic painful diseases that see pain doctors if we can't get our medications many of them will go to the street for illegal drugs or they will kill themselves this is already affect how you guys are fighting the opioid epidemic you all need to open up the Bible and start going to church and put Jesus in your heart you need to repent your sins to your savior in heaven and when you have the Holy Spirit in your heart you will know how to write the laws properly for our country and our people and then our country will prosper | |||
2344 | We all benefit from Medicaid coverage, even if we aren't enrolled in Medicaid. Medicaid makes our communities healthier, so that adults can work and kids can learn in school. | |||
2345 | We all do better when we all do better. A healthier community is a more engaged active community! | |||
2346 | We are both students, and we are temporarily receiving Medicaid coverage while in school/starting careers. Before going on Medicaid, my husband went for a year with basically no treatment for his diabetes. Being on Medicaid has allowed him to receive LIFESAVING treatment and help with diabetes management. | Many of my clients would lose coverage do to the barriers that some just are not able to comply with. | ||
2347 | We are self-employed family farmers. Our income has recently risen due to a new job, but prior to that, we depended on Medicaid for coverage. We could not have afforded insurance. All Americans have a right to health care. | |||
2348 | We as Kentuckians and tax payers are quite frankly OWED some sort of coverage. So when people invest in OUR state our communities need to maintain healthy and active lifestyles to continue to bolster our communities and local and state economies. With health coverage, an accident at work shouldn’t bankrupt a brick layer. Simple as that. | When medication ceases to be effective, can not function in most basic ways, lose ability to self-care, much less work/volunteer | ||
2349 | We couldn't have insurance otherwise. | I think that some changes are in order to guard against financial insolvency of the system but it should be done in a humane case by case basis. I think the work requirement is reasonable if applied on a case by case basis | ||
2350 | We do not have Medicaid. | It affects my community. I work for a non-profit and the pay is not a living wage for many hard working full time people. Raise the minimum wage! Let them work and pay for premiums. | ||
2351 | We have a 34 yr old daughter with multiple disabilities (Aicardi syndrome). We would not be able to keep her in our home without medicaid programs! | It would cause many to lose their benefits. Many providers and emergency rooms would have to write off costs for these individuals that would still need these services, but would now not have coverage. Also with the rise of school shootings, now even in the state of Kentucky, there would be more of a risk if less people are able to access mental health care. Many of these individuals are not able to work, and if forced or to lose their insurance would cause more negative effects for the entire community. Our jails are already over populated with individuals that really need mental health care. | ||
2352 | We have a healthier community, a huge benefit in this area where our health indicators are so bad; Medicaid payments are a significant economic driver in this area where we need it. | The person who struggle to afford health coverage for her child | ||
2353 | We have a large refugee population in our community and Medicaid is what allows them to meet their health care needs. Given the challenges they have already overcome to get here, adding more hurdles to eligibility is inhumane. | Patients who lose their Medicaid coverage will have to rely on ERs for care instead of getting routine care and prevention. This be much more expensive for taxpayers, it will cause individuals to suffer and die, cause countless hours of missed work and school, and worsen disease outbreaks in our community. | ||
2354 | We have a terrible heroin Epidemic in our country. Medicaid coverage has made it possible for addicts to get treatment. | Without transportation assistance I believe many non-ambulatory members of the community would be cut off from health services, which would directly impact their health and their ability to contribute to society. Without dental and vision benefits I believe many would neglect their teeth and eyesight, again impacting their health and ability to contribute. And, without retroactive coverage I KNOW that many individuals would wait for or even refuse treatment (for fear that the treatment would bankrupt them), which would lead to a deterioration in mental health and overall well-being! | ||
2355 | We have been able ,to see doctors that help with my chronic lung disease. | My community has several homeless and mentally ill people and these changes would make them not have health care because they cannot work and would not know how to do what is required | ||
2356 | We have been able to have exams, seek treatment when necessary, which otherwise would have gone untreated. | These proposed changes would make it harder for people to take care of their health, dental, and vision care, and I think this would make it harder for them to maintain employment or find employment. | ||
2357 | We have been able to maintain good health | I think that the governor's proposed changes are short-sighted and vulgar and will negatively affect those that most need assistance. He's a Koch shill who only works to dismantle the same government he claims to lead. | ||
2358 | We have been able to obtain medical care we otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford. | Many clients would reduce their office visits or stop coming in. Any impediment or lapse in mental health care can result in dire consequences for individuals, families and communities. | ||
2359 | We have kept insurance. | My work deals with the mentally ill and most of them do not have computers or internet, how could they keep up with logging jobs/community service etc. they would not and then end up losing coverage and not being able to get medications and that would be a Big Mess!! Besides the mentally ill a lot of recipients are poor and/or illiterate, have no internet and would not understand even how to keep all this stuff logged. It is asking too much of people, I am afraid it would hurt more people than it would help the state with costs. Leave it Alone!!! | ||
2360 | We have terrible opioid addiction in our area. I have been grateful that the people have been able to receive services through the Medicaid expansion. On a personal level, I have opened my home to a young person who has Medicaid services through the expansion. For the first time he is receiving health care and treatment! | Many people in our community will not be able to access much needed treatment for addictions and other connected health issues. I see the need for dental and vision coverage too. Many people with addictions have serious, chronic dental health needs and having poor vision is a barrier to getting employment. | ||
2361 | We just enrolled due to a going through divorce and I'm a single mom of 2. We haven't used it yet, but am thankful for coverage for my family during this transition. | create a financial burden and may eliminate medical coverage | ||
2362 | We would be without health insurance without medicaid | |||
2363 | We would not have dental or vision coverage without it. | |||
2364 | When a larger portion of the population has consistant access to health care, everyone benefits from an overall reduction of disease burden and increased productivity. | I have concerns that healthcare would be much less accessible. | ||
2365 | When citizens have health care access it helps the community because it is healthier to provide well care as well as cheaper than citizens not being treated because they cannot afford it. I’ve known some people on Medicaid, but no abusers. They all had overwhelming life circumstances that but for the grace of God, there go I. Other countries cover all citizens, I’m ashamed we don’t already. Stop putting additional requirements and stumbling blocks in their path. Health care and Education are huge equalizers for helping all of society for the greater good. | |||
2366 | When families go through hard times such as sickness, addiction, accidents etc., children should never have to sacrifice visiting a doctor as a result of subsequent unemployment. This should never be an issue in the richest country in the world. This should never be an issue in a country full of "Christians". There are lots of "subsidies" given to people and companies that are better equipped to take a financial hit that are not asked to do so and if they were they wouldn't have to get a second job to qualify or take a drug test to get a,tobacco subsidy check. What do companies have to do to earn tax breaks? Are they mandated to have earnings growth every quarter, employ a set number of people, and do CEO's have to submit to drug tests to qualify for the tax cuts each quarter? Why not? What's good for the goose should be,good for the gander. | There are so many children and families living in poverty that could not seek medical care when needed without Medicaid | ||
2367 | When I first received Medicaid through the expansion I was able to get the decay in my front teeth fixed. This enabled me to get a better job and provide well for my family. I now have medicaid as my secondary insurance that helps with copays and my work insurance pays first. By not having to worry about my copays I have been able to afford to go for check ups and was able to have a chronic cough and other non-emergency illness treated which resulted in fewer missed days from work and improved quality of life. | I would not be able to afford copays or premiums / dental and vision I would need. I am on SSI , I am medically frail but I feel NO note should be needed to make me exempt , When this went into effect I was charged copays on a few medications. I called my legislator, Who called Jesse Williams in Washington D.C. and everyone knows SSI is exempt but you all would make us write letters from our doctors to take these co pays away stating medically frail? NO .. This already did effect me and thank my heavenly father I am smart enough to have spent 10 hours on the phone for 2 days in order to fix this issue and stop YOU from taking my money out in copays. I would have lost my medications and all my specialists , I would have been stuck on my couch , home bound again and not been able to see the specialist at the university for my eye ulcer which could make me go blind in the eye , This is serious . | ||
2368 | When I turned 26, I was working as a nanny for triplets, 45 hours and $375/week. I did not receive benefits from my employers. After the kids started preschool, I went to school myself and became an EMT. Medicaid continued to cover me, and now I'm newly certified. Most new EMTs are only offered part-time work - no benefits - until they've gotten some experience. That's the most likely scenario for me. I'm also working on my paramedic certification, which is part-time now and will go full-time next year, and I have a learning disability, so I may find it difficult to attend full-time school while working full-time. However, EMTs often don't make enough money to get by, and becoming a medic will provide me with financial stability, as well as job security, as medics are in high demand in KY. I may need coverage for a while longer. Medicaid has covered essential services for me, including psychiatric drugs and glasses. I've been so grateful for these services, and I work hard to prevent health problems; I see my PCP regularly, work out several times a week, eat well, and get screenings and vaccines. I work hard - I don't need the state to monitor me and make sure I'm trying to get out of poverty and engage in my health outcomes. Health and financial security and things that people on Medicaid want! I need coverage to stay healthy and become independent, and I already have enough to do to meet those goals without jumping through reporting hoops. When I get into a higher tax bracket, I'll be happy to contribute to others who need Medicaid and give them all the things they need to become successful. | |||
2369 | When I was laid off from my state job, I was able to get insurance for my son and myself. | My children and I would have to go without seeing a doctor, dentist or optometrist. I also work in a mental health clinic and we would lose about 95-98% of our clientele if these changes occur in Medicaid. With a loss that substantial, surely I would be out of work. | ||
2370 | When Medicaid was expanded, more people could get medical, dental, and vision coverage. The health of the people in KY began to improve. Jobs were created, also, in relation to providing the new medical services. No one has given any thought to the jobs that will be lost by implementing the Medicaid Waiver plan. | Barriers to receiving current benefits would make it difficult for many to receive care necessary for them to be successful students, employees, and caregivers. | ||
2371 | When my daughter was laid off she was eligible for Medicaid so continued to have health insurance. She has depression, anxiety and severe migraines. Before the expansion she would have had no access to insurance to cover the physician services and medications she needs. | It would affect my community in ways described above | ||
2372 | When my family was on low income level, we were helped by Medicaid and had a peace of mind while working hard to improve our situation. Many of the people in our community are on low income level and count on Medicaid for health coverage. | I have medical insurance. I used to work with determining eligibility for Medicaid. Too many adults have gone without needed medical, dental& vision coverage. To be productive citizens they need to be healthy. We all deserve basic health coverage so we can have a decent life and work when possible. Wages are too low for those who work in retail stores & restaurants to afford needed medical care. | ||
2373 | When my grandmother,who had no savings and virtually no income, had advanced Alzheimer's, Medicaid allowed her to receive the long term care she needed. She could not live on her own or be unsupervised, and could never have worked/volunteered. I also have students who rely on Medicaid because of physical disabilities or because they are making virtually nothing as full time students and do not have parents who can cover them on their health care. | I would see more patients in my community in crisis because they can't afford their medication and will have an increase in hospitalization and crisis services. | ||
2374 | When my husband couldn't work for 5 years and I brought in the sole household income, my family had coverage. We could not have done so with the proposed changes. This program assisted my family and bridged a gap until my husband could return to work. My children would have suffered immensely without coverage during that difficult time. | Our inpatient units, hospitals, and jails would see an increase in admissions. Homeless clients will be more likely to die on the streets. | ||
2375 | When my husband, our family's breadwinner, was diagnosed with CLL. He lost his job, his paycheck, his insurance, everything. Medicaid has helped us with doctors, dentists, eye exams, and other very inportant medical needs that otherwise we would never be able to afford even a small % of. | People need to be healthy to be productive. Charging for Medicaid coverage or copays for people who can hardly afford food is disgraceful. People should not have to die because they are poor. Vision and dental coverage is needed to be healthy. A student that can’t see will not thrive in the classroom nor will they thrive with a toothache. The same goes for adults in the workplace. | ||
2376 | When my mother was in the nursing home with demintia | Concerned about health care access, impact on hospitals and other care providers bottom line. Seriously set back our attempts to provide dental and vision care for some of our most medically vulnerable adults and for those who need it to enhance their employability. Could be devastating to local economies that have benefitted from the economic impact of Medicaid expansion (jobs, jobs, jobs). | ||
2377 | When people are able to receive healthcare coverage, they are able to live a better life. They are able to see a doctor on a regular bases and don't use the emergency room for their medical needs. Also, they are able to get their medication for mental health, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Receiving regular check up also provides for preventive long term illness and longer life. As we all know early detection is less expensive. | Our community and state will be more productive when all of its members are healthy. We should not consider healthcare to be a privilege. When a members of a society are healthy, that society can function better. We should be helping people get and stay healthy. | ||
2378 | When people are healthy, they are more productive members of our community. Healthy parents are more capable of providing for their children. Healthy children are be able to learn. While I do not rely on Medicaid, two of my sisters do. I fear what will happen if significant changes are made. | My son lives an independent, productive life because of Medicaid. In the end, lack of support costs us far more. People with disabilities depend on Medicaid. Stop asking the least of these to prop up the GREED from corporations. | ||
2379 | When people feel good, they do good. That's the bottom line. | I want all my fellow Kentucky citizens to be keep healthy as possible | ||
2380 | When you are living at or below the poverty line Medicaid as is a must have. | It takes a village. | ||
2381 | Where to start?! As a medical practitioner, the persons I see with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and pediatric neurologic involvement such as Cerebral Palsy and would not have access to medical care that allows them access to primary needs such as health, maximal independence and dignity. My kids' schoolmates could not have basic health that would allow them the attention to learn and engage. | If the Kentucky Medicaid system were to treat me like an able-bodied person, I would struggle financially because I would not be able to afford important items, until, at least I finish graduate school. | ||
2382 | While I have been lucky enough to have paid insurance through my work my entire life, I know many people who only survive and thrive because they have Medicaid support in their lives. These people range from young mothers recovering from addiction, elderly widows and widowers, children and people with profound disability or mental illness. They are all Kentuckians and they are all our neighbors and relatives. | In my community, there are individuals who use medicaid mco’s to help get to and from their doctors appts. Also helped medication to become affordable especially with individuals with behavioral health issues and also severe health issues such as diabetes. Medicaid has also encouraged individuals to take care of their substance abuse addictions with the help of vivitrol which is VERY expensive without insurance. | ||
2383 | While working my way through school, and working part-time with no benefits available, Medicaid has allowed me to have uninterrupted medical, dental, and vision benefits. | If my great great nephews lose their healthcare because their Mom doesn’t follow your guidelines, can’t take them to the Dr. They get worse and worse, until finally have to go to ER, higher cost than going to Dr visit and getting a prescription to resolve so it doesn’t develop into something worse. Unfair to children and many other disadvantaged citizens to have less healthcare, leads to worse health, More time off work or school, lower life expectancy and also opens them up to other complications like mental health or drug abuse, also leading to domestic violence, suicides, and gun violence. | ||
2384 | Why can we give giant tax cuts to corporations and the 1% but we want to prevent the poor from having health care? | These changes would be devastating. They would throw people into poverty, cause deaths from not being able to afford medical care and essentials, and be incredibly cruel. They would also create a lot of resentment, because everyone knows that the rich have had major tax breaks. | ||
2385 | With my low-income, Medicaid has provided me the only path I have available to access to affordable healthcare. Otherwise, in several situations, I may not be alive to address the issue. | Help to balance a fair budget in our state and ensure people are not abusing the system as I’m sure there are many that are.i always had to pay for my coverage, copayment deductibles and Rx. I’m tired of paying the way for many that could be doing it themselves. I’m on Medicare now and draw less than many on medicaid do, pay my premiums and struggle to pay for my rx and don’t get any assistance from the govt. | ||
2386 | Without expanded Medicaid coverage someone close to me would have developed cancer and may soon die. Early testing is vital! | Healthy kids make happy parents. Healthy employees make happy employees. | ||
2387 | Without healthcare more KY persons will become I'll or die | These changes make it again more difficult for people access even basic care. | ||
2388 | Without it I would not have doctors visits, medicines or hospital visits | I couldn’t afford it it would take money away from things for my kids | ||
2389 | without it I would not have the 20% co-pays my SSDI check barely covers rent, utilities & phone. And $94 in SNAP, who can live on that a month? I'd like to see one of them try too survive on my income! | |||
2390 | Without Medicaid coverage I would have been destroyed by the cost of my heart valve | Whitley County is a high poverty county. They need all the medical and dental benefits that can be provided to them, especially the elderly, handicapped, and children. | ||
2391 | Without Medicaid family member would not have both the necessary dental & medical they need to continue school. | Most people on medicaid cannot afford any out of pocket costs | ||
2392 | Without medicaid I could not afford to have health insurance for my children and myself. | It would contribute to more poverty and severely ill Kentuckians. | ||
2393 | Without Medicaid many early diagnosis' would not be made. My best friend's husband died very young, due to delay in seeking healthcare because of no insurance. When the expansion of Medicaid happened, he went and had the tests they could not afford. His cancer was too far and he passed in less than 6 months. Had they been able to get the tests when symptoms first started, he would be alive today. | Due to unclear or ambiguous "proposed changes," it leaves many needy individuals vulnerable. Have not seen clarification as to the criteria of "able bodied" individuals. Who will make the determination as to the status of someone being "able bodied?" How would the job opportunities be decided for individuals to work of the mandate is enforced? | ||
2394 | Without Medicaid my daughter and grandson would have no coverage at all | They would undercut all of the above benefits: people would lose coverage, lose jobs, lose better health status, while imposong costs on everybody else in the ER | ||
2395 | Without Medicaid myself and my child would not have access to healthcare, it is critical for our well being. | Where do I begin? What psychopath came up with requiring the sick and weakest among us to volunteer or put time in at Walmart? That would be medical slavery. We pool our resources for foreign wars why can't we help our neighbors too? This is an issue I'd die for. I'm a Kentuckian and when our neighbors are in need we help each other and we don't ask them how much cash they have first. | ||
2396 | Without Medicaid, my children would have no health insurance. | When basic exams aren't performed, there's a high risk of a more serious problem arrising from not getting checked out. Dental infections can be painful and sometimes, deadly. Eye exams are also crucial for those of us who have vision issues that effect us every day. | ||
2397 | Working in the substance abuse/mental health field, it has helped many addicted/mentally ill persons get the help they need but can't afford. | Without Medicaid I can't afford the medical care I need. I am at a age I need meds that I didn't need when I was young. | ||
2398 | Working with low income kids, they and their families deserve good access to healthcare. Added stress of how to pay for it is just adding to poorer health, how is one supposed to better themselves if they are sick and can’t get treatment. | Wont be able to afford going to the Dr | ||
2399 | Would not affect my community because we all pay for our healthcare out of pocket. | |||
2400 | Years ago I found myself pregnant and single and found out my mom had liver cancer. I quit my job and took care of my new baby and Mom. Without the expanded Medicaid I wouldn't have had health insurance. During this time I developed horrible cavities. Using the Medicaid I was able to get to go to the UofL dental school to get my teeth fixed. I also had an infected tooth that the dentist said if I had waited any longer, I could've died. The pain from this tooth was more painful than childbirth. And my teeth were so bad they had turned black in the front and I couldn't smile without freaking people out. So for years I took care of my mom with chemo, liver surgery, recovery and thought it was gone but the cancer came back. She tried a trial group down in Nashville but it didn't work. On new year's Eve 2017, she passed away. The hardest thing I had to do was go to a job interview a few days after she was gone but I knew it was the best for me and my daughter and my mom wanted me to get this job but if my teeth hadn't been fixed, I wouldn't have gotten this job. I work in medical billing and I make enough to support my daughter and I all on my own. If it wasn't for that extended Medicaid with the dental coverage, I wouldn't be where I am today. | I would lose the necessary medical help I would need. | ||
2401 | Yes both my family and my community at large have benefited medicaid coverage. I cant imagine how live could be without medicaid coverage. | As we grow older, money becomes an issue | ||
2402 | Yes! Without Medicaid assistance to many Kentuckians neglect their health care needs. I work with an FQHC Clinic and the need is huge! I assisted an man who had not been seen in 15 yrs and when he came to us he was in bad shape! But because he now qualifies for medical assistance he is back on track and getting the health care he needs. This is just one. We help so many people who can not find a doctor to take their insurance or not eligible for assistance. Medicaid is helping so many Kentuckians become healthier. You can not live on said $12,000 paying rent , food , buying clothes and shoes without help for medical. One visit to the doctor is what most people make in a week. We can not expect them to not pay their rent or light bill , Water bill or go hungry for that week. It is what we are supposed to do. Help one another. We need to stop putting the less fortunate down. Help them rise above their misfortune. My children receive Medicaid. I am a single mom with no help from dad. I am thankful and grateful for the Medicaid program. Please look into your hearts to continue to helping Kentuckians stay healthy physically and mentally! | I think the high cost of health care keeps many people from getting preventative services which leads to higher costs in the end since they may result in greater health issues with much higher costs. In the end, someone must pay for the increased health costs and quite often the government must then develop and fund services. | ||
2403 | You have health insurance | We are on a fixed income. My husband draws Social Security. Having co-pays and payments are hurting the ones who cannot afford it causing some to do without seeing the Doctor and getting their medicine. There is no way that I can have the dental work I need. I cannot afford what they are charging. Please put Medicaid back to the way it was before Bevin made these changes. Thank you. | ||
2404 | I would hope it would get people off their bottom & go to work | |||
2405 | I will be in debt if i lose this coverage and by not seeinf my doctors and getting my medications i will be unable to work. Please I am begging I can't afford to lose my coverage. | |||
2406 | I am needing dental work that I wasn't able to get last month because my coverage had been discontinued. I have 2 teeth that I am needing removed from the oral surgeon. I wasn't able to be seen by a general dentist or the oral surgeon because of the new changes and I have been in pain. | |||
2407 | We wouldn't be able to get the care we need. My daughter and wife are needing dental work that we cannot afford right now. They both have been experiencing pain because they can not afford to go to the dentist and oral surgeon. If this is not fixed back to the way it was, there will be lots of children and adults doing without the care they need. | |||
2408 | Me and my daughter require glasses. It would be nearly impossible to get a tooth fixed especially in an emergency. Which would leave us in pain that we wouldn't be able to afford to get rid of. | |||
2409 | I would not be able to afford to go to dentist or eye doctor | |||
2410 | I would have to go the emergency room for my liver, and i guess I would go to buying street drugs again. | |||
2411 | I don't mind a small copay we live on fixed income. I am sick but not on disability worked all my life until my much older husband lost a lung is in hospital bed on oxygen. I care for him and he does what he can for me on my flare up days. He falls and passes out a lot doesnt drive so I'm everything for him he has medicare only but i cant work i care for him. My feet hands pain all over brain fog no sleep fatigue i cant drive to town work anymore nor can he be alone. We live on his ssdi he's 65 medicare with it too. I had nothing suffered 10 years or so worse than now. My rheumatologist sent me to numerology testing for ms now. | |||
2412 | The primary benefits I see are engaging many in the population to do more for themselves and gain a sense of personal control. And creating a more positive view from the community as these folks work in the community. | |||
2413 | ||||
2414 | Our state would eliminate monetary waste. | |||
2415 | The proposed changes contradict the purpose of the Medicaid program, which is to provide health coverage to those who cannot afford it. The waiver would result in unacceptable coverage losses. | |||
2416 | Most seniors worked all of their lives until they became too ill to continue. If their only income is SS pension, they would be unable to receive proper medical care without Medicaid. The problem I see with Medicaid is that there are too many healthy young people getting benefits that should not be. I've known of dozens who receive it because they didn't report that their "baby daddy" is living with them. | |||
2417 | The changes that evil Bevin support are so horrible and trying to cut medicaid is not being any kind of governor. It would knock me and plenty more off of medicaid and we would likely die. Its just Not right. | |||
2418 | ||||
2419 | Most on Medicaid are unable to work are they would be working. The expansion plan saved several of my family members from being uninsured. | |||
2420 | I would have to pay a premium that I could not afford | |||
2421 | I work with immigrants who are the victims of violence (domestic abuse, crimes, etc.) to help them obtain immigration status, which often allows them access to Medicaid coverage. For people recovering from trafficking situations, horrific abuse, and victimization, the proposed changes add an additional burden that these people cannot afford to take on. You can't work 20 hours a week when you're still trying to figure out where you and your children can live where you won't be abused; you don't have the time or the resources to navigate another complicated system when you just escaped from a human trafficker and are figuring out how to put your life back together. These people will simply forego healthcare coverage. That means that when they are sick, they will either just deal with it, which may hurt their health in the long run, go to a cheap clinic where they may receive poor coverage, or go to the emergency room, which will end up costing the state more than just allowing them to stay on Medicaid in the first place. These changes will hurt far more than they help. | |||
2422 | More use of health departments for routine care. | |||
2423 | My mom has no money left after she pays her supplement we need to take care of our seniors. They cannot afford most of the co pays. We need medical marijuana, hemp and gambling to help pay for our seniors and teachers | |||
2424 | The grandchildren would not have Healthcare coverage | |||
2425 | ||||
2426 | refer to above | |||
2427 | ||||
2428 | Medicaid helps people work; the state's proposal to take Medicaid health coverage away from people will make it harder for them to get work. People losing Medicaid coverage will simply go uninsured. Cutting Kentucky residents off Medicaid will hurt families' financial security. When Oregon extended Medicaid coverage to previously uninsured low-income adults in 2008 (before expansion), the individuals gaining coverage reported improved financial security. Greater financial security and stability reduces individuals' risk of homelessness. | |||
2429 | I am disabled I am on SSI I believe I will should be exempt anything that is put into these new rules I believe I should not have to have any letter or form filled out by any doctor saying I'm medically frail because disability already shows that I have been disabled for many years I think above I wrote I think I wrote how it would affect me already and the community how it helps us you take that away that is how it would affect us it would take away are all the reasons that helps us I tell you again repent repent to your savior repent your sins and ask the Holy Spirit into your heart and then make a bill then pass a law We all have one God whether we are poor or Rich I tell you ,you will be killing many people you take them off of their Medicaid. I tell you this would be an injustice to poor people. I asked you how you would sleep at night if this was your daughter going through this I asked you how you would sleep at night if this was one of your grandbabies that had some kind of disease and they were not able to go to work if they are being treated this way I asked you to look into your heart and put yourself in someone else's position if you have empathy that is are you capable of having empathy for others? God knows all of our hearts and what we feel and what we think and what we do and if you are making up stuff to save our country money? And you know in your heart what you are doing is wrong? You are breaking the heart of your one and only Father in heaven and you will be judged you will stand in judgement before him on Judgement Day and I guess I will pray for you and all the people making this bill because Lord if it goes through you will hold yourself accountable and Heaven by my father My Savior Jesus Christ and my father God the first the last the alpha the Omega people would not be able to take their medications people would not be able to get to the doctor's people would not be able to get treatment people would not be able to see ER and emergencies people would be stuck at home people would not even know how bad people were they would get so bad they would kill themselves and that is what this would do to people and to myself | |||
2430 | I'm not sure how it will affect +me until it actually happens and I see what I have to do | |||
2431 | I take medicaid patients in private practice and the medicaid expansion has been so beneficial to many that I serve. I have kept patients out of the hospital and facilitate their progress in all areas of their lives, resulting in increased productivity and work toward stability. It is unthinkable that these services will be denied due to Matt Bevin's proposed changes. | |||
2432 | I had worked since I was 14 until I was 39 & injured my spine plus a whole host of mental issues all of which means I am unable to work, and have applied for disability. I had to move in with my parents even tho I am 46 because I cannot fully care for myself, and while I await being approved for disability, I have no income & am not allowed to work, so medicaid is the only access I have to healthcare. | |||
2433 | We would die without medicaid | |||
2434 | If we didn't have Medicaid the family wouldn't be able to pay for doctors or other medical resources. | |||
2435 | Punitive measure that block access to health care and increase financial risk on low-income families do not make people healthier, more able to work, or better off. All proposed changes in the waiver should be scrapped. Medicaid is a health insurance program not a source of punishment or reward for certain behaviors. | |||
2436 | Floyd County is in the bottom 10% in health rankings according to the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. If Medicaid is no longer offered or offered at reduced coverage in Kentucky, our "working poor" will have no health care at all. With out health care they will be prone to debilitating illness and possible early death. If our workforce is no longer able to work, who will do the menial labor we depend on? | |||
2437 | The proposed changes would weaken the supports in place, which already have holes and make it hard at times for people to get what they need. These changes have the potential to cause more stress and hardship for the most vulnerable people, increasing risks to child abuse and neglect, substance abuse disorders, poverty, homelessness and other more challenging social issues. | |||
2438 | There are those within my community for whom it would be a hardship to complete work requirements and other proposed changes to this program due to lack of education, racial/ethnic discrimination, and scarcity of work opportunities for which they have the skills and training. | |||
2439 | A community is stronger when it's people are stronger. A robust health-care system is an investment in our people, which strengthens the economic and social growth of our community. | |||
2440 | Fewer peope covered equals higher ER usage, lost work time, lost revenue to businesses... those costs historically are absorbed by those who do have coverage. Also an unhealthy populace hurts all | |||
2441 | Lack of transportation is a major impediment to patients needing specialty care out of their immediate area. Lack of dental care can lead to other health issues, including cardiac problems and even sepsis. Also, people with poor dentition or loss of teeth are less attractive to employers, thus limiting their economic opportunities. | |||
2442 | Without Medicaid or having to pay premiums my family wouldn’t have access to medical care. We need dental and vision as well because healthy teeth and eyes are crucial to good heath. As parents of young children we do not have the time or means to “earn” our healthcare | |||
2443 | I have spent my whole career working in social services. Without Medicaid expansion, many of my clients would be dead or so sick that life would be nearly unlivable. As for eliminating visual and dental coverage -- how can our state government expect someone to work if that person cannot see properly? How can our state government expect that person to be taken seriously in a job interview if s/he is missing teeth? If the goal really is to encourage people to work and make it possible for them to do so, then Kentucky will preserve Medicaid expansion. | |||
2444 | People will lose insurance, will not seek help for medical conditions until they are severem and folks with limited English will be more heavily penalized because there are no translations. | |||
2445 | If god forbid something unforeseen should happen in my life, it would be nice to know that I live and pay taxes in a community that will support me while I am getting back on my feet. I truly don't want to live in a community that throws it's members to the wolves. Really, why waste my taxes here? | |||
2446 | Many Kentuckians look impoverished and ill cared for | |||
2447 | Medicaid is the safety net for the homeless mentally ill. Medicaid allows them to receive a range essential services. Otherwise, their difficulties would cost the state and local government significantly in incarceration costs and hospital costs (including ER visits due to psychiatric crisis). Psychiatric support dramatically lowers the chance that these individuals will have confrontations with law enforcement. All of these advantages are supported by irrefutable research findings. | |||
2448 | ||||
2449 | The various deadines create hurdles to successfully enrolling. The work requirement assumes that the poor are undeserving. These requirement are an unnecessary and unwarranted barrier to covereage. | |||
2450 | Health Care is not a privilege of the rich - if more people have access to health care more regularly the overall cost of health care will go down. | |||
2451 | ||||
2452 | LAST month I was charged $80.00 in co-pays. My household had an income of $750.00 a month. That charge is devastating to us.. We cannot afford to live. If these co -pays continue, we will loose our home. | |||
2453 | Many of my clients live on the margins. They do the best they can, but are not always sophisticated or high-functioning. They need medical care and drig and alcohol treatment. We need to eliminate barriers, not create new ones. | |||
2454 | I don't think most people will be afford their healthcare if these changes pass. | |||
2455 | Less access to care creating poor health | |||
2456 | My father is a KY rural optometrist for more than 30 years. In his opinion, CHIP and Medicaid expansion have been the most effective ways to keep as many Kentuckians healthy as possible. Also, he has paid taxes into his community based on those earnings from Medicaid expansion. These are federal dollars that help workers work and pay taxes, and help doctors provide care through their work and pay taxes. | |||
2457 | ||||
2458 | My daughter would no longer be able to get the help she needs for any medical needs she might have. | |||
2459 | People do not have time to volunteer 80 hours a month we have children to take care of, we have dr appointments, and people trying to get ssdi have a waiting period and need medical care while they wait to get approved for ssdi. | |||
2460 | ||||
2461 | See above. | |||
2462 | Would make the freeloaders think about using services prudently | |||
2463 | I have been been diagnosed and been able to be treated for several different illnesses. People I see are healthier on average | |||
2464 | ||||
2465 | medicaid recipients should assume some responsibility for their own care , like the rest of us . The work requirement is needed . I'm 66 yrs old and have worked since i was 12yrs old in the tobacco fields of western Kentucky joined the military at 19 , went to college and am still working . Why are medicaid people any more special than any one else-- I'm sure my voice will not be heard since this is not the answers you want | |||
2466 | Devastating for health of our people, our community and economy. | |||
2467 | Hopefully the changes will get people back to work and remove the incentive to use their time in activities that harm themselves or others. | |||
2468 | My disabled sister would not be able to afford any other medical insurance | |||
2469 | The proposed changes will punish the working poor and many of Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens. Introducing monthly premiums, lockouts for missed payments, and high deductibles -- will all have the effect of preventing citizens from receiving health care. The proposed plan also adversely affects communities because it condones and even encourages dishonesty. The language of the proposal suggests an expansion of service, but it is really a drastic cut to services. For example, it claims to offer “an array of enhanced benefits” -- this is just one example of many distortions of language -- intended to mislead and deceive, all at the cost of the poor, the working poor, and some of Kentucky's most vulnerable citizens. The "MyRewards" part of the proposal seems particularly misleading --- not to mention potentially very costly; how will this program be financed? Implementing and managing such a program would no doubt be costly. Tracking individuals’ behaviors and monitoring rewards accounts will require an immense (and expensive) network of technology and manpower. Monitoring and enforcing the MyRewards program and the required 20 hours per week for the community engagement requirement will be expensive. Added to this would be the enormous administrative costs of collecting monthly premiums and co-pays. It is difficult to see how the overhaul would be in any way fiscally responsible. The proposal does not offer "enhanced" benefits; it takes them away. It is dishonest. It is mean-spirited. | |||
2470 | ||||
2471 | I just an aware of people who I would call the working poor. Without Mediciad they would not afford many of their medical needs and probably go without. | |||
2472 | Reduction of wasting tax revenues | |||
2473 | The co-pays and stuff probably woudn't hurt my family much, but they would hurt many others who are less fortunate than us. | |||
2474 | People who are truly disabled should not be abandoned without access to basic healthcare. Changes to work requirements or transportation could result in that abandonment. | |||
2475 | As an employer who has worked with some individuals who were required to take job training classes, or volunteer, it is extremely time consuming , expensive and often frustrating burden to manage volunteers who need processing, background checked, training and monitoring. As a service provider, I have worked for years with familes who are falling through the cracks or live in generational poverty. Access to reliable and affordable transportation is an extreme barrier to accessing employment or even crucial services to provide a better life. Secondly, the idea of encouraging training and volunteering/community engagement is a noble one, but I don't think punishing someone who is trying to meet the standards but may have no transportation, money or food for lunch, or even clean clothes to wear is the answer. Lastly, I understand that the reporting of this is required to be done online. Many people in poverty do not have access to internet service or devices to accomplish this and its another hoop to jump through - and another way to deny medical services to people who have no other option. | |||
2476 | My son would not be able to work what little he can. | |||
2477 | My family is not directly affected. My comments are offered as a health care professional and public advocate . See my previous response for my views on community outcomes. | |||
2478 | The main change that would affect us is if the vision and dental went away. We would likely end up with fewer visit to the dentist, which makes cavities more likely to be present (we practice good oral hygiene at home, but checkups catch things that happen despite our best efforts) or for things like root canal to be needed. It would also make us less likely to be able to visit the eye dr as often, so glasses for the kids might take longer to get, which affects being able to do schoolwork. As for me, (the parent) If my health care went away or lapsed, I would be less likely to go to the dr for regular screenings; so things like cancer, etc would not be seen as early, making procedures more complicated and more costly. Plus, less dr visits to maintain good health takes years off of life, meaning our kids have parents that die younger than we would if we had regular health check ups and interventions to diseases earlier in the progression of the disease. For example, finding cervical cancer early means I can get it removed early if it is present, versus having it grow and get so bad that hysterectomy and/or chemo is needed. | |||
2479 | I retired to help take care of my parents both are 86. My mom has Parkinson’s and had a stroke this past February. It’s only me and my sister that are taking turns staying with my parents. She stays a month then I stay the next month. They live in Lafayette TN and if I was told I had to Work 20 hours a week to keep my Medicaid coverage I would have to drop my insurance. I am being asked to choose between my parents and my Health. My parents will win everytime. When I am not helping with my parents I am helping my daughter with my grandkids and she is 8 months pregnant with number 3. | |||
2480 | Not at all. I have to work, why shouldn’t able bodied Medicaid persons? | |||
2481 | Our member is truly disabled and draws only SSI his life has enough challenges with his basic needs | |||
2482 | We should take care of those who are unable to pay for health care. Health care is not something that only the people lucky enough to be able to pay for deserve. | |||
2483 | This would result in tens of thousands of vulnerable Kentuckians losing health care coverage. This policy is immoral. | |||
2484 | Changing the rules and making it harder to obtain or keep coverage is just a bureaucratic roadblock. Transportation to and from appointments is crucial to some recipients. Learning about the best health benefits is what is needed. Reigning in medical costs also is crucial to the economy of our country. | |||
2485 | I do not want to live in a backward state where education, wages, and healthcare are hobbled under the cause of low taxes. why should people live in a desperate cycle of poor to no healthcare, substandard wages , housing and education.. We have the means to throw a safety net under out population - and a single payer system such as Medicaid is a solution. | |||
2486 | ||||
2487 | A healthy community is a productive community that ultimately costs less than a sick community with higher mortality rates. Insurance is a right for all and we all benefit when our neighbors are healthy and not crippled by medical costs. | |||
2488 | These new requirements will reduce coverage levels and increase the number of people without health insurance. Medicaid helps people work; the state’s proposal to take Medicaid health coverage away from people will make it harder for them to work. Cutting people off health insurance will not increase their employment opportunities. However, there is data showing that providing people with health insurance through Medicaid will help them get and keep employment. Cutting Kentucky residents off Medicaid will hurt families’ financial security. Paperwork/work documentation requirements will make it harder for all enrollees to keep Medicaid. All stand to lose coverage if they don’t keep up with the paperwork requirement. A lock-out policy for failure to complete renewal paperwork fails to recognize the multiple challenges facing low-income residents. Lock-outs will interfere with treatment for people with mental illness or needing substance use treatment. Continuity of care is particularly important in treating people with substance use disorders or mental illness. These are also individuals who may have greater difficulty complying with paperwork time lines. Locking people out of coverage will undercut state efforts to provide comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment. Lock-outs will create disruptions in care, leading to poor health outcomes and increased costs for Kentucky residents. Dental coverage improves Medicaid enrollees’ overall health and employability. Untreated dental disease can have a negative impact on overall health. Access to dental services can improve employment prospects. Eliminating NEMT will make it harder for Medicaid enrollees to get appropriate care at the appropriate time. | |||
2489 | ||||
2490 | My son would not be able to afford treatment for a condition that makes him eventually able to support himself. I am aware that many could not get treatment for drug addition with Medicaid. Healthy people contribute to society. | |||
2491 | It also provides more security, less mental and health stress. It provides a low wage earner, to still have health care coverage (such as part time workers, older students). | |||
2492 | I am a registered nurse and I work in both clinical care and mental health care I have not seen maybe one out of a hundred patients that truly come and use our services that would be eligible or beneficial in any capacity to volunteer work anywhere obviously there is some fraud and I think the state needs to incorporate more workers into the Medicaid to investigate fraud if it's fraudulent they need to be off of it. But we do not need to penalize the suffering people of the state of Kentucky that do need it this is all ridiculous I work in this everyday and what Society primarily the right side is telling us is going on is really not going on to the degree that they're letting on we're seeing very very little fraud there yes is some but for the numbers big fraud just not there it's a poor state with a lot of very sick poor people and that's a fact and they do not need to be penalized we need to charge the rich more taxes to help support system correctly | |||
2493 | These changes would be devastating for Kentucky. Many people would lose their only health coverage which would hurt not only them, but the community as a whole. The changes would hurt the health of Kentucky citizens and would make it harder for people to work. The changes would not encourage work; the changes are just punitive measures to try to save money by reducing the number of people on Medicaid. Cutting people off health insurance will not increase their employment opportunities. However, providing people with health insurance through Medicaid will help them get and keep employment. People losing Medicaid will go without insurance which will hurt their employability. Medicaid, like other insurance, helps encourage financial stability. Paperwork/work documentation requirements will make it harder for all enrollees to keep Medicaid. Enrollment will fall, and people's health will suffer. Lock-outs for renewal paperwork/Missing change of circumstance reporting requirements do not serve any legitimate purpose. Their only purpose is to cut people off Medicaid. They will result in huge coverage losses and interfere with treatment for mental health and substance abuse. Health outcomes will be adversely affected. The current system is working well. Dental and vision coverage must remain. Dental coverage improves Medicaid enrollees’ overall health and employability. Untreated dental disease can have a negative impact on overall health. Access to dental services can improve employment prospects. Non-emergency medical transportation is vitally important and should not be eliminated. Eliminating NEMT will make it harder for Medicaid enrollees to get appropriate care at the appropriate time and thus adversely affect health outcomes. NEMT is cost-effective and helps reduce emergency room visits. Retroactive coverage should not be eliminated. Retroactive coverage helps Medicaid enrollees move out of poverty. Retroactive coverage reduces uncompensated care, and that helps Kentucky’s health system. | |||
2494 | Some family members as well as many community members would go without medical treatment without Medicaid | |||
2495 | People will get sick and die unnecessarily when preventive care is no longer available. The cost of health care and loss of productivity will be greater than if Medicaid were left as is. | |||
2496 | We would have to be worried that one health incident requiring an overnight hospitalization would take us months to pay for. I would be worried that we suddenly could be locked out of coverage for inadvertently doing something wrong. | |||
2497 | The community and state benefit from accessible health care services for those in need. Emphasis on preventive care ultimately leads to cost saving and more productive contributors to our work force and society. | |||
2498 | We would not be able to meet the work requirements and therefore would be in risk of losing our healthcare benefits. | |||
2499 | They would put extra burdens on neighbors who help neighbors. | |||
2500 | Health is so important for all. Everyone should be able to have health care regardless of their income. | |||
2501 | They would make the program too expensive | |||
2502 | I live in a poor community, I know several people that this would affect, we can't afford the co pays fines or premiums. What next???just jail the poor??? | |||
2503 | He currently works part time in a sheltered workshop. If that wrecto come to an end he would not be able to handle 20 hours a week at a regular job or even volunteering. He would lose his benefits. | |||
2504 | These changes would affect my community. I would hate to think that someone wouldn't have the same opportunity I had to take care of their health which would essentially help better their lives. | |||
2505 | More crowded ERs, more folks getting sicker and spreading colds, flu, etc. to the community | |||
2506 | My younger daughter was shocked when I told her about the changes and she reads. She does not have any objection to working. She works every day, but the record keeping and computerized compliance was off putting and she is computer literate. Many people in my community are not computer literate, do not have internet access, do not read well and could not follow the complex instructions on how to set up an account, much less maintain it, check it and upload information to it. The requirements for a population that has challenges with not just computer literacy but also with general literacy is absurd. We are setting people up to fail or to become uninsured, less healthy, less able to maintain a job and driving costs up because they will end up in the hospital instead of getting preventive care and consistent chronic disease management or appropriate infection control. | |||
2507 | Without Medicaid, they would not receive residential, supported employment, personal assistance, respite, community access, day training, specialized medical equipment, and a plethora of other needs. | |||
2508 | They would no longer be able to afford a lot of their health care. | |||
2509 | Elderly and sick people can’t work but need coverage. | |||
2510 | These changes would significantly impact my business and the community I live in. Especially if the retro-active guidelines were eliminated this could have serious consequences not only on recipients but providers as well. The proposed changes may minimize Medicaid providers impacting service delivery to recipients therefore putting them in a tailspin for services. | |||
2511 | They would leave more sick people out to spread illness and force people into worse situations by charging fees. That's stupid why would you charge fees on someone that you've verified didnt have the money to begin with. Seriously this is ridiculous. | |||
2512 | These families face many challenges and difficulties. These changes would put so many roadblocks in the way of obtaining medically necessary treatments that the negative effects would far outweigh any proposed savings. Other states that have attempted these kinds of requirements have consistently found that purely on a cost basis these kinds of burdensome regulations cost more to administer than any proposed savings. Libertarians are fond of the maxim "hard cases make bad law." Regulations designed to stop a very few number of people from doing inappropriate things end up preventing good and deserving people that are our most vulnerable from accessing necessary services. I want people in my community to be healthy emotionally and physically to the best we can assure. These regulations are the opposite of what Medicaid waivers were designed to do. I am proud of our state for its Michelle P Waiver and Supports for Community Living Waiver programs. I see firsthand how these waivers improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities. My spouse is owner-operator of an Adult Foster Care and CLS agency. This is what waiver programs are supposed to be about. We need more access to Michelle P Waiver because I have children that need the behavioral support services available under that waiver that are not getting served now--children with autism and significant intellectual delays. We need more and better services, not going backwards. Conservative thinking tells us that burdensome regulations impede effective administration of services. These proposed regulations are the opposite of conservative, they are an example of increasing bureaucracy in the name of autocratic governmental control and intrusion into people's lives. | |||
2513 | My kids not receive the care at home they require. We would end up homeless | |||
2514 | People who cannot afford medical care will not be able to get it. | |||
2515 | My daughter is a single mother of three children and works for KY River Foothills, is a HeadStart teacher a State and Federally funded program You don't want to help her with Medicaid? PAY HER MORE. | |||
2516 | Have kept up with my health and dental | |||
2517 | It would marginalize me more than ever, and truly live in fear of being without healthcare that is literally a life-line. | |||
2518 | It will cause me to loose coverage | |||
2519 | All of these changes add stress to folks already under pressure, which further impacts negative health issues. | |||
2520 | Families in our community would lose important access to medical/dental care. | |||
2521 | These changes would have my daughter in so much pain she would likely commit suicide. I am retired and cannot help her with medical care | |||
2522 | Some of these changes have good intentions, but the practical applications would be lacking. Specifically, forcing an applicant to do 80 hours of volunteer work in order to use their benefits would cause many of these applicants to lose said benefits, since many areas of Kentucky are rural and don't have enough volunteer facilities to cover all of the Medicaid users in the area. Also, the Medicaid transportation should not be taken away, this seems almost like a necessity for our older users who don't have family to help them. Very few of these changes are well thought-out, and this whole document needs to be reconsidered. | |||
2523 | I think the new changes will lead to more homelessness, increased school absences, more missed work, people coming to work sick and spreading illness, and more untreated mental illness in the community. People will be less likely to go to the ER if they think there will be severe penalties - that may help with crowding as it will keep some people from visiting the ER who could easily wait for a less expensive option, but it will also keep people away who are not sure if they are having a heart attack or a stroke but they don't want to risk penalties. These kind of rules that penalize ER use will lead to deaths. I think a better approach would be to make cheap or free clinics more available - many Medicaid patients go to the ER not from convenience but because they don't have easy access to a primary care physician and many communities still don't have urgent care facilities. Most places with an ER have public transportation that can get to the ER but that is not always the case for urgent care or primary care docs. | |||
2524 | All Republicans concern themselves with is COST issues when it comes to health insurance and quality medical care not whether or not citizens are getting the best care and insuring that Medicare providers and services that are needed is available The conservatives only care about cutting budgets eliminate as many programs as they can simply because they are opposed to all Medicare Medicaid AHC They see these programs as government waste socialized medicine.The participants of Medicaid would be burdened with having to pay higher copays or absorb all costs with so many purposed cut backs Required to work for Medicaid support is cruel and an additional burden for many who need Medicaid to supplement their expenses what the hell are you going to do go drag grandma out of the nursing home and put her to work for Medicaid that is idiocy on you budget cutters | |||
2525 | Less healthcare spending means shrinking healthcare sectors, fewer doctors, less choice, specialty services unable to afford to exist, and many of my family members left out in the cold. I have family that cannot work, cannot get on disability, and with chronic conditions that require a doctor's attention. Without the Medicaid expansion, their health, life quality, and longevity are threatened. | |||
2526 | I won’t be able to see my doctors or afford my prescriptions | |||
2527 | He wouldn't have his special glasses which would impact his educational learning. It takes all our extra money for his care. We don't have money for co-payments, or monthly fees and such. | |||
2528 | It could send a family member I have into poverty | |||
2529 | I would have to quit my job and go on total state support | |||
2530 | The increased costs will place an economic burden on low-income households, creating further financial instability, rent burdened households, increase hunger, deteriorations in health, barriers to quality education for school aged kids, increase in multi-job situations for individuals (who already work multiple jobs in many cases), decrease family time and involvement with childrens schools, and codify the belief that Kentuckians do not take care of their fellow Kentuckians—their fellow human beings. | |||
2531 | Loss of health care and loss of jobs for those providing the care | |||
2532 | Medicaid information and computer systems are unreliable and social workers are overloaded.. hopefully this would create a better functioning system | |||
2533 | These changes, especially the lockouts, could put my family's health at risk if there are unintended clerical errors or difficulty comprehending and processing paperwork. These lockouts and the work requirement will be costly not only to recipients but to the government due to the necessary increases in bureaucracy for handling these policies. | |||
2534 | Your the government what happened to holding HEARINGS town halls what happened to taking a bus load of officials and drive from town to town hold a town hall at the high school or at community centers and get it straight from the public When you are dealing with something as big of a deal as medicaid which affects our lives and our pocketbooks here in the commonwealth does it not make sense to take this issue to the public On line surveys are not enough this needs to be done in real time PUBLIC FORUMS You are elected the positions you hold are not a birth right you serve us not the other way AROUND The fact that you are trying to change the system is evidence that these changes not for the good of the people or make the system better this call for a change in the Medicare system in Kentucky which is already in place is nothing more than a advocation for meeting with an AGENDA a conservative agenda one that is against govt programs a govt program, medicare in this case which is seen as "socialized medicine" govt waste a free ride freeloading a free lunch So let's make these" freeloaders "work for their Medicare You people purposing all this "Community Engagement" crap you apparently don't have a CLUE as to what people are going thru for their Medicare Medicaid support If you had used any of that world famous Kentucky common sense that mom and dad taught you, for all the years of education and working experience from your jobs you would have held a hearing a town hall a meeting at community centers have face to face interacting testimonies from the people/the public dealing with Medicare Medicaid on a day to day basis you would have already figured it out that these piss poorly thought out changes are just- plain -stupid | |||
2535 | Families would not be able to afford basic medical needs. | |||
2536 | First of all most patient on Medicaid WANT to work- there is no need for a Requirement. Do you need a requirement for something you WANT to do? | |||
2537 | Alot of people I know struggle from paycheck to paycheck in this "gig" economy. Trying to find more work while dealing with filling out whatever government forms seems excessive, especially for folks dealing with medical conditions. | |||
2538 | disability income is so little and medical costs so much any increases will be painful. | |||
2539 | Quality of life would drastically decrease for a large segment of the population. This would have profound effects on the community, including children's performance in school, contributions to the economy and society at large. | |||
2540 | My son is on the autism spectrum and does not deal well with strangers, crowds and many other work or "volunteer" work environments. He looks well but is unable to work due to many issues. | |||
2541 | These changes would harm many people who depend on Medicaid for health services. They could become sicker or they could die. We must continue to give them benefits. | |||
2542 | Creates gaps in services that were not there before. Complicates an already profit driven healthcare system that is tough to navigate already. Doesn’t help individuals taper off of assistance due to benefits cliff which dies not provide an incentive to stay out of the system. | |||
2543 | I know several people (farmers, artists, musicians, food industry workers, etc) who were able to have insurance for the first time in years, for some decades with the Medicaid expansions. A lot of them will not be able to afford health coverage if the Medicaid Expansion is taken away. My mother spent most of her adult life without health insurance before the ACA. When she did go to the doctor, she received sub-par care. In 2003, my mother had a blood clot removed, which should have been a simple procedure; however, when she went back to the hospital because she was in pain, she was denied service and sent home because the medical staff thought she just wanted more pain medicine. Within a week, when she went back to the hospital because she could not get off the couch, they found out had a staph infection which had deteriorated her hip joint. She had to have a hip replacement at 43 because she was denied proper follow care because she did not have health insurance. This sort of thing happens are frequently when health care is not treated like the human right that it is. | |||
2544 | More crime | |||
2545 | Co-pays and premiums would be difficult for my daughter to pay, even though she works full-time. Work requirements would be impossible since she already works. Would also be hard for my other daughter to pay. | |||
2546 | I am concerned for people that I know that battle mental illness in the community that are not high functioning because of the severity of their illness. Eliminating Dental coverage would be a mistake due to the fact dental health is so connected to the overall health of individuals. Not having access to dental health can cause Heart Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Gingivitis, Periodontitis, and Trench Mouth. Vision is also important because individuals without access to proper vision health will struggle while working, driving, or in situations when reading is pertinent to their safety and health. We should do all we can do to help people that need it. There will always be people that take advantage of the system. However, I would rather deal with a few people taking advantage than eliminating the important things that people less fortunate than you or me that cannot access health care. Universal health care is the ultimate goal so nobody has to struggle or do without in order to afford staying healthcare. Healthcare is not a privilege, it's a human right. | |||
2547 | These changes could keep us from being able to get my daughters treatments, medicine, and hospital care. Medicare needs to stay the way it is now. No changes would be good for our middlr class working family. | |||
2548 | People will go blind, lose their teeth and not be able to afford dentures, or die. | |||
2549 | Removing services/benefits would put many members at furher disadvantage. Requiring premiums and/or copays would put more financial strain on us and make it harder to pursue the education/employment legislators seem to think are so easy to acquire. | |||
2550 | These changes seem like they are created to make folks loose Medicaid. So we would probably lose Medicaid. | |||
2551 | ||||
2552 | Needed medical care will not happen. | |||
2553 | I would lose my ability to get treatment and my psych meds which I desperately need | |||
2554 | A few of these changes, in some form that was related to particular situations rather than imposed on most people in most situations, *might* be OK. For example, some penalty for using the emergency room for non-emergency care might be OK, but I have not seen a definition of what is considered "inappropriate use." The devil is in the details, and this administration has made its intentions clear. This proposal by this governor simply demonizes poor people as lazy freeloaders, and I will fight it. | |||
2555 | People that need medical coverage don’t need to be discriminated against because they are poor. They should have the same coverage that we do | |||
2556 | Possibility of not meeting eligibility requirements could defer me from getting Medicaid. | |||
2557 | If I lose my Medicaid coverage I won’t be able to afford my therapy sessions or my mood stabilizers. My mood stabilizers allow me to live a normal life, and without them I could become manic or experience psychosis. | |||
2558 | I would prob end up on the street living under an over pass & stealing food eat!!! | |||
2559 | It would rob those who need assistance most of the help they need to continue living and even thriving. So many Kentuckians cannot provide this help to their family members by themselves. | |||
2560 | Statistically our community leads in unhealthy indicators because of lack of health care access due to poverty and education and transportation and drug addiction. If these additional requirements are implemented, my neighbors will get sicker and cost the community more as the burden of proving acute health care service will increase. | |||
2561 | The intent behind the changes are punitive rather than restorative. If you want to help the most vulnerable in our community you don't put more barriers into place for them and make it impossible for them to ever move forward. dealing with Medicaid issues each year is a full time job already! Fix the real stuff that is broken with the system, not punish the participants. They are not criminals! | |||
2562 | Would restrict access to care for an already vulnerable patient population!!! | |||
2563 | The health of Kentuckians will deteriorate if Medicaid in its current form is changed to reflect these proposals. | |||
2564 | People in my community who have found some stability with Medicaid would now be forced back into a situation where they are trading off food, transportation and housing for access to healthcare. This is wrong. | |||
2565 | ||||
2566 | My community would become less healthy. | |||
2567 | too many people would be without care that they need, | |||
2568 | If I were to lose my expanded Medicaid I would have to pay co-pays left from after my work insurance is billed. There have been times when I have made trips to the ER for myself or my kids because with me not being a trained medical professional I believed the illness or injury to be an emergency only to later find out that it was not covered as an emergency because of my lack of understanding or because of living in a rural area I didn't have full access to late night medical options to check and be sure. I am also afraid what would happen if I took too long to turn paperwork in and what I would do having to wait the penalty period. If I had to pay my full co-pays that would be meals missing for my family, gas for my drive to work that I wouldn't be able to buy, and other necessities that would have to be cut back on. Because of that it is very likely I would go back to only going to the Dr when it is a life threatening problem and so our quality of life would go sharply back down and preventable illness would go undetected and untreated. When I look at health statistics of those that get regular preventable health care and think of not being able to do that anymore I am honestly worried how many years this would end up taking off my life in the long run. | |||
2569 | ||||
2570 | They can't work and not able to do volunteer due to health or finances. I'm tired of feeling like I have to beg for my life, my families or community. This assault by Bevin is criminal. | |||
2571 | I believe the changes would harm people or even cause them to die. | |||
2572 | I work in food service, so my work hours are unpredictable. Requiring able bodied Medicaid recipients to work 80 hours a month presumes that this is something we can control and/or predict. Between normal variations in work hours and pressure from my employer to get my work done in fewer hours, I would constantly be on the verge of losing my benefits. | |||
2573 | We have so many poor and unhealthy people in our community. It is heartbreaking to see so many people in this region (eastern Kentucky) going about their business, yet obviously ill or hurt, with teeth missing, unable to see enough to read, unable to walk. Many families here need their elderly to babysit while they go off to work, or are taking care of their own family members who need assistance. You can't assume people are lazy. It is in our basic nature to want to participate in life and in bettering our situation. That is the human instinct. Regrettably, however, Lon-term poverty steels one's willingness to live and to pursue happiness (through work). The people in my community need free and easy access to healthcare, especially and critically long-term healthcare. | |||
2574 | People now covered would loss coverage and access to care. | |||
2575 | increase in use of e.r. and/or neglect of care | |||
2576 | I would not be able to afford my diabetes medications or my migraine medications and would die without them. | |||
2577 | I can’t work therefore I can’t work for Medicaid also there are no places to volunteer or work in my home area | |||
2578 | If workers are already income-challenged, loss of beneficial Medicaid assistance would not promote the general welfare of him nor his family. | |||
2579 | Worse teeth mean lost job opportunities | |||
2580 | I would not be able to afford visits to doctors. | |||
2581 | It would be devastating to me and my family. | |||
2582 | If you take away people's Health Care, they will never get healthy enough to return to work | |||
2583 | As a nurse practitioner many of my patients would be affected by these changes in a negative way. Many of my patients already work one or two jobs to support their families. The proposed changes and requirements are so complex and obtuse that even I as an educated healthcare professional feel like I would have trouble meeting the requirements to maintain Medicaid coverage. These changes appear to be a way to force more people off Medicaid rather than an attempt to provide healthcare to people in need. Our state is in need of a healthy workforce, and making changes that will cause people, who are already struggling, to lose their safety net and lose access to healthcare is a bad idea for the future & well being of the people of our state. | |||
2584 | I am certain that I would not be able to work traditional hours with traditional insurance coverage and afford to treat my conditions. Most plans have such high deductibles, and I would not be able to save up $7000 just for insurance to kick in and pay 80% of bills that run into thousands. The same with medication costs.....even at $25 per med, x 9 meds per month....that is more than I can afford unless I could suddenly find a job that pays me six figures, and in my profession, very few of those jobs exist. So I have to choose between having a way to remain covered, which means earning less but feeling better, and working myself into medical bankrupcy and to the point of having to ask for disability for a degenerative condition with no cure. I want to work and be medically stable. |
1 | im disablied |
|---|---|
2 | It’s a great theory in my Pinyan but is not at all practical. The administrative burden of keeping track will be challenging let alone finding an appropriate match for people and actually being excepted and trained by a nonprofit staff. There’s so much liability agencies are afraid to even have volunteers. Most the people who actually get to volunteer now are highly educated and go through a lot of red tape. Occasionally there’s inroads but so many agencies deal with children or disabled adults it isn’t practical to have volunteers that haven’t been thoroughly trained and have background checks and a passion for whatever mission the agency is workings toward. Deal with poverty head on by not hamstring public education and other programs that can actually improve outcomes. Do some real research and talk to community leaders in countries with better outcomes. |
3 | "If"the homeless community get a waiver they will be fine, but most will be unable to find a dr. who will fill it out and unwilling to even take that step to find a dr. |
4 | 80 hours a month is a lot when you are trying to take of kids, elderly, a house, food, recovery from chronic illness, living with mental illness, looking for a job, going to school, etc. It is a red herring to make people on Medicaid look "lazy" so the state can kick more people off and take away needed health care. |
5 | 80 hours a month is a part time job. It could be a lot for those caring for children in their family or who have are not very mobile. |
6 | 80 hours is a lot . So many variables . How to get from point a to b first . No car no bus ? What about phone ? Who pays for the point of contact ? To do all this costs money . This point sounds like a free internship for wealthy clients |
7 | 80 hours is excessive people with children this is difficult especially single mothers, people waiting to get their ssdi approved are not able to work or volunteer because of pending cases |
8 | 80 hours is too much |
9 | 80 hrs / month is too demanding for our clients with Severe and Persistent Mental illness and homelessness. |
10 | 80hrs is a lot to mandate in my situation I'm a LPN just had a child last month and my husband is laid off from the union we live on unemployment until he leaves out of town again for work. we can't afford child care and no family is available to help due to a recent cancer diagnosis so I'm forced to stay home. I can't for see this to be necessary for anyone if the goal is to train people to work this is not the way as long as families can provide proof they are making an effort to give back or find school/ work 5-10 hrs a week should be all the state needs and effort comes in many different forms! Give options! |
11 | A good idea potentially, but would be difficult for smaller towns who might not have enough volunteer opportunity available for the amount of Medicaid applicants in the area. Plus, for the families who had small children, finding someone to watch the children so they could do the required work would be difficult for some. A good idea, but our communities (at this moment and time) are unsuitable for such stipulations. |
12 | A lot of my clients will lose medical coverage b/c they don’t have the access to or the resources to complete these requirements |
13 | A lot of the communities with the greatest need do not have adequate opportunities to fulfill this requirement. |
14 | A new, large bureaucracy would put further strain on the State budget. Where would these jobs come from? |
15 | A public hearing county by county would give a clear answer to you most folks are retired elderly disabled medical issues poor try driving around Kentucky look at the poverty the unemployment poor education lack of industry jobs go take a look at Harlan county and most of Eastern Kentucky you think a computer survey is going to give you real picture of real people's lives? |
16 | Able to hire help. |
17 | Absolutely |
18 | Adversely. |
19 | Again i am my 96 year old mothers only caretaker. |
20 | again there are several mentally changed or other health problems, drug substance abuse that would cause hardships on employers and not be able fulfill normal job duties and do you really want to put these individuals with other workers not knowing their mental capabilities could cause employers to have harassment lawsuits or these individuals could to be teased or bullied because of their inability to understand or do the work an torment these individuals further the system wasn't broke why not take it from programs that the state waste for political gain instead of the poor. employees making 7.25 and pay rent utilities water and have children are already way below poverty level or homeless. |
21 | Again, I am not a Medicaid recipient, but I feel that those who learn to "play the system", are able-bodied and capable of holding a job but choose not to, should be ineligible to receive benefits. If you can work, work. If you work and your wage is not sufficient for you to provide health care and enough food to feed your family, by all means, I am happy to have my tax dollars help you. |
22 | Again, I am not in this position, but really, how much is it going to cost to create a system for this to happen?! God, the bloat and inefficiency, just to punish poor people. This right here is foolish and ridiculous. |
23 | Again, I'm not a Medicaid recipient so it would not affect me. I think this would have an outsized impact on rural people who don't have public transportation options and fewer community engagement opportunities. I think making job training and volunteer opportunities available is a good idea, but I don't think it should be required. |
24 | Again, this is an expensive restriction for those who already have busy lives. And it is expensive for government and agencies to keep track of these sorts of things. Those I know on Medicaid -- including expanded Medicaid --- have busy, often difficult, lives, and this requirement will guarantee some will lose their coverage. For one thing, how many opportunities can there be in poor rural areas like mine? There is not proper transportation or meals to help people make these requirements in order to keep health insurance coverage. Imagine if we imposed such conditions on the governor's friends or family. The goal of all this appears to be the denigration of hard-working poor people and making them lose their health coverage -- causing them to be sick, causing early death and preventable illness. |
25 | Already have my hands full being a single father. It would become harder and I believe I would fail if you added more stipulations to my current life. |
26 | Already works 40 hours |
27 | Although I am a single mother and therefore the primary caretaker, it would technically exempt me personally from work requirements, however because my income often fluctuates, I have had as many as 3 different healthcare policies - medicaid; marketplace; and employer - within a one year period. This is already difficult to maneuver without losing coverage, and with the added work requirements, would be significantly harder during the year and I am afraid I could lose coverage . |
28 | Although I don't have Medicaid, my Mother does. Neither of us would be able to leave our home for 80 hours/week. In fact, Mom may only leave the house for 6 hrs/month, & I average 15 hours/month. However, I believe there are many who can, & should. |
29 | although it would not impact me, it would impact neighbors who do not have transportation and/or cannot find a place to participate in our rural area. |
30 | Am disabled |
31 | An 80 hour minimum is a bit extreme, and assumes an individual is in fairly good health - maybe 40 hours/month (no more) would be a more reasonable requirement with those with health/mobility limitations. |
32 | Are you kidding me? I already work 65+ hours a week. I pay state and federal taxes. Is that not enough for the state to handle a health coverage plan? Do I really need to work an extra 20 hours a week for a total of 85+ hours a week to insure my medical health well being? Statistics overwhelmingly support that an idea like that will have damaging long term effects on social and mental health. No thanks. |
33 | As a community mental health provider, many client's symptoms does not allow them to work effectively around others when their symptoms are increased. |
34 | As a full time medical student and caregiver, we would not be able to meet this requirement |
35 | As a pediatrician who cares for families in poverty in Louisville, I can not even imagine how parents/caregivers would make this work. I truly believe whoever designed this idea has never truly cared for families in poverty and do not appreciate the chaos in which they live, the insecurity they might not have a clean diaper to put on their baby, the fear that their former partner will find them and hurt them again. These families are fragile, scared, and struggle. Many parents/caregivers who I care for WANT to work. They dream of a great paying job and getting out of the chaos. However many do not have any support for childcare and can not pay the very high price of daycare. I am so worried that it will increase mothers needing to leave their children with folks who do are not safe to care for children, leading to increased physical abuse and sexual abuse. I saw a healthy chunky baby in our clinic who was living with his mother in poverty but thriving. I watched her snuggle him, sing to him, and love him. In order to make ends meet, she returned to work at a low paying hourly job. While at work she left him with her male friend, who severely abused the baby. The baby is now in the ICU with a broken arm, broken ribs, punctured bowel and now has a gastrostomy tube in his abdomen in order to receive feedings. He is forever devastated, as is his family. It can be DANGEROUS to children to ask parents to volunteer or work just to get healthcare. Many children in Kentucky have single mothers and those mothers already living in poverty will make grave decisions to leave their children with inappropriate but free childcare in order to meet the volunteer/work requirement. |
36 | As a person building a freelance business I have no idea how they would make a convenient way to report this. There are so many different reasons people may not be able to do this requirement. |
37 | As a person living with MS, it will be a challenge to make sure I am able to complete this requirement. Simple daily living skills are often a challenge for folks who have MS. I have lived with this disease for around 13 years, and many time plans that I make in advance are changed for not being able to make them work. Can be as simple as plans to wash my laundry. Its a real punch in the face when you can't do something as simple as that. |
38 | As a taxpayer, it would make me have more respect and pride in my fellow Kentuckians, as well as increase the pride I would have in a cleaner community, because trash pick up along our rural roads should be a priority service that some Medicaid recipients could provide in order to receive benefits. |
39 | As an employee of a non-profit agency, I do not support the mandated volunteer work. |
40 | As an employer in the public sector, I feel certain that some of the volunteers would be placed at this agency. It is a costly and time consuming burden to manage volunteer workers , especially those who are there only because they are being forced to be there. |
41 | As pastor of a church, I understand I would be required to supervise these volunteers. We don't have resources to do so. |
42 | As pastor of a church, we would anticipate a large number of people needing to get those hours in by volunteering for us BUT that is not a very helpful way for us to manage. We don't have staff or time to manage untrained and sometimes unknown volunteers. It sounds good on paper, but our experience with other enforced volunteer programs (like court ordered community service) proves otherwise. |
43 | As someone who already works 40 hours a week, it's unrealistic to think that there would be any time for me to complete 80 hours/month in anything outside of my job that pays my expenses. The work requirement of 80 hours/month is unrealistic to the point of impossible for people who don't have the time commitments, transportation, accessibility to resources, etc. people should not be penalized for not having resources. |
44 | As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, it would be difficult and stressful for me to function properly. |
45 | As stated previously, I could not be successful in school with having this engagement requirement. 80 hours is a flat-out outrageous ask of me as a student, but more importantly the working poor who work multiple jobs at poverty wages that don’t provide benefits. Where on earth are they going to have 80 hours to complete this when they’re working 12 hour days, almost 7 days a week? Absolutely cruel. |
46 | As stated previously, in small communities, there are no ways to manage this requirement, either the work is not available, limited volunteer opportunities and no transportation if it is available. Also, no distinction for someone who has applied for disability, but is in the more than 2 year waiting time for it to be approved. |
47 | Because I am in school and work part time, it is only the reporting requirement that would be a burden. |
48 | because I work full time already and I have two children to tend to |
49 | Because of the severe social anxiety we deal with, a requirement to spend up to 80 hours a month in the general public would cause immense mental distress and a decrease in overall quality of living. |
50 | can't do much with knees not working |
51 | can't say... i'm nearly sixty and i wonder what kind of work i could find |
52 | can't say... i'm nearly sixty and i wonder what kind of work i could find |
53 | Can't. I'm on SSID |
54 | Child care would become impossible for many people with families. |
55 | Cleaner parks and showing people that they need to work for benefits like other working families. |
56 | Community engagement is always a most healthy part of any citizen's life. The ? is why is it not already a part of needy people's lives? What keeps certain people isolated from the love and care of their communities? How can politics bridge that??? |
57 | Could be a definite problem as I age or become incapacitated |
58 | Currently responsible for taking mother to hearing, kidney, and cancer doctor care. |
59 | DA |
60 | Depending on health issues that are better at times and worse at others, that could prevent my son from being able to comply. |
61 | Depending on if the person is working a part time minimum wage job already. It would be best to assist them in finding part time jobs or in a training program that could lead to a full time job that could get them their own insurance. |
62 | Depends on the volunteer requirements. |
63 | Depends. Am I responsible for child care or the care of an old or disabled person? Who's going to pay for that while I volunteer or work or go to school? For that matter, who's going to pay for job training? I did not have the time or the money to go back to school or get some other kind of job training, because I was the only one with any kind of job at the time, and my very small income was somewhat better than nothing at all. I finally got a half-time job in my field and a half-time job in another field that provided on-the-job training, and my husband (who has two master's degrees) got a job slightly above minimum wage for eight months before finding something better. |
64 | Disabled, but daughter cannot meet those requirements |
65 | Do companies who receive "free money" aka subsidies and tax breaks have the same type of requirements to receive or retain that money? |
66 | Do you really want people on Medicaid who have substance or mental health issues volunteering? |
67 | Does caregiver for parents count? |
68 | Does not apply to me, but this is a ridiculous requirement for my friend and family member who are unable to do either! |
69 | Does not impact me personally as I do not have Medicaid. However, I do believe that able-bodies people should contribute to society. this can improve their psychological and physical well-being. |
70 | Does not impact me. I am fortunate to have a good retirement health plan (at least for the moment!) and Medicare coverage. |
71 | Doesn't. But if I were a care giver living in poverty without help, without a car or bus available, in poor health, I would find this a terrible burden. |
72 | Drastically..as I take care of my son who has schizophrenia! Not good! |
73 | Due to age it would not affect me. I do volunteer because that is who I am. |
74 | Due to traumatic Brain Injury, I am unable to work |
75 | Dying is a full time job. |
76 | Eighty hours is unreasonable for most people. We have family, community [as well as personal] responsibilities to attend to. 20-3p may be manageable for those with transportation. Those without it should not be expected to participate. |
77 | Even people working are losing their medicaid in October! And many people that are physically able to work still may not mentally be capable of working and volunteering like my family members with autism. |
78 | Every patient of mine meets criteria for medical frailty, so they are exempted from the work requirement. However, many Medicaid recipients do not have the child care resources, transportation access, extra funds, or physical wellness to enable them to work or volunteer on a regular basis. |
79 | Everyone is different , some people cannot do any of this |
80 | Extreme inconvenience. I'm basically on call through the week in my job even though I only work 11-13 hours/week. So if I committed to some volunteer engagement and then was asked to work on a day that conflicted, how could I make this up? I WANT 40 hours/week work but in my chosen field, accounting. As i'm over 50 it's much harder for me to find this because most employers do not want to pay health insurance for workers over 50 . Hence one key reason Obamacare & the Medicaid extension were critical to me! |
81 | Family members work but I know of others who are full-time caregivers to handicapped individuals who would find this difficult. |
82 | Few jobs in Eastern ky |
83 | fewer patients i could see that need mental health therapy |
84 | First in my community there is no jobs or training or volunteer places to accommodate all of us receiving Medicaid. No where to meet these requirements. Second we can't afford to drive multiple miles to try to meet these requirements. Third, I am medically unable to stand for more that a little while due to my extreme knee pain. I am not on disability but I feel I wouldn't be able to do this work requirement |
85 | First of all, because I do not do well with new people and new situations, when I think about it I become very anxious. Last time this was threatened, I became traumatized and was unable to leave my home for four days. When fear and dread are overwhelming, I cannot sleep, so while I might be able to appear at 9 am Monday morning for some training class or another by staying awake on anxiety until it was time to leave, I would certainly not be able to sustain that, and would crash and fail to fatigue at some point. Furthermore, I DO look for appropriate work for myself, and any state-imposed requirement would take time away from that. I would suggest,that if you want to build in an incentive to do such things that you offer a $10/hour cash payout (as if for day labor) for people showing up, attired in workclothes suitable to the job they seek. People on Medicaid have SUCH low incomes that we are NOT staying home having fun. |
86 | First, the work opportunity has to exist where I live. Second, a volunteer opportunity has to exist in my area. Do I participate in job training above my mental or physical capabilities? What if I get locked out because the opportunities do not exist so that I can do 80 hours of something in one month? What if I find a volunteer opportunity but the opportunity is not in the system? How do I get my new volunteer opportunity entered into the system so I can report my volunteer hours? What if the volunteer opportunity is not entered into the system in time for me to report my hours and I am erroneously locked out? |
87 | First, with schizophrenia, my son is totally unable to do this.Second, me, his mom(60) , having to do these requirements, would totally affect his mental status as I care for him full time! It would be devastating! Having me here keeps the anxiety and paranoia in some sphere of reality. I bring him to his docs and therapists, I keep an eye on his meds and make sure he takes them. I do his grocery shopping etc, . it would totally stress me out too if I had to do the requirements ..I think I would have to go on anti anxiety meds and therapy too..not to mention my blood pressure! I am his caregiver, but according to States definitions, I am not! |
88 | For a person with mood and thought disorders, this is challenging. They are more successful with work and education when they have choice about when and how they participate. Mandating it will exacerbate their symptoms of depression, anxiety, and paranoia. Availability and cost of transportation are also problematic. |
89 | For many of the clients I work with it would result in their losing health care. Work is a good thing but it is not easily achievable for most of my clients and requires a lot of support and assistance that is not available through an on-line program. |
90 | For many participants of Medicare that is an absolutely retarded idea (I expect no less from heartless cost conscious Republicans)TAKE NOTE:many are wheelchair bound in hospice nursing homes house bound many suffer from debilitating diseases many are in need of transportation constant at home care by care providers what the hell do you idiots think medicare folks are doing? sitting around the pool at the Ritz Carlton collecting checks and "living it up"? most of the money is spent before they see it ..on Doctor visits nursing home expenses hospital stay bills copays especially prescription drug costs have any of you been to a pharmacy lately?? For most on Medicare Medicaid those checks are all they have to supplement costs for most it's all they HAVE Now you want them to work for what most who retired earned and are not physically capable because of ongoing medical health issues or advanced age..to do work anymore??? TAKE NOTE: You need to go in for a mental evaluation because your "Community Engagement" proposal.. brings out the stupid in you. |
91 | For my family, we would easily meet the required number of engagement hrs, but would still be inconvenienced by the constant need to report. I’m afraid that the more vulnerable people in our community would be harmed by this requirement without it serving as any sort of benefit to the program. |
92 | For my sister, it would be impossible. Even if she could manage 20 hours a week of volunteering, she could not keep up with the reporting requirements. I really cannot imagine what kind of volunteer work she could even do. |
93 | For now at least, it wouldn't since I've been told I'm exempt but they check this status each year and so in the event I lost the exemption I would lose coverage because I am unable to work but my disabilities are hard to prove to state and federal authorities and so I am usually subject to work requirements for programs like SNAP. |
94 | For single working parents like myself I'm wondering how am I going to find child care for my kids while I'm volunteering? How am I suppose to make up money lost from not working while I'm volunteering? This would be tough to do for alot of families like mine. |
95 | For those who are physically, mentally unable to meet this requirement, it puts an undue burden on access to healthcare. |
96 | Gas is very expensive and there really aren’t any good paying jobs in Carter county. |
97 | hard to do with my back pain and I have no money for transportation. |
98 | Hardship on my mentally/physically challenged son |
99 | Have problems with anxiety doing counter hours |
100 | Have you ever had to work with "volunteers" who are unable to work for pay? You get what you pay for. The assumption of this rule is that everyone on Medicaid are slackers. Shame. |
101 | He already works |
102 | He already works but he travels and he could easily miss a deadline due to wifi access or too busy to remember the day |
103 | He has autism, but he does volunteer. |
104 | he is planning to volunteer once his health status is improved |
105 | He would actually benefit from some useful job training |
106 | Healthcare is a human right. Forcing people who are already struggling to work just for the right to stay alive is basically feudalism. Civilized countries can handle taking care of its citizens. Especially the ones most vulnerable. |
107 | Help members to get employed |
108 | Her work schedule is totally variable. She could work in one month and not in another one! |
109 | His schedule could lead to more mental issues including stress. |
110 | Hopefully it would cut down on the cost of goods and services due to volunteers working to gain their "entitlements" and save employers some money to pass on to the public. |
111 | Horrible. The family member already works 3 jobs. |
112 | How am I supposed to work AND find time for this? A single person has a hard enough time affording necessities as it is! |
113 | How can I work and generate income for me and my family if I'm volunteering? That would reduce the amount of time and resources I have to put toward my job and force me to make low wages. In short, I couldn't do it! |
114 | How do the self employed get credit for this? I'm not against the totally, but it must be implemented with intelligence. |
115 | how no day care or transportation provided.... |
116 | How to you get to work with no transportation? No gas money? How can I guarantee my hours will always meet 80 hours? Only your employer decides your hours. |
117 | Husband does work but is not physically able to complete the extra hours required. He is 63 years old |
118 | I already do most of these things. It would be an added burden to keep track of and report these hours. |
119 | I already do volunteer work in our community as I can, but not with any degree of predictability due to chronic back issues which sometimes compromise my mobility and movement. If I could predictably work 80 hours a month I would probably seek a paid job to supplement my social security, but this isn't feasible. |
120 | I already do work 80 hours per month. |
121 | I already volunteer my time; I do so willingly (hint: that's why it's called "volunteer" work). Eighty hours a week would be impossible, though. I'd have to cut back on my work hours (possibly at the expense of my job). I have an MA, but it is still difficult to find a job with livable wages. I'd have to cut back my work hours, which would mean even less. |
122 | I already work |
123 | I already work 75 hrs a week |
124 | I already work about 50 hours a week |
125 | I already work and volunteer 80 hours a month, like most folks on medicaid, so it wouldn't actually affect me other than having to log onto the kynect crappy website and log it all every week/month. HOWEVER it would harm some people who cannot work and dont fit into the rigid "dis-abled" box that Bevin considers to be eligible for Medicaid, and so it's not okay whatsoever to have work requirements. |
126 | I already work full time |
127 | I already work full time, so it wouldn't. But the Kentucky HEALTH program is not a one size fits all requirement and everyone would have their own PATH. |
128 | I already work that much. |
129 | I am 66 and too old to do a lot of work |
130 | I am a caregiver for my elderly mother who must have someone with her. We cannot afford to pay for assistance. |
131 | I am a full time babysitter for my grandchildren. I am not sure whether this qualifies in any of the work categories or not. Without my help my son and his wife would not be able to work |
132 | I am a full time student in addition to seeking employment. I am already well trained. I have a master’s degree. However, I don’t know if it counts as 80 hours. Again, the rules are confusing. |
133 | I am a single mother and no family to help with child care. I could not pay for child care to be able to do this ..... this is setting people up for failure |
134 | I am a volunteer coordinator. I do not see any way that non-profits can effectively monitor and report this number of volunteer hours without significantly increasing costs to the non-profits. |
135 | I am already engaged in higher education full time and I work on campus part time. Adding anything additional to that would cause my studies to suffer |
136 | I am concerned about the fact that most "able-bodied" medicaid recipients are already working. I believe this is unnecessary. But I am also concerned about access to healthcare for those that have significant barriers to employment such as a felony records or limited access to childcare. I am also very concerned about the volunteer requirement. Where exactly would these volunteer hours be done and who will train and supervise the volunteers? Most non-profit agencies in Kentucky are overwhelmed and understaffed. Experienced, trained volunteers would be a great help but having the additional responsibility to train and supervise new volunteers would not be. |
137 | I am currently already working part time. |
138 | I am currently disabled. |
139 | I am currently in a recovery center and cannot work or volunteer. This might cause me to loose my coverage under the new guidelines. |
140 | I am currently working. Some individuals are not physically capable of completing the community engagement requirement. |
141 | I am disabled and can't work. |
142 | I am disabled and unable to work. |
143 | I am disabled but the state does not recognize this. I am struggling to prove medically frail. I cannot work 80 hours per month. I do not need job training. I have two master’s degrees. If I could work, I would go back to teaching. There are gray areas, the state does not see. |
144 | I am disabled so I believe I would be exempt. My husband is enrolled in school full time so I believe he would be exempt too. |
145 | I am employed. |
146 | I am fortunate to have Medicare coverage. |
147 | I am in bad health |
148 | I am not a participant in Medicaid, just a concerned citizen |
149 | I am not a recipient; however, if these requirements are imposed I strongly believe that program recipients deserve case management and transportation services in order to comply. |
150 | I am not able to be on my feet for hours a day, every day. Only a few days each month am I able to do so. It would possibly put me back in the hospital to stress myself in this manner. |
151 | I am not against job training, or volunteering. However, I work 40 plus hours a week. I just do not make enough money to provide coverage. When someone works full time, and has a family, when would this 80 hours be completed? |
152 | I am not on Medicaid, but my sister rides a fine line between able-bodied and not. She has completed service and occupational therapy at her school, but is not independent and could not realistically do any kind of consistent work. She likely would not be required to, but stranger things have happened with her. For example, despite displaying classic signs of autism all her life, it took my mother years to get an official diagnosis for my sister, who has since benefitted infinitely from proper instructional methods and therapies. If it weren't for my very persistent mother, my sister would still not be considered autistic. It is easy to imagine other medicaid recipients being incorrectly evaluated or classified without such a strong advocate to correct those mistakes, and therefore be restricted from access to care. |
153 | I am not on Medicaid. It would not impact me much. Maybe I, as a community volunteer, would be asked to routinely train Medicaid recipientsas volunteers. |
154 | I am physically and mentally disabled. I would not be able to complete the requirements. |
155 | I am unable to do that. |
156 | I am unable to volunteer that many hours because of my mental illness |
157 | I am unable to work this much. If I could I would be working since I was a career professional. |
158 | I am worried about how "medically frail" or "disabled" would be defined. As someone who may fall into a grey area, if i did not qualify for an exemption I may not be able to complete the required hours due to inconsistent health. |
159 | I barely leave my home due to my condition. I couldnt imagine having to try to work or even commit to anything like this. |
160 | I believe 40 hours a week is more reasonable. In an ideal world, 80 hours a month should be doable, however I do not believe it is realistic. I am unsure there are enough community volunteer opportunities for this to be achieved. |
161 | I believe my husband works 20 hours a week most weeks. However, sometimes there are a few dry spells. Since he is in his 60's, I don't think job training would really help him. If he had to do volunteer work, it would impact our family life. We have two children with special needs, so it would take away from him caring for them and our house. |
162 | I believe there needs to be an exemption for people who try and, are unsuccessful at working or volunteering. |
163 | I believe this may be a good start. Start with a modest amount 10-15 then increase gradually up to 80 hours. If this is all about saving money I feel each state government elected official should take a 10% pay-cut and let us know how it affects them or their family or possible go without health insurance for a month. |
164 | I believe this requirement, especially as it's structured now, is meant to specifically negatively impact urban communities of color, which is unjust and immoral. I believe that living in a society where communities of color are systematically excluded from basic rights to access and services is damaging to every single member of that society, myself included. |
165 | I can no do it. I am too sick. |
166 | I can not leave my wife disabled wife alone |
167 | I can't afford a car. Live in rural KY. And am disabled |
168 | I can't do it. I'm too weak and fragile. Bones are brittle as old China. Also unable to get pain relief has left me with no quality of life. Pain day in and day out. Stop criminalizing people who are sincerely in need of pain relief. We are not all addicts. |
169 | I can't make those hours without a license |
170 | I can’t |
171 | I cannot due to a disability but I can see where it would create hardship. |
172 | I cannot get out of bed for more than an hour a day. There are only 30 days in a month...you do the math. |
173 | I could do this if appropriate opportunities were available based on my frail condition. |
174 | I could not help take care of my parents and my sister cannot do it alone. |
175 | I couldn't do it, I have too much health problems |
176 | I couldn't do it. I use a cane and I'm unable to work. Some medications make me drowsy. I can't stand nor sit long. |
177 | I couldn't volunteer as I already work a 40+ hour job |
178 | I couldn’t do it |
179 | I currently volunteer well over 100 hours per month. However, the proposed requirement would make those volunteer hours ineffective as mandatory work is not helpful in my field. I would like to explain this further. |
180 | I do not have 80 extra hours in my month! I would lose my coverage, as I attend school full-time, and work 20 hours each week! |
181 | I do not have Medicaid but I feel this could be a positive change in some situations. |
182 | I do not have time. I have to work to provide for my family. |
183 | I don't drive. I have no driver's license. I am too nervous to drive and I have some other medical problems that would limit me being able to work. |
184 | I don't have a problem with people volunteering but they shouldn't be forced to do it. |
185 | I don't have a problem with people volunteering in the community if they are genuinely able bodied. |
186 | I don't know that it would impact me directly but it certainly could have a positive impact on the community by getting more people involved in community activities and organizations, and for those needing job training giving an opportunity to learn skills to better their situation is never a bad thing. |
187 | I don't know that it would impact my personal day to day life but I would hope we could help people find ways to volunteer or work. I would love to see people volunteer by having more adults on school buses. I would love to see people volunteer as Adult Day Training Programs of people with IDD. I would love to see people volunteering or working in school classrooms, community gardens, cleaning up parks, riverbanks and highways, working in animal shelters and child care centers. |
188 | I don't know! For the population that desperately need HEALTH medical services, I think it would depend on housing security, food availability, transportation, and childcare or spousal care. |
189 | I don't think it would, since I and my husband are self-employed, but I am worried that someone may decide that we do not work enough or make enough and need to do some of these volunteer or training activities. |
190 | I don’t have time. |
191 | I feel it would make some of our consumers feel like they are contributing |
192 | I fully support this after a certain period of time. Some may be receiving medical treatment that prohibits them from working immediately. |
193 | I had to quit my job to be the caretaker of my mom. I lost my income and now I will lose my health insurance because my family needs me at home. I had to sell my vehicle because I can afford the upkeep and insurance, so I won't have any transportation to fulfill the PATH hours. I will lose the ability to use GRITS for transportation to my medical appointments. I have applied for disability but the process takes time and I will still be requirement to participate in PATH to keep my health insurance. |
194 | I have 2 grandchildren in my care that live with me. |
195 | I have a full-time job, but many of my friends work irregular shifts or their work changes seasonally. It would be very hard to meet that every month for some.of them even though they work hard. |
196 | I have children, so probably wouldn't be able to do this. |
197 | I have chronic lung issues so flar ups could last 3 weeks or more for me causing me to lose coverage . Plus lack of transportation when house hold owns one car and the other person works 10 plus hours or more weekly. |
198 | I have health, back issues, and went to college at 40 so I can get office work. My last office job was last year and the clinic i worked at closed due to insider embezzlement! I have not found office work since, and can't work factory or fast food, so I'm looking at throwing my degree in the garbage and filing for disability ssi because i can not lose my medicaid. I've already lost my foodstamps. I am continuously looking, applying for office work, but should i be punished because i can't get hired?? |
199 | I have HIV there are days I'm exhausted for no reason |
200 | I have insurance through my employer, but live in a rural area, and if it were required above for me, if I had Medicaid, I don't know if there are enough places in the area to fulfill this requirement. People would need help finding where to go to fulfill this requirement. |
201 | I have no car, how would i get to any place else. |
202 | I have no problem doing this, but the state better find me a place to volunteer, because I got locked out of snap because of the idiots at the ky careers centet. |
203 | I have no transportation and if I could physically "volunteer" 80hrs, I would have an actual job instead. It's ridiculous to make people work for Medicaid when it is federally funded. Our state is not loosing money on this program. Matt Bevin is greedy and a vindictive legislature who punished his citizens when he doesn't get his way. He just wants to pocket the federal money for Medicaid and further hurt his constituents. |
204 | I have no way to travel.. Inhibits work, school, training, ability to meet appointments, everything. |
205 | I have young kids and my sitter is not reliable. It would be hard to participate in this program. Also in some areas there is not enough opportunities for volunteering. And I have a bachelor's degree so many training programs would not allow me to enroll. |
206 | I imaging any 'community engagement' policies will simply result in more state taxpayer dollars being directed towards some private entity that will reap enormous profits while implementing a costly and inefficient system of busy-work for Medicaid recipients. |
207 | I just could not comply I do not have a car and living in a rural town no public transportation. I have no money for a car or car insurance. I would probably lose my healthcare that I desperately need. |
208 | I just do not see how I could do it. My son is hard to care for and I have no one else I can rely on to keep him while I do anything else. |
209 | I know many people who would have difficulty achieving this due to physical or mental illness or environmental factors. |
210 | I live in a rural area and it is nearly impossible to get to the meetings or the community service ... especially having no car or transportation. |
211 | I live in a very small town and it’s hard enough to find work much less afford the gas to go to work. Having to volunteer without getting paid would cost me even more money that I don’t have. |
212 | I live out in a rural area. 35 minutes away in good weather from any of the places volunteers are working. It would create a hardship both financially and because of circumstances |
213 | I love it. Healthy people get a job ,or volunteer, or take job training. NOTHING in Life is FREE. |
214 | I love the idea to get individuals more involved in the community in which they live. As long as the individuals are physically and mentally able to volunteer/work/etc, I think it would be an excellent way to transition individuals back into the job market, provide skills which could be beneficial in the long run, create networking opportunities which could help as well, and definitely improve the community by filling holes where volunteers are needed. Work (and volunteer service) is such a huge part of our identities, and guiding individuals to such opportunities can help create a sense of worth and meaning in an otherwise depressing existence. |
215 | I may have more difficulty finding a place to volunteer. |
216 | I may not be directly impacted; however I can imagine individuals who might have challenges due to coordinating child care having reliable transportation or the money to pay for getting to work/ child care |
217 | I mean I have a job and again this isn't about me. |
218 | I might be able to meet the requirement sometimes, but other times (during winter or summer break) I couldn't do it. |
219 | I personally will not be impacted |
220 | I personally would be able to but a lot of people would not. They would need to make sure people could actually do it. |
221 | I probably work more than 80 hours a week between farm work, my consulting job, bring primary caregiver of our three kids and my volunteer work in my community, increasing healthy food access to food insecure families. But I'm supposed to prove this?? How? Can we start trusting poor people please? |
222 | I regularly volunteer my services as a therapist to low income folks, pro bono work, but I do not believe that I should have to "prove" I am a good person just to treat my condition. And what about the times I have planned to work and get cancelled on, and then having to find a way to make up those hours so I can get my meds?! Healthcare access is a fundamental human right, not a prize to be won or earned, People who do not earn enough to afford an essentially rigged system that is meant to provide huge profits to isnura ce companies should not be punished or have essential care withdrawn just because they have a job that won't offer healthcare as a benefit or because they cannot afford a separate plan. This should not be a for profit industry, and I should not be forced to "engage" in my community during a severe RA or fibromyalgia flare or be punished and have my access to a doctor taken away. Because that is another reality. I cannot predict when I am well enough to volunteer or work. My illness does not fit into a neat monthly calendar. |
223 | I still am not together mentally or physically after having cryptosporidiosis for over a year. I almost died and my body still doesn't absorb nutrients as it should. I get tired and mentally tired very easy. |
224 | I support the requirement. People who are able to work should work. |
225 | I take care of my 95-yr-old mother. If that doesn't count, I would not be able to meet the requirement. |
226 | I take care of my husband who is disabled. No one else is available to do so. |
227 | I think I would see more people off the streets. I hope those who work will find pride in earning their way. |
228 | I think individuals who are able bodied should be required to work, volunteer, treatment hours or classes or etc of at least 20 hours a week. Pregnant women, children, parent of dependent, disabled, or retired individuals should not be required to do this. |
229 | i think it is an arbitrary number unrelated to complexity of assessing individual capability and need. Successful execution and implementation will be a logistical nightmare that will mostly hurt those who need and benefit from current medicaid services the most. This state's health greade is far enough behind the other 50. we don"t need to cut services, we need to INCREASE them, if anything!!! |
230 | I think it would provide Medicaid recipients in my community with an opportunity to "give back" to the community that is providing their coverage, add additional volunteers for important programs. |
231 | I think some participants could but some could not. Like anything else...we have those who abuse the system and those who are honorable. I make home visits with young families who struggle due to transportation or support systems. Maybe require less time per week/month? |
232 | I think that anything that adds additional requirements to seeking care is wrong. Healthcare should be a basic human right. In order to be able to work or volunteer, people must first have their basic needs met and must be healthy. Preventing them from getting care unless they work first will only serve to make people less healthy and thus less able to work. |
233 | I think that the requirement is too stringent and it is down right wrong. are you aware of the numbers of people who are not working because they are caring for a family member? How would you like to be unemployed because you are caring for a sick or disabled person and then be asked to find time to volunteer? |
234 | I think this is a good thing - expecting everyone to give back. |
235 | I think this is a great idea, but do not agree with the 6 month lock out period. |
236 | I think this would accomplish nothing and would be an administrative burden on the state. |
237 | I took early retirement to help a sick family member & his child...I could not do this if I was required to be gone 80 hrs/mo. |
238 | I was already working part-time when on Medicaid. Some on Medicaid are simply unable to work due to health or lack of transportation, etc. |
239 | I will be 65 in June 2019. I currently help care for my grandson while his mother, a single mom, works. I also sit with my 88 year old mother 3-4 days a week in the nursing home. |
240 | I work 20 to 40 hours a week on my own business whenever possible, due to health issues. I have also worked seasonal jobs that are during my businesses naturally slow periods. I dont have the capacity to commit tgo anymore with my health. Most my sales are during holidays. Work requirements totally ignore that I am working because they say it has to earn equivalent if $9hr/20 hr a week (per SNAP). If I get another job, all my work and money to build my business is lost. In the meantime, I have recently gotten much worse. I cant work at all some days or weeks. Getting a diagnosis is takig years (seriously) and so the doctors wont give me any kind of "Disability" proof yet. I am now seeing a Neurologist and I am 99% sure its Myasthenia Gravis, but its a rare disease that is tricky to diagnose. Without Medicaid, I will never get diagnosed or treatment to get on my feet again. Or worse case, get on Disability. Expanded Medicaid is a safety net for a lot people. Just because I dont have a doctor to sign off yet, doesnt mean I am able bodied or not medically frail. Medicaid needs to be flexible and give people time ( years not months) if they are showing effort. Not everyone fits perfectly in your little check boxes. We are the ones most impacted by all these rules and red tape. |
241 | I work 35-40 hours a week most of the time |
242 | I work 40 hours a week now |
243 | I work 40 hours a week now |
244 | I work 40 plus hours a week- not sure when I would have time for that |
245 | I work a full time job, it would be almost impossible to coordinate someone else's work schedule around mine. |
246 | I work about 38 hours a week so that change doesn't concern me personally. That said I think it's unnecessary and wouldn't encourage people to work. |
247 | I work all the time, and volunteer too, but I don’t want to have to record and report it to the government under threat of losing my health coverage. |
248 | I work already. Having to report this regularly on penalty of losing coverage is absurd and going to be impossible for anyone who doesn't use or have access to computers. In the rural parts of the state, it can be an hour drive to the county public library where all of these "free computers available to the community" are for use. It's just another way to punish poor people for being poor. |
249 | I work and/or volunteer 40+ hours a week, so it would not impact me. |
250 | I work at least 100 hours per month |
251 | I work fulltime and my co-pay at the VA has gone up so it seems to be the way the industry works. As a chemical dependency counselor, I see gaining employment has beneficial in a holistic approach to treatment |
252 | I work in medical office. |
253 | I work way more than 40 hours a week. I think making others work 20 hours a week to help cover expenses is valid. |
254 | I work with clients who cannot move and cannot speak-- what community engagement do they do? This proposed law is just a way of walking past someone in need and justifying not acting. It is designed to remove guilt from those who don't want to help (the lawmaker) and to place blame on the victim so the lawmaker can stay in his cocoon and pretend bad things don't happen to innocent people. |
255 | I work with individuals with behavioral/intellectual issues. Many have lack of access to reliable transportation in rural communities. Access to health care should be a right, not a privilege. |
256 | I work with people who can not do this our system will spend more money tracking and following these requirements and verifying those who can not instead of dollars going to treatment we will Again spend our dollars on administration costs |
257 | I work, but many are disabled, yet not getting disability yet. |
258 | I work, but only 3 Rd shift hours. Totally unable to do anything else do to being caregiver for mother and husband. Husband can't work, waiting to be approved for disability. |
259 | I worked for my local animal shelter as a volunteer once a week, then got hired in part time, then worked from home for them part time.. doing payroll, paying their bills etc... I think all able bodied persons should be FORCED to work for their money.. give them all the minimum wage jobs so that they get experience before they get out on there own and want to make some real money. And there should be bus service only for those employee's that don't have transportation. |
260 | I worry of what jobs will be required to be performed to fill this requirement. I worry of the safety and/or security of the businesses offering positions that may be filled just to meet these requirements. |
261 | I would be constantly trying to prove that I am a caregiver! We don't have a car! |
262 | I would be unable to comply. I'm unable to leave my mother alone due to her health issues. |
263 | I would be unable to do any of the types of work that they have mentioned , I am very physically disabled |
264 | I would find it difficult to go back to work or volunteering due to my mental health status. |
265 | I would full time so would not impact me. |
266 | I would have an issue with transportation but otherwise would attempt to comply. |
267 | I would have no problem with it whatsoever. I think it's a fantastic requirement. If able bodied people won't work to earn a paycheck, they can work for free! |
268 | I would have to do this and already do, so not much impact to me personally, but worry for some it would greatly impact. For those who have no vehicle or a broken down vehicle, how does this work? I would assume it doesn't work for them to have healthcare. |
269 | I would have to leave my children at home alone! I cannot do that, they are just children, my son is autistic and without me he would be lost in this world, I'm his normal, his routine would change and he'd be lost. I home school him. He is very smart and important to this country, he is studying to become a civil engineer. |
270 | I would have to quit my high paying job to help my family and friends get to their "volunteer " activities |
271 | I would like to think that people receiving assistance would be open to participating, but you have to look at our history. There are generations of families that live off of the government--these people will not give of their time to receive benefits, because they have never had to do it. They will more than likely revert to illegal means to support their families. The children will be the ones who suffer. |
272 | I would loose my coverage. My health doesn't allow me the capacity to complete such tasks. |
273 | I would lose coverage |
274 | I would lose my Medicaid because I have close to zero hours a month free to volunteer anywhere. If I had the hours I would be volunteering for other local organizations doing good work in my community. I already do “community engagament” I don’t need a health insurance company requiring me to do it to their standards. I work 45+ hours a week. I have a son in first grade who also plays baseball. I’m also in school and working on starting my own business on the side, I also help support a friend and her two children, and I’m also incredibly involved in my local community and events around town. I don’t have time to volunteer to keep my health insurance. |
275 | I would need childcare. |
276 | I would not be able to do it, I HAVE TO WORK! I am a single mom! I know a lot of people that don't have transportation and do not live by the bus line. How in the world would they be able to go to volunteer? Who is going to pay for the costs of implementing these programs? Who is going to pay for the background check of volunteers that may be working with sensitive information or with groups of people? This might be the dumbest part of this idea, and will be impossible to implement. Of course, that is the plan-make it so hard to maintain medicaid that people stop dropping off. |
277 | I would not be able to meet that criteria at this time. |
278 | I would not be able to meet the requirements due to being a caregiver to a family member. |
279 | I would not be impacted, but many of the people I work with would not be able to do this due to a combination of health and careproviding or school needs. |
280 | I would not personally be impacted by the "community engagement" requirement but I have strong feelings of opposition to such a requirement. 1) The cost of the bureaucracy to try to monitor this wildly fluctuating "engagement" 2) This proposed program would be very burdensome for the working poor, seasonal workers, workers with multiple jobs with irregular hours 3) I can't even begin to imagine how the "enforcement" would happen: Total chaos for recipients and providers and a computer programming nightmare 4) It "feels" like this whole proposal is an attempt to push as many people as possible off of the Medicaid rolls to please a political base. Human beings are NOT political footballs |
281 | I would not, as a single parent to young children, be able to meet these requirements every month due to the high cost and unavailability of childcare. |
282 | I would participate in community engagement as long as accommodations are made. |
283 | I would prefer Medicaid expansion persons work and earn a living for their families and pay taxes without government mandated hours that would also require a reporting mechanism that might create more work for employers. |
284 | I would see a more productive community. The work of volunteers benefit us all |
285 | I would see more people getting active which could decrease health care costs |
286 | I would think we would meet the requirements. I am disabled. He is in school full time, and works from home. Our children require near constant supervision. |
287 | I would want to help family members meet that requirement, which could take time away from my job. |
288 | I would welcome the requirement. U would think that anyone would feel better about themselves and their places in society by contributing something for their well-being. |
289 | I wouldn't be able to do it because of my health, so I would end up losing my Medicaid. I have no car. I haven't worked 7 years because I can not keep a job because of calling in sick all the time. Thank you. |
290 | i wouldn't be able to i am always working or caring for my child |
291 | I, myself, work 40 hours per week. |
292 | I'd have to picket the Governor's home 24/7, as should all impacted by him! |
293 | i'd lose healthcare as the flawed screening process has deemed me able bodied, even though I haven't been to the doctor in 4 years |
294 | I'd lose my healthcare. I'm not able to function many days and unpredictable. My husband is disabled and sick and alot older than me. Cannot drive needs monitored. I couldn't drive to town for all that. Quit work when he almost died 10 years ago i also got RA fibro autoimmune issues. I worked many years until he got chronically ill then myself. We live on his ssdi I now dont have work credits to apply for me and we cant get ssi so I'd be doomed and lose all as it's not possible. |
295 | I'm 61 and having trouble working If I had to work more I would have to get disability. |
296 | I'm 55 years I take care of my husband and my home I fell off a k loader working for UPS 14 feet on to concrete my body hurts all the time how I don't think I could |
297 | I'm a full time employee and my wife meets the hours requirement. Great incentive and honestly should be expected by anyone expecting low cost healthcare coverage. |
298 | I'm disabled and other members of my house already work or attend school full time |
299 | I'm gonna be 62 soon. Where's all this energy supposed to come from after working? |
300 | I'm medically frail and exempt |
301 | I'm not able to work or volunteer that many hours because of my mental illness |
302 | I'm not sure my other son who has Medicaid but works less than 80/month would handle this. His medical problems prevent him from working many hours. |
303 | I'm not sure, but I don't think it is fair. How would this be implemented? How would this be regulated? Sounds like more bureaucracy to me. |
304 | I'm old myself and my father is 86. I spend much of my time taking care of him and taking him to doctor appointments. How are people like me supposed to spend two weeks a month doing community engagement? I can't afford to pay someone to care for him. That's a job I can do myself if the state government will allow me to. |
305 | I'm on Medicare, so this doesn't apply to me. |
306 | I'm the care giver for my 90 yr. old bedridden father. The requirements would really impact him. |
307 | I'm unable to work or volunteer that many hours because of my mental illness |
308 | i've got a job, I work much more than 80 hrs / month It is not unreasonable to expect people to be responsible for themselves |
309 | I’d it threatens coverage, it’s bad. When I was on Medicaid and in school, this requirement would’ve been disastrous. Please don’t let them do this. |
310 | I’m a paraplegic. I needs total Care. |
311 | I’m unable to do it because I’m to physically ill, in addition to it being a violation of the terms of my application for disability if I did any work or job training. |
312 | I’ve been unemployed, and that is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s shortsighted and cruel. |
313 | If "abled bodied" individuals are now being required to work, I am not sure that putting "community engagement" volunteer participation would be required. If we are requiring multiple things to individuals who are not used to doing anything, we may become a society that sees more suicides than current rates. |
314 | If frequent health issues might be unable to work or volunteer a set schedule. Few good days and more frequent bad days. Would need transportation component on good days |
315 | If I am required to work in order to keep the medical I have. 80 hrs a month with my health issues, and the need for extensive dental work. I would lose my coverage due to the fact I am not Hireable at this time. I am working on these issues to the best of my ability. |
316 | If I could work I wouldn't be on as I disability |
317 | If I had to volunteer I would have to leave my young children, one who is breastfeeding, one who is disabled and one school aged. I don’t have access to childcare and wouldn’t be able to do it. |
318 | If I have an opinion then I need to be willingly to give back some how. I'm willingly to help those who show they want to do the right thing. That means we ALL have to step up somehow some way. |
319 | If I was able bodied then I wouldn’t have a problem. But for those who are able then make them earn it by volunteering in their communities. |
320 | If I was already working and taking care of children, it would be difficult. |
321 | If I was required, it would affect my mentality bad, which with disability, I don’t know if it’s required but it would still affect people who have kids and are busy taking care of them. |
322 | If I were unemployed, it would make caring for my children extremely difficult. |
323 | If I’m a college student and didn’t want to work and just focus on school, this would be unjustified in my opinion. There are several other circumstances as well that would make this an issue. Stop punsishing others and give us our basic human rights! Most countries don’t do this! |
324 | If many of my clients could volunteer 80 hours a month, they would likely prefer to work for income. Work and volunteering are often interrupted by sxs. |
325 | If my current job didn't meet the requirements to qualify as enough "engagement", in would be homeless or hungry trying to instead meet this requirement over my scheduled work. |
326 | If my husband isn't here to take care of myself and our child plus other family members he helps out we would be in bad shape. Having him here to help me helps keep me as healthy as possible. Having him help his extended family keeps them out of nursing homes. |
327 | If people on waivers and people with any disability are excluded, then i think this is a good thing for the healthy participants. It improves community engagement, inclusion, and can improve self esteem thus decreasing depression. Social isolation is worse than smoking for your health so i have no problems with this rule for healthy, able people. My waiver participants could never be expected to do this. Usually they need reminders to bathe or take meds so this would be a stretch. |
328 | If people qualify for Medicaid its because they can’t work. Isn’t that how this works? |
329 | If possible, they could benefit from the experience. Otherwise, they'd be a burden to the system of childcare assistance. The State would have to pay in other ways. |
330 | if there actually were work options or help finding volunteer options it could be good - but my son is mentally ill and has a felony record from past experiences with the police while he was psychotic. There aren't a lot of jobs or volunteer opportunities that are available to him. |
331 | If you are to disabled to work this wouldn't be good at all. |
332 | If your sick how are you going to participate |
333 | Im a primary caregiver |
334 | Im unable to work due to many health problems but I dont receive disability, just social security. I will be 64 yrs old in 2 months. |
335 | Impact to family that do not have access or means to participate. |
336 | In a job desert like Kentucky a plan of this nature only exists to force people off these desperately needed programs. In short it would Rob my fellow citizens of a healthy life. |
337 | In my case i joined the Shelby Co. Volunteer Fire Dept and Rescue Squad in 1972 and left 1984. A few years later I was on a board for East 60 Volunteer and chairman for that broad for over 10 years and didn't retire until Dec.2001, 6 months later had second heart attack . So I feel that my volunteer work stands for it's selve . |
338 | In theory, not a bad idea. But I am very concerned about the infrastructure to hire volunteers, train them, monitor their work, and report their hours. I don't think there is a plan in place to suddenly hire lots of people. |
339 | In this area, it's unlikely I could get a job that didn't require me to be on my feet the whole time, which at this point in my life is painful, though I'm not "medically frail". Any employment would most likely be a half-hours' drive (one way) away as I'm in a rural area. I don't drive, so that means my husband would have to take me to work, then come home, then come back and get me after work, there being no public transportation out to the sticks. That's two hours' drive time for every day I'd work. That, and the gasoline costs would be an unfair burden and eat up a huge amount of any wages I'd earn. |
340 | Individually N/A There is nothing wrong with appropriate job training. I believe Kentucky already has such programs. However, the mandatory 80 hour/ month work requirement is not reasonable for many Medicaid individuals. |
341 | Ineffective especially in counties of Clay, Magoffin, Letcher, Bell, Wayne, Casey, pulaski and Lincoln counties. |
342 | it would give me an incentive to know that I was earning something; I do not believe in freebies. there is no such thing as freebies, someone has to pay for all of those freebies, work will make the person feel better about themselves and encourage finding employment or going back to school. this will decrease lot of mental health issues and perhaps get someone out of the addiction. |
343 | It can be difficult for others to participate especially if they don't have transportation. |
344 | It does not affect me but I have friends who would have to register. Do you know how much it costs to take public transit to a "volunteer" job? There's no way a cash poor Medicaid recipient could afford the cash to take two buses to get to a volunteer job, and then home again! |
345 | It does not affect me, but it does affect my son. |
346 | It does not apply to me personally but I foresee problems for many in rural areas in finding volunteer locations. It will also be difficult to monitor and document. |
347 | It does not directly impact me but I believe this is an inappropriate requirement for so many people who receive Medicaid benefits. |
348 | It does not effect me, but I don't think there are enough job training sites to accommodate people 80 hours per month. The participant needs to get something out of the job training for it to be beneficial. Hanging out for 20 hours per week because there are 5 volunteers to do the job of 1 is not beneficial to anyone. |
349 | It doesn't affect me personally because I'm not a Medicaid recipient. Improving availability of volunteer, employment, and job training opportunities seems like a great idea, but having a requirement for participation doesn't make sense. It's something else to have to track and seems to add a layer of unneeded complexity. Some communities will have more opportunities than others which will make it more burdensome to meet this requirement in those communities than for the population at large. That seems unfair and punitive. |
350 | It doesn't impact me but there is not enough businesses in my county to accommodate that many people on Medicaid. |
351 | It doesn't. I work 52 hours a week and get health insurance through my job. |
352 | It doesn’t my family members, especially granddaughter who is attempting to raise a child and go to school full time it might but I still believe it is a good idea |
353 | it doesnt |
354 | It impact my father and I terribly. It would be a total hardship. It would take time away from his care and I would have to hire a sitter that I cannot afford. Plus, I cannot sit or stand for very long. I have a lot of back pain and it would be worse if I had to do that |
355 | It impact my father and I terribly. It would be a total hardship. It would take time away from his care and I would have to hire a sitter that I cannot afford. Plus, I cannot sit or stand for very long. I have a lot of back pain and it would be worse if I had to do that |
356 | It is a moot point since I have medicare |
357 | It is discriminatory and punitive towards the poor. |
358 | It is pie in the sky. I'm a full time caregiver to my child with disabilities. Like I said before dealing with all the problems I do each year with her Medicaid alone should count as a community engagement! |
359 | It probably wouldn't, except for overloading systems and needed more people to enforce the requirements. Consequentially, I think I would see more tax dollars being used to pay the salaries of the people hired to create, construct, and manage the system. |
360 | It seems to me that most people receiving Medicaid are working (or are in nursing homes.) I have friends that are so overwhelmed with caring for children and elderly parents, that it seems cruel to ask them for more. |
361 | It sounds like a nightmare unless some provisions were made to establish volunteer opportunities in the communities. I work with volunteers at our local library and I know the realities include training, monitoring quality, administering hours...will public institutions be given more funds to increase staff to perform these additional functions in addition to their regular tasks? |
362 | it was never a requirement for the poor.when singed in to law,by LBJ. |
363 | It will be hard for me with the job I have to maintain it. |
364 | It will impact my ability to offer programs to community members needing services, as they will have less opportunity to seek education and workforce development programs |
365 | It will not impact me. However, monitoring this will require much additional funding which will probably cost more than providing access to programs designed to detect health problems earlier which should result in considerable long term savings. |
366 | It will not only cause people who are not working to lose coverage, but people who are working, people who have a disability, just about all Medicaid enrollees would be at risk. this doesn't promote Medicaid's objectives of "furnishing Medical Assistance". It is illegal. |
367 | It won't hurt me, but many people who are on Medicaid are disabled or in extreme poverty, they may not have child care, or elder care that would enable them to leave the house. |
368 | it won't impact me |
369 | It won't. |
370 | It won't. After I retired, I worked part time in the public library. Government agencies could not get enough businesses to allow volunteers to get their hours in as it is. Adding more just isn't a working reality. |
371 | It wont. |
372 | It would affect my income stream for work, if my clients that use the insurance suddenly found themselves without insurance...appointment cancellations and clients unable to afford services means no work or income for me. |
373 | It would allow taxpayers to recover some of the expense of paying for healthcare. |
374 | It would be a hardship. |
375 | It would be almost impossible for the many Kentuckians on Medicaid to find jobs. If this many jobs were readily available, many people wouldn't be on Medicaid to begin with. |
376 | It would be difficult due to my health conditions. |
377 | It would be difficult during setbacks with mental health issues |
378 | It would be hard to add any work load or volunteer with everything else in raising a family on my scheduled day after years then learning or doing something new or different that would make anxiety rise. |
379 | It would be hard. My daughter is disabled. She can't be in daycare per doctors orders and no daycare or sitter will accept her bc of her health issues. If I can't work bc of those problems how can I do community service? Will they provide a care giver for her? If so I don't mind but if they can't provide a nurse for her i can't do it. |
380 | It would be harmful to families trying to hold down a job |
381 | It would be impossible due to my parents' health. |
382 | It would be impossible for my daughter to work 80 hours per month. |
383 | It would be impossible for these friends to keep their current jobs, school, and family schedule as of now if they are required to do any more additional hours. |
384 | It would be ludicrous, in my opinion, to require this of my severely disabled son. He went through vocational rehab and even tried a work trial putting CDs in CD cases until his fingers bled, and he never achieved a speed that would be necessary even for supported employment. I don’t understand the point of revisiting this, putting him at risk, and disrupting his health and environment. He has medicaid because he is severely disabled and unable to work. |
385 | It would be nearly impossible for some of my more SMI clients to work. They are disabled. |
386 | It would be restrictive and humiliating to be asked to report my work and charitable time to the agency. |
387 | It would be terrible as part time work doesn't guarantee you a certain amount of hours per week or month. You may work 6 hours one week and 20 the next. If you can't get enough work, you are punished by losing your health insurance. Your health could decline during the lockout period and you may not even be able to work by the time that you can re-apply. Let alone having money to pay premiums. Medical bills would pile up for these people. Community Engagement/work requirements are illegal in Medicaid. |
388 | It would be to hard. I'm in chronic daily pain. |
389 | It would be very, very hard, if not impossible for many of the members @ Bridgehaven to volunteer without our direct help. Many are not ready yet for the work force, and this could make it impossible for them to attend the daily classes and projects that have helped them to become partially rehabilitated to the point of socialism. |
390 | It would cause my patients to encounter undue pain and suffering because of requirements they couldn't meet |
391 | It would change a 40-hour work week into a 60-hour work week. And if someone was already working two jobs, they could end up working up to 100 hours per week to comply with this requirement. They'd never see their children, wouldn't be able to take care of normal tasks and would likely become sick from exhaustion and stress. |
392 | It would depend on how it defined these activities. I already work, but if it required me to leave my disabled daughter at home while I went out and did volunteer activities on top of this just to have basic medical coverage then I'd likely have to just lose my insurance. So it could very well have a significant impact on my health care options. |
393 | It would depend on the hours and days. Half days would be easier to deal with than full days. |
394 | it would deprive me of my health care. I do not have time to work in 80 extra hours of stuff a month. |
395 | It would destroy me. I have severe panic attacks just going to the dr office. I sweat and tremble. The post traumatic stress freaks me out. I know I would not be able to do tht many hours around strangers. |
396 | It would do my heart good to see deadbeats have to get up and do some work in the mornings. |
397 | It would frustrate me to see my government treat human dignity as an earned achievement rather than an accepted norm. |
398 | It would get employable people off of their sofas and out into society, which would be good for their mental health, set a better example for their children, and may help them to build skills. |
399 | It would hinder my recovery if i were forced into environments or obligations i am not capable of. |
400 | It would hurt me via hurting my community. Most of our patients who are unable to work because of mental health reasons would lose coverage and we would lose clients, and I imagine our crime rates would rise due to economic desperation and lack of access to healthcare. |
401 | It would hurt the disabled |
402 | It would impact clients who need disability for ailments or mental illness and they can not work if they are disabled. I support others who need temporary benefits being required to volunteer time or work. |
403 | It would impact me because members in the community I serve through the BHSO where I'm employed would not have as much time to focus on treatment because they will be focused on meeting the eligibility requirements. |
404 | It would impact me by requiring me to do something that makes me uncomfortable. The MS in affected by standing for long periods, and most activities. |
405 | It would impact me greatly |
406 | It would impact me only in the sense that I am disgusted that human beings can even come up with the plan that encompasses this requirement. Make it a voluntary enrollment program, and I could possibly support it. |
407 | It would impact my clients tremendously. Some of them have profound intellectual disabilities. Some have dual diagnoses. Some can't see, hear, speak, or walk. They would not appreciate the importance of volunteering, working or participating in job training. |
408 | It would impact my family members. Lack of transportation, no internet access and health issues. |
409 | It would impact our dialysis patients who spend 12 hours per week in treatment. This does not count getting to and from treatments, or the time recovering from the treatments. |
410 | It would impact those in my community who are providing care to family members or are on Medicaid because they are unable to do the above anyway. |
411 | It would impinge upon my access to coverage which is my tight by the Medicaid law |
412 | It would just be a hassle. LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT HEALTH CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR KIDS, I already bust my tail working and volunteering, improving and engaging in my community. It would cost more to pay somebody to process my reporting and waste my limited time/patience in some Kafka-esque reporting process. Not for one hot second do I believe this work requirement is anything but an opportunity to give folks the boot. That's nasty. My community appreciates that I'll be able to ENGAGE more by having healthy kids and less stress. |
413 | It would make it hard for me to support myself. |
414 | It would make it harder to get insurance coverage for someone who has disability such as my self |
415 | It would make it more difficult as my husband is a full time caregiver for our child and I have the sole income for our family, yet he still needs healthcare via Medicaid. |
416 | It would make me feel better about having to work while others don't and have more. |
417 | It would make me feel much better about the amount of hours I HAVE to work knowing Medicaid recipients had to contribute something back for themselves to participate in something free that is paid for by workers tax dollars. |
418 | It would make my community worse |
419 | It would make my job more difficult because I work in a billing department where 80% of our clients have Medicaid. |
420 | It would make my life difficult. |
421 | It would make sure that those who can work do so and contribute to the community. |
422 | It would not - I do this anyway as a commitment to a better community |
423 | It would not affect me as I do not have Medicaid. |
424 | It would not affect me but it would affect my community because I understand how difficult to look for a job or care for a family and then trying to fit in 80 hrs on top of trying to find a way to get to wherever these requirements are located, that if you don't get them done, it takes away their health insurance which in some cases is life or death. |
425 | It would not affect me but it would be a burden on employers who offer entry level jobs and require people who have very good reasons they are not working: they faint, they pee, bleed or poo all over the place, they can't walk, they can't read or aren't conscious, they have difficulty dealing with people or concepts or words or tools because of mental or physical disability or illness -- to do things that may even be medically contraindicated to keep what they are entitled to as Americans: full medical care. |
426 | It would not affect me but it would the community clients. This is too much for someone with mental disabilities to be able to process and keep track of. Sometimes it is all they can do to come in and be treated. |
427 | It would not affect me but would cause a severe hardship for persons who have no transportation. |
428 | It would not affect me personally, but could make many folks ineligible for benefits, unfairly. |
429 | It would not affect me, but for many of my members they would not be able to meet this requirement without transportation. And the smaller amount would be more reasonable |
430 | It would not affect me, but I don’t agree with these requirements. |
431 | It would not affect me; however, I have already shared how it would be next to impossible for a friend who has medicaid. |
432 | It would not affect me;I do not have Medicaid but several family members do.They live in rural areas with poor transportation that would make this very difficult. |
433 | It would not directly impact me but would be of impact to members of my community. Many members may not have transportation to participate and some the mental capacity to engage in such a program. Many individuals that receive Medicaid benefits do work or may not have the means to work to keep a steady job or volunteer. |
434 | It would not directly impact me, but it would impact all the clients I work with who are consumers of the mental health system. |
435 | It would not directly impact me, but it would impact the community I live in which would impact my and my family's well being |
436 | It would not effect me or my family. |
437 | It would not impact me but family who are not able to work or volunteer as they are ill or have a disability. it would form a barrier to receive health care needed, due to their inability to work. |
438 | It would not impact me but I’m not eligible for Medicaid. But it would impact many because of reason already addressed ( lack of funds, transportation and support). |
439 | It would not impact me but it would my mother who is unable to participate in such programs |
440 | It would not impact me directly. It would, however, impact those that I serve. In my work, I see the most vulnerable individuals (those who are homeless with SMI's, chronic medical conditions, substance use issues, trauma, lack of support, lack of transportation, etc.) I have witnessed these individuals try to gain employment before being stabilized and often are unable to maintain the job (for various reasons) and end up regressing in regards to their mental and physical health. Without being able to stabilize and have basic needs met, these individuals encounter more failures which lead to increased hopelessness. The consequences for this are vast (illegal activity, suicide, violence, death due to untreated medical conditions, etc..) |
441 | It would not impact me personally but people in my community. I beleive if a person is able to volunteer or work, then he/she needs to contribute to the community. |
442 | It would not impact me personally, but I know that people who are already struggling to have the money for medical services don't have time to engage their community. |
443 | It would not impact me personally, but I'm not sure how someone lacking transportation and physical/mental abilities would be able to participate successfully |
444 | It would not impact me personally, but many Medicaid recipients already meet this requirement. The problem is that the proposed method of reporting such hours is very complex and would require maneuvering through several websites. Not everyone has easy access to reliable internet and not everybody is literate at a level that they can easily maneuver or troubleshoot complex websites. |
445 | It would not impact me personally, though I would find it distressing that others would be required to do so. |
446 | It would not impact me personally. I have met many people in my community on Medicaid who would be unable to fulfill this because they have limited mobility, both physically and for transportation. This requirement is unethical. |
447 | It would not impact me personally. The cost of overseeing such a program would take away need funds from the medicaid program. |
448 | It would not impact me terribly |
449 | IT WOULD NOT IMPACT ME, BUT COULD HELP OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE OTHER WORKERS TO HELP IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY. |
450 | It would not impact me, but I do see the benefits in this as long as the resources are available for people to get help with community engagement. |
451 | It would not impact me, but if I were disabled, elderly, or too young to work it would be stupid. And my guess is that if I didn't fall into one of those categories I would already be working. If the government wants to offer job training for people who may be between jobs, that would be awesome, but to require that is just adding extra cost and trouble to the paperwork. Are we trying to trim down our government expenses or add to them. I suggest the Governor look at what Scandinavian countries are doing because it is phenomenal and they don't have the problems we have. |
452 | It would not impact me, but my community would be greatly impacted. Not everyone has the same access to jobs or transportation for training and volunteering. |
453 | It would not impact me, but would interfere with job searches, medical treatments for some, and might not be physically possible for some people. Also managing the records would result in a higher cost to the state. |
454 | It would not impact me, however it seems difficult to find adequate places in some communities across the state to volunteer. Transportation and childcare could be barriers to this requirement in multiple areas. |
455 | It would not impact me, since I am a full-time student. |
456 | It would not impact me. However, as an employee in the nonprofit sector, we are constantly looking for long-term volunteers who WANT to be volunteers. Volunteers who are required to give time are not in a mutually beneficial relationship and neither the nonprofit or the individual volunteering get anything useful out of the experience. |
457 | It would not impact me. However, none of those will be effective if you are forced too. |
458 | It would not impact me. While I would support this requirement, I think the decision about who is able bodied should be taken seriously and with broad allowance for other conditions such as caring for children under 5 or elderly individuals. Thisw should also be exempt. |
459 | It would not, but 80 hours a month is 20 hours a week. What if I'm already working 40 hours (or more likely, 38-39, so my employer doesn't have to provide benefits), and I have two small kids? That's nearly 60 hours a week. |
460 | It would not, but I know that it would be impossible for individuals to comply, adding to the costs of raising a family, by trying to find child care, by taking time off from work, etc. |
461 | It would not, but it would my wife unless there is a ruling that a mother that home schools her children doesn't also have to volunteer, etc. |
462 | It would not. Only I would have to leave training in the middle of such if called back to work. |
463 | It would only affect my outlook on things. Folks need to work and learn to take care of themselves. Not depend on the working to pay everything. |
464 | It would place undue strain on the family & community |
465 | It would put some work effort for those that use the system. Its just a way to say "thanks" for getting me free benefits. |
466 | It would reduce the quality of life, and personal safety, by forcing citizens to deal with the lowest echelon of society- i.e. people who often have a history of criminal behavior; drug and alcohol abuse; mental illness, etc. |
467 | It wouldn't affect me personally, but I think everyone benefits from engaging in community activities |
468 | It wouldn't at this time. |
469 | It wouldn't but I can't begin to image the burden on non-profits or local employment and training programs. |
470 | It wouldn't effect me |
471 | It wouldn't I work 80 plus hours every two weeks. |
472 | It wouldn't impact me |
473 | It wouldn't impact me directly. What it would mean is that more people in our community would go without coverage and thus we would have an even bigger problem with helping people to become more self sufficient and we would have many ill effects due to having more people without coverage. I can't imagine what many of these people could do to volunteer and most of them I've been in contact with need much more than job training to be prepared for work. |
474 | it wouldn't impact me specifically but I feel this should not be a requirement. people have children, they spend time looking for real employment, go to school or otherwise engaged that would make it extremely difficult to work those hours. |
475 | It wouldn't impact me, but it would be nice to see people/patients that are able to work provide some work for the benefits they receive. |
476 | It wouldn't impact me. |
477 | It wouldn't impact me. However it could impact those who currently receive benefits. |
478 | It wouldn't impact my family directly, but I think it's a demeaning and condescending requirement. |
479 | it wouldn't really, but I think it is a good idea we all have towork |
480 | It wouldn’t affect me directly but it might affect my sister. Until this year, she didn’t own a car. How can you fulfill these requirements if you don’t own a car? |
481 | It wouldn’t but think many will cry that they don’t have a sitter or ride to employment but. Always had to provide my way and sitter and had nothing left over for my family to enjoy the extras |
482 | It wouldn’t impact me, but it would impact those who need this insurance. How is someone supposed to look for work, take care of their kids, figure out transportation if they don’t already have the means to do so just so they can volunteer for health insurance. What if they are sick or disabled. The point is not to make their lives harder and give them more obstacles, they need less obstacles, less hardships so they have more opportunities to succeed. |
483 | It wouldn’t, I work about 38 hours a week |
484 | It's a ridiculous requirment when considering that every person deserves affordable access to medical care and to deny that is shameful |
485 | It's an unfair request for something as vital as healthcare. If volunteer work was required for all benefits provided by the government - including and especially tax breaks for the wealthy - then we can talk about it. |
486 | It's not possible! There is a lack of transportation, lack of economic opportunity, and huge attitudinal barriers, as evidenced by these proposed changes, that keep people with disabilities out of full integration and employment |
487 | It's not supposed to I'm medically frail. I cannot work. |
488 | It’s a ridiculous expectation. Many days are absolutely exhausting just wrangling the bills, housework and personal care/caregiving. It would fall on the caregiver to make it happen. It’s impossible for either of these family members anyway. |
489 | It’s only fair to have able bodied individuals to contribute to society. |
490 | It’s too many consistent hours. My disease is inconsistent and I never know when it will be too painful or overwhelming to leave bed. I might be able to comply if it was 10 hours a month. |
491 | It’s very difficult for me some days. I have fibromyalgia and have flare ups to were I’m unable to even get out of bed some days. |
492 | It’s would be a great opportunity for exploring opportunities |
493 | Its a insult to poor people. |
494 | JUST pay people. We got rid of slavery, we believe in living wages, you gave incredible tax cuts for the wealthy (because you think these are the only one deserving the American dream?). I believe in fair taxation. I believe the drive is for cheap labor (volunteer) but nothing is done about the huge price tags on services, tests, etc. We have extreme inequities and the push is to get rid of middle class and lower middle class people. The tendency seems to be for an oligarchical culture. |
495 | Keep from getting a better job |
496 | Litter, community pride, volunteerism |
497 | Making people work or volunteer is against the very meaning of medicaid |
498 | Many already are involved; others aren't physically able. |
499 | Many are already working |
500 | Many are not phycially or mentally able. Unless they plan to provide transportation, clothing,extra money for food and drink etc. while on the endever it would be impossible for many to do this. |
501 | Many low-income folks I know do not have reliable transportation, either do not own a car or often can't afford car maintenance. So how could they fulfill this requirement. Also in some communities I have lived in, there were not many opportunities to volunteer, not enough jobs were available or the persons did not have the necessary skills, and job training was not available. So some folks certainly could not fulfill this requirement. However, statistics show that the vast majority of folks on the Medicaid Expansion program already work, although for low wages. I think it is wrong to think most of these folks are not working or do not want to work. Another problem I've seen is that some people are really not able to work, for physical, mental, or emotional reasons, and they can't get a medical statement attesting to this for various reasons so they can't prove they are "medically frail." In general, it takes three years to get approval from the government to qualify for the government disability program! |
502 | Many Medicaid recipients already work at least one job or care for children. This creates and unnecessary hardship for them. |
503 | Many Medicaid recipients have children or disabled family members that rely upon them for assistance. How would those individuals be cared for if the Medicaid participant was not there? |
504 | Many of my clients have no reliable transportation or internet service. Working 80 hours a month would be nearly impossible for them; thus, they will lose medical coverage and their health will suffer |
505 | Many people are unable to work for a variety of reasons, ie; transportation, physical problems. It’s despicable that older people who are almost ready to retire are forced to go back to work for healthcare. |
506 | Many people can't find work with those hours on the bus line. |
507 | Many people would not have daycare for their children. |
508 | Many survivors who transition in shelter may not have the documents needed to secure employment immediately and the delay in re-ordering those documents may keep them from the "community engagement" aspect |
509 | Many, many people receiving Medicaid are already working so this makes no sense. |
510 | Maybe this will change their entitlement mind set, and help them to appreciate the benefits and not expect handouts. |
511 | Members of my community would do without health care because of existing barriers of transportation and poverty with it's attendant lack of dental care and wardrobe would just deepen the ill health in my community. We need healthy adults to work and contribute. |
512 | Most are already trying, and the requirement will probably result in a "black market" for volunteer reporting and job training, created only for this purpose and not benefiting the community. |
513 | Most are unable to work at all |
514 | Most individuals do not think this would impact them; however, it does. These volunteer hours could potentially take away jobs individuals could have. For example, a small business owner has an individual volunteer to help clean up the store instead of paying an individual to do the job. That paying individual could have been your high school son or daughter. Instead, how about focusing on allowing individuals to take college or trade classes to better themselves in a study to equip them for a job which would in-turn allow them to gain employment with insurance in the future. This college/trade requirement would be in exchange for Medicaid (NOT college grants or student loans). |
515 | most of my clients could not participate at this level due to challenges related to their brain injury...fluctuations in daily functioning, limited access to transportation, need for 1:1 assist due to brain injury behaviors and cognitive challenges in these settings.. |
516 | Most of my friends could not work that many hours. |
517 | Most of my residents could not participate due to disabilities and aging issues. |
518 | Most of our patients on Medicaid already work, so adding additional requirements is unnecessary. Those that don't work often have other issues that don't quite meet the standards of debilitation (yet), but struggle with lack of transportation, access to jobs, training and family support to assist with childcare. |
519 | most of the families in my community are single mothers, they do not have time because of many obligations including raising up children who would need a child care place for mom to go volunteer some where. |
520 | Most on Medicaid are disabled or children. |
521 | Most people I know with Medicaid already work. That's a pointless thing the state will waste more money trying to enforce than they will bring back into the state in taxes. |
522 | Most people not working on Medicaid are on disability for a reason. If they cannot work in the first place, why are we forcing them to work? This isn't sound common sense. |
523 | Most people on Medicaid already work and/or go to school, but changing hours each week would make trying to keep up with the paperwork all but impossible for many. |
524 | Most person I know on Medicaid have health issues or have applied for social security disability |
525 | Most ppl don't drive or have a car to get to work and They are not s lot of Jobs in Eastern Kentucky, if you can work they should be paid $7.25 an hour ; |
526 | Most volunteer efforts already have more help than they can use. My work patterns are irregular and I usually don't know what within 10 days. I already participate in job/career training. But a requirement that results in a 6 month lock-out, or more, would be devastating. The proposal is purely punitive and punishes Kentuckians that need, and seek out, assistance. |
527 | My business is always looking for volunteers to assist so it may increase the number of volunteers if they could pass the background checks required. |
528 | My clients are unable to work |
529 | My clients who want to work or volunteer or go to school are assisted with a this. Even the most successful can often not manage 20 hours per week as a result of psychiatric and physical health issues for any length of time. |
530 | my clients would be greatly affected. Most of the people on Medicaid have trouble working so this would be very difficult. |
531 | My community would benefit from people working. There is plenty of work to be done. Most of us want to work and contribute to our lives. |
532 | My concern is that the system will never be up to date. This is an accounting nightmare. And, not enough placements. |
533 | My daughter already volunteers 10 hours a week with her caregiver at library and church... She would require more caregiver hours. Plus she is maxed out at those places ..they have no more hours they need her...and it took me years to set up those places... Most people are hard to convince to let a disabled person volunteer... They say no... How is the state going to provide them a place to go!!! |
534 | My daughter homeschools 3 children...her husband is a full time minister. They have no extra time for more community engagement as they are already volunteered up to the neck! |
535 | my daughter is too sick to commit to regular hours at this time |
536 | My daughter would find this difficult. Stress is a large component in her mental illness. |
537 | my family member is not physically able to work 80 hours. If she could she would be working now. |
538 | My family members live 14 miles from any town and do not have transportation. |
539 | My health and my husbands health would not permit us to do this along with we raise our 4 year old. |
540 | My job would be at risk. Why would an employer hire people if people were lining up to fill a volunteer requirement. |
541 | My life is busy enough and it would be a barrier to prevent me from having access to healthcare. |
542 | My mother does not drive and is a stay at home mom. Volunteer or work requirements could have endgagered her life if enacted years ago. |
543 | My mother has severe Alzheimer’s and not able to volunteer, work, or participate in a job training |
544 | My mother is only able to work a few hours each week. It would be difficult for her to be able to work 80 hours/month. |
545 | My mother is physically disabled/medically fragile. My brother already works full-time, but not a job that provides health care access. |
546 | My parents could not complete engagement and do not understand computers enough to report it. |
547 | My patients would lose coverage and decompensate signifcantly. |
548 | My sister is in a wheelchair and uses a walker. Needs assistance to get around. She is not deemed Medically Frail. |
549 | My sister is unable to work or volunteer due to disabilities |
550 | My sister-in-law provides unpaid caregiving support at least 70 hours per week (10-12 hours per day), and yet, I am unclear as to whether this would be sufficient community engagement to keep her coverage under the 1115 Waiver proposal. The work she does is physically and emotionally difficult, and she should not have to continually justify maintaining her coverage on top of doing the work itself. |
551 | My son can't even be expected to work for one day. |
552 | My son cannot see good enough to work a job. This would be extremely hard. |
553 | MY SON DOES NOT DRIVE, WOULD BE A HARDSHIP. |
554 | My son does okay in a sheltered workshop. A real job or volunteer experiences without direct supervision by someone who understands his challenges simply wouldn’t work for him. |
555 | My son is developing his business. It will net him a decent income at some time. A 'community engagement' would take him away from his goals. |
556 | My son is disabled so this would not affect him. |
557 | My son struggling with health and mental health issues will find this extremely difficult, or impossible. Yet, he will not easily meet the requirements for being medically frail, or otherwise exempted from the requirement. |
558 | My son would not be able to fulfill this requirement for the same reason he is not able to work. |
559 | My two severely developmentally disabled adult sons will not ever be employed. Making their care team prove that over and over is an unfair burden. |
560 | My work varies all the time - last minute cancellations by clients, a sudden need for different hours so it's difficult to plan anything. I never know if my posted schedule will remain the same or not. I'd have to figure out something very flexible along volunteer lines, but even volunteer work isn't so flexible. |
561 | Myself, not at all. But able folks should help or repay benefits received in some way |
562 | Myself,it does not but many other Yes, as many may be caregivers to some. Also there are some people that may not be in the position to get to a work site or even volunteer if they have small children and no child care available to them after daycare closes at night |
563 | N/A I don't received Medicaid. But I LOVE this idea. Everyone has something to contribute to our communities! |
564 | N/A disabled |
565 | n/a retired |
566 | N/A since stay at home parents are exempt. Otherwise I would have to pay child care. |
567 | N/A to me. I think it is a good idea to a point and - if there is work available. if we are going to put this provision in place than the government would provide the work opportunities (similar to the WPA of the 30's) so people could fulfil their obligation (and be paid as well) |
568 | NA |
569 | na |
570 | NA |
571 | NA |
572 | NA |
573 | NA |
574 | NA |
575 | Na |
576 | NA |
577 | NA |
578 | NA |
579 | NA |
580 | NA |
581 | NA |
582 | NA |
583 | Na |
584 | NA for me |
585 | NA on me, but impact on family and friends. |
586 | Need for child care would make it very difficult; grandparents babysit too |
587 | Need help with cost if a babysitter |
588 | Negatively |
589 | Negatively |
590 | negatively |
591 | No |
592 | No |
593 | No |
594 | No |
595 | No |
596 | No |
597 | No |
598 | No |
599 | No ! At least 30days |
600 | No at all |
601 | No direct impact but the positive impact on the community would indirectly impact me and improve my community. |
602 | No effect |
603 | no I am unable to engage in the community on a regular basis, as I use a wheelchair and cane |
604 | No I currently work 40 hours a week. |
605 | No impact |
606 | No impact for me but where will they volunteer? Who will pay for the background check ( a barrier to employment for some)? Who will supervise and keep track of their time? |
607 | No impact for me personally but if none of these are easily available to people in rural areas without transportation, the requirement is just unreasonable. |
608 | No impact on me |
609 | No impact on me. I feel like so many would not be able to keep up with this and would lose their coverage, we need a better way to engage recipients. |
610 | No impact to me. I am retired with heath coverage. If I was working 40 hours a week at a low paying job it would be detrimental to my family life. |
611 | No impact. |
612 | No impact. I already meet the work requirement. |
613 | No impact. I stay busy. |
614 | NO JOBS HERE USELESS JOB TRAINING WHAT VOLUNTEER WORK!!! |
615 | no personal impact, but many of these people are struggling as it is, making life harder will not benefit anyone |
616 | No personal impact. That could be difficult for people to participate if they have no transportation |
617 | No reliable transportation and my health would be a problem with consistency. |
618 | no transportation means no community engagement |
619 | no transportation to and from these volunteer , job training, or work. Who is going to pay to get me there. I can not afford the cost. |
620 | No transportation, couldn't do. |
621 | No, but it would many people who work part time and do not have regular hours or those who have jobs where they can pick up a day here and there depending on demand. You also have to have a skill set or literacy level that will allow you to volunteer, get a job or participate in job training. We have so many "broken" systems which already do not fit the abilities or capabilities of low income and vulnerable populations. This state does not even have 24 hour rapid transit so you can get to any job in the middle of the night if you can find one, or get home after the buses stop running when you cannot afford a car. |
622 | No. I believe it would provide great benefits to the community and the individual. |
623 | None, but for those earning under a livable wage, working two jobs to put food on the table do not have any time to volunteer, it would add stress, less family time |
624 | None, I currently work. |
625 | none, I work full time |
626 | None. I am an employed individual with commercial coverage. |
627 | None. I am not a Medicaid Recipient. I know people that would qualify to keep thei r benefits ts and they would. |
628 | Not |
629 | Not able to do this |
630 | Not all individuals are capable to work - paid and volunteer. Both disability and least restrictive environment are continuums. We should respect this. |
631 | Not applicable to me, but I think many individuals would find this an impossible requirement, and I think the administrative burden associated with keeping track of the work requirement is unrealistic. |
632 | Not applicable to me, but unless a person with a SUD is in treatment, they would not be able to meet this requirement or have the professional supports needed to navigate this complicated new system. |
633 | Not applicable to me. I am fortunate that I have coverage through my employer. I do not agree with adding this requirement for Medicaid recipients. Why is the assumption being made that these individuals are lazy and taking advantage of the system??? |
634 | Not applicable. |
635 | Not at all. I have a full time job and pat time job. Up till recently I also had two other prn jobs. I believe in working to support myself. I don't like to have others take care of me unless it's absolutely necessary |
636 | Not at all. It is mean spirited. |
637 | Not every community has job opportunities for all of its citizens. Volunteer work is possible if the government also offered "job coaches" to help these workers to be successful volunteering. |
638 | Not for me personally, but again the client population I work with are often not capable of maintaining employment and have not yet been awarded disability. |
639 | Not many rural opportunities. Would have to find volunteer situations an hour away from home. |
640 | Not me personally, but I feel the community engagement requirement, and the entire Kentucky Health 1115 waiver is egregious and classist. |
641 | Not me personally, but it creates a sense of coercion which tends to sabotage and discourage people from pursuing more meaningful and productive engagement. |
642 | Not me personally. However, some of our most disadvantaged truly end up having to take care of themselves as a full time job. No one with a disability should be forced to neglect themselves in order to meet a non personalized and non-supported work or education requirement. |
643 | Not me--but for others in my community they may be impacted if they have serious medical issues, such as extreme obesity/high blood pressure/diabetes like my uncle, mental illness, or substance use disorders. Sometimes these situations are not seen as an exempt medical issue because of judgments we have in our society. These individuals would be without medical coverage when in reality, they need it the most. These individuals would also have the most difficulty in finding or obtaining a job due to their health status. |
644 | Not me, but it would affect others negatively |
645 | Not me, but my nieces are too medically fragile to work in this capacity. |
646 | Not much. I already do those things, but for some I know it could be difficult to achieve. |
647 | Not personally applicable, but many people on Medicaid are already working full-time and it would be burdendome to take on 80 more hours. |
648 | Not personally, but transportation can be issue. No on li c transit |
649 | Not realistic and a nightmare of red tape! |
650 | Numerous health problems keeps them from working because of being sick and missing work. Awaiting court date for disability. |
651 | Okay 20 hours a week but what if you get sick and are unable to get 20 hours a week in do you lose your Medicaid. Once employers know that they will hold it over a persons head having them work in unsafe or bad work environments. It is not a good situation already being pushed to limit by needing these hours for SNAP. |
652 | One of our local farmers who receives health care coverage through Medicaid has described how the new requirements for income reporting do not match the way that they account for income on their family farm. For this family, although they run a farm business that accounts for the family's full income, it appears as if they are unemployed with implications for work requirements and mandatory community service hours. The uncertainty puts a lot of unnecessary work on farmers and can cause folks to lose their health insurance. |
653 | Only the reporting would be a problem due to the unusable and expensive Heath website. |
654 | Our area does not have public transportation Most people with little to no income can manage this requirement in my area of SE Ky. |
655 | Our clients who are ill and\or disabled would find this to be impossible. |
656 | Our daughter is not capable of volunteering. |
657 | Our family already meets all of the necessary requirements, but from past experience with benefind and other medicaid systems, I'm afraid the extra requirements would just create lots of extra issues and wasted time reporting everything. |
658 | Our family member is a child. |
659 | Patients who are in poor health and therefore on Medicaid, will be worse off. They will need to expend money for transportation when they are volunteering. |
660 | People don’t just not work because they are lazy. Often jobs don’t pay enough. Acting like people need this requirement to have the motivation to work is demeaning. |
661 | People I serve are not working for a reason. Every single person who walks through my door has a goal to go to work and become self-sufficient. It isn't that they are lazy; they are sick. If they could work, they would. That is why they need the Medicaid services - to help them get back on their feet. If they had this requirement, a few may be able to do it; many would lose their coverage; some would just lie as they would see no alternative, as they rely on the Medicaid services to move their lives forward, or just survive. |
662 | People in my community generally do not have internet access to work with this requirement. We have few jobs available and absolutely no place to volunteer They have no transportation |
663 | People of low incomes may have transportation issues. How are they to arrive at their assignment? |
664 | People on Medicaid that I know already are working if they can, those who aren’t can’t. |
665 | People should work or at least participate in job training to receive tax payer dollars from those who work to pay for the program. |
666 | People that need more on-the-job training would be able to access it |
667 | People who already receive assistance are required to put in volunteer hours. How can you add 80 more hours to that? When would they work on GEDs, look for jobs, care for their families? |
668 | Personally, I could not fit 80 hours of volunteering into my life because of the time I need to be at work. Kentuckians who don't have access to transportation, and/or who live in communities where there really isn't anywhere to volunteer would be shut out of this and thus risk loosing their healthcare. |
669 | Personally, it wouldn't |
670 | Persons who are mentally and physically unable to work are being hurt by these requirements as they are often not able to "prove" their disability without having access to medical treatment to generate their records |
671 | please see previous answer |
672 | Possibly due to the fact that my son tires easily and has to prevent becoming heated. |
673 | previously answered |
674 | Relatively easy |
675 | reporting will be the interesting piece of this |
676 | Research shows most recipients already are working. Unnecessary & cost increased re: monitoring. |
677 | retired. transportation would always be an issue for older people |
678 | Right know my son is not able mentally to participate. |
679 | Right now I am exempt because I am in the medically frail category. If 80 hours per month of work were to ever be added as a requirement for me or anyone else similarly situated it would clearly be not only an unreasonable requirement but I think the word "insane" in its most obvious meaning would apply. |
680 | Right now I am watching my sister die a slow and painful death due to chronic illness that she can’t access adequate health care for and adding a work requirement would be cruel and speed her demise. |
681 | Right now I have 2 young children. I believe those that are capable of having more children would find a reason to keep having them just to avoid the work requirement. It's sad but true. |
682 | Right now we also receive SNAP benefits because I am unable to work. So, if I am required to work for insurance then that would impact our food benefits. I can't receive child care benefits because I am married, so that's another issue that would arise. We simply cannot afford to pay for health insurance or have me out of the house working because we can't afford to pay someone else to raise our three children. |
683 | Rural areas would find increasing roadblocks to complete the volunteer work as transportation and opportunities are scarce. Additionally, who will provide childcare for the 80 hours? How will this affect those with jobs? This is asking people to "work" aka volunteer extended hours beyond the over 40 many work in order to receive basic healthcare. |
684 | Rural KY, where do you plan to put these people to work or volunteer, the local IGA, come to rural KY and we can show you what real poverty looks like. |
685 | see my previous comments about patients I have worked with. |
686 | see previous response |
687 | Seeing as how I prep my mother for dialysis 3 days a week, drive her to and from treatments and work (since she no longer drives) and have to be available in case of an emergency.... It would be tough to do these requirements. |
688 | Simply meeting the requirement would not, since I am newly certified to work in my new career and I'm in school for the next level of training and I volunteer a lot - but reporting these hours would be a pain, and I already have enough on my plate to accomplish my goal of financial independence. |
689 | Some agencies do not have the time or structure to provide supervision for volunteers |
690 | Some families have no access to transportation or childcare and the volunteer work requirement would be difficult. |
691 | Some months there is enough work or volunteer hours, but other months when it snows or it is cold it is harder to get out and do things. Its harder to find volunteer things that are fitting. |
692 | Some people are physically unable to work. Make a physician's note required to opt-out of work. |
693 | Some people can't work a part time job because of scheduling requirements at home or a disability that the state doesn't deem serious enough to negate working. If people can work they'll work. It's just more of this administration assuming everyone is lazy and stupid. |
694 | Some people in the community are not able to participate in job training or volunteer due to health problems |
695 | Some relatives may lose coverage if this requirement is implemented due to health, caretaking, and transportation problems. |
696 | Some rural communities, where many medicaid recipients live, do not have enough jobs for everyone. Many of these persons also have no transportation to get to a job. |
697 | Stop penalizing the poor |
698 | that impact doing regular job. |
699 | That is a lot of time that I honestly do not have. I am involved in my community, but few people have 80 hours a month for that. |
700 | That is a PROBLEM waiting to happen and another level of bureaucracy that is totally unnecessary. How do you decide /manage that? Seems a means to simply punish those who are disadvantaged. |
701 | That is the government's problem. Are they spending more money to provide those opportunities? Businesses won't hire if everyone is volunteering. |
702 | That would be difficult if we have any physical ailments |
703 | That would be impossible with many ailments most people have. |
704 | That's a ridiculous question. |
705 | That's like 2 weeks of work considering 40 hours in a work week...that is impossible...there is not that many hours in a month...unless you never sleep!!! |
706 | That’s two weeks of time I cannot use to find a job or do odd jobs for $$ to eat |
707 | The "community engagement" requirement would likely penalize those with limited resources such as computer, transportation, etc. which would in turn cause them to lose coverage. The loss of coverage for many as a result would drastically reduce our ability to provide medical/dental services for those in need. The long term impact could force Community Health Centers to close which would terminate employment for many healthcare providers such as myself. |
708 | The administrative reporting and paperwork needed to record 80 hours / month is going to put the burden on front line staff of nonprofit organizations that are already stretched thin. |
709 | The CE requirement would be impossible for some of the individuals to begin to reach, due to significant intellectual and physical disabilities. |
710 | The community and the individual working will receive the benefits. |
711 | The cost to the State to monitor would raise taxes. |
712 | The is just ridiculous. Most nonprofits do not have the time or resources to offer volunteer opportunities such as this. |
713 | The majority have health issues that cause them not to work. Others have young children to take care of |
714 | The man above doesn't volunteer cause he spends all his time touring or practicing his craft. Doesn't mean he is lazy or doesn't want to volunteer, but the work requirements would be pretty detrimental for this guy. |
715 | The reporting would be difficult for my family member who is on Medicaid. She works for an individual with Dementia who needs assistance and companionship. Her hours fluctuate, she doesn't have automatized payment, and her digital literacy is very low. |
716 | The requirement overlooks a variety of highly specific circumstances which might prevent an individual from reasonably fulfilling it. It's also slave labor by another name for something that is a human right. The United States, a leader of the free world, has trailed behind developing countries in health care, and it is because of cruelties like this which suggest that a human being is only valued by their labor. Again, there should be mercy, forgiveness, and a capacity to evaluate each case individually in health care. |
717 | The requirements for monitoring this will involve expensive, unnecessary, government bureaucracy that will mean even people who comply with the law will be locked out of Medicaid. |
718 | The so-called work requirement is yet another punitive move by the state---ill/disabled people should not be forced to "earn" the right to health care! |
719 | The state going to ensure there are the opportunities in every city? |
720 | The theory sounds good, but how do you implement it and verify? It sounds like more bureaucracy that anyone wants to deal with. |
721 | The workforce is desperate enough without trying to cram a bunch of really poor people into the mix, telling them they can't have healthcare without joining the workforce. |
722 | There are individuals that are not able to work. The medically frail process is extensive and time consuming for all parties involved and add another step in providing care to the person. Also, those not deemed medically frail do not always have the means to find employment and gain employment. Although volunteer is an option- it often takes funds to volunteer, such as transportation for the rural communities. |
723 | There are many people enrolled in school, disabled, or who care for small children or elderly family members who would be left in an impossible dilemma. |
724 | There are no places to do 80 hours in my community. I do not have transportation to do this. |
725 | There are people on Medicaid because they physically cannot work. Requiring that they work would defeat the purpose of providing insurance to people who would otherwise be incapable of having it. |
726 | There are persons with conditions that those requirements are impossible to meet. |
727 | There are times where I haven’t been able to find work or have been more sick. I think it’s unfair, unless there was a way to show attempts to look at jobs or a dr note proving I am sick. I think this would be better if the covered had proof of active job seeking. Otherwise, those who are working, will easily meet this requirement. |
728 | There aren’t enough social workers to keep up with the paperwork that would be generated by this requirement, therefore it is a waste of time. |
729 | There aren’t jobs for many communities. |
730 | There is no way I could volunteer or work and still be able to take care of my child. I would be out more money to hire a babysitter. |
731 | There is not enough jobs in my area to cover everyone or volunteer services. So people like me with a disease that's unpredictable can't work. |
732 | There's not that much time left over!! Do I give up sleeping? |
733 | There’s no way I could make that happen with my current health. |
734 | These things should be part of the program. When tied to eligibility, with lockouts it doesn't change the fact that I will still need critical health care. And I have no confidence that the administration requirements of such a complex program would fail. |
735 | They have tried this requirement with welfare to work projects and were not successful. |
736 | This 80 hour requirement would impact on an adult with children at home. Talk about health conditions, such requirements would place an adult in greater danger to one's overall health and the ability to properly care for children at home. Call this a "My Rewards" program is so demeaning to those who are forced to comply to wealthy legislators who have never confronted with a personal financial crisis. |
737 | This does not apply to me but to my friends, who are handicapped and cannot get to places for jobs |
738 | This idea could be great; however the issue is making it a MANDATORY service. I do not have any time at all to myself as I am heavily busy, as most are. I would only be able to do maybe, and definitely a maybe, ten hours a month with my schedule. If I had a child, and everyone does nowadays, I would not be able to make those ten hours work. If I had a child and no vehicle, and millions of single mothers do not have vehicles, then I would not be able to make it. There are billions of things that could get into the way of this. Let me ask you this, would any official anywhere in this whole nation attend 80 extra hours for anything at all outside of work, possibly school, and possibly caring for a child? This is INSANE, and you reading this know that very well. You have a brain, don't you? |
739 | This in NO WAY addresses the fact that they want more people working. |
740 | This is a good thing, but it needs to be administered properly. People caring for small children or disabled family members need to be exempted |
741 | This is just not possible for working parents or people who are unable to work. |
742 | This is not the group of people whose work or volunteering would be beneficial to anyone these or under-educated and sick people I think if we need more volunteers and workers we need to compensate the middle class that are paying high taxes perhaps I could volunteer and you reduce my tax rate by $1,000 this year and let me volunteer a few hours somewhere here in my community |
743 | This is paramount to SLAVE labor. You are asking them to work. Most already do. If unemployed you are asking them to volunteer 20 hours a week at select places approved by the state during hours they need to be looking for work. It’s a catch 22. And if they get sick miss work they lose their medical coverage. No there has to be a better more thought out plan. |
744 | This is ridiculous |
745 | This is ridiculous. Who in the world has time for 80 hours a month to be required? |
746 | This is the most concerning to me. As I answered in previous questions, I don't have time or energy to work a job or volunteer. With my own health issues to take care of I also take care of my disabled husband and my family. I have tried to work in the past and It always lands me in the hospital because I can't handle it. |
747 | this is very difficult to manage - and I cannot schedule an emergency |
748 | This requirement would be extremely burdensome. I am a full-time student who works multiple jobs to put myself through school. Adding anything else to my schedule would fail to recognize that I'm already doing everything I can and working as hard as I can to be a contributing, productive member of society. |
749 | This requirement would unfairly target vulnerable people who often times have very difficult circumstances. Most people on Medicaid already do work. Many people would love to work more but are caregivers to various family and friends. This targets a vulnerable population and could be very detrimental in the long run. |
750 | This surely could be problematic for some people, depending on their physical and mental condition. |
751 | This was implemented for the Ktap program and it worked out well what is the point of adding the same program to Medicaid |
752 | This will impede individuals ability to secure work because that is about 20 hours a week. |
753 | This will not impact me, however, for vulnerable citizens, the job choices are limited, and turnover is often exacerbated by their unstable living situations and limited support systems (housing, transportation, cash flow, family demands, etc.). Many, many folks on Medicaid are already working, but due to a dire lack of “living wages” they can not afford health insurance. |
754 | This will not impact me; however, according to reports, most of the expanded Medicaid recipients are already working, but do not receive “living wages” and/or health insurance benefits. Many work 2 and 3 jobs just to try and pay for basic living expenses (I.e. rent, food, gas, utilities). Of those that aren’t working, a high percentage are either disabled, or taking care of others. There is only a very small percentage who do not fit into the above categories, so creating this requirement is foolhardy, in that a very expensive system is required to be established for a small number of folks that it would actually affect. |
755 | This would be a most unfortunate burden for people struggling with poverty and other social challenges. |
756 | This would be a significant impact on the serious mentally ill. Behavioral Health Professionals work to have clients willing and able to do volunteer work and to obtain jobs but is a small percentage who can achieve this after significant time in recovery. |
757 | This would be difficult raising 2 kids and working. I wouldn't have the time then also would have to find childcare since my kids are under 3 years of age. |
758 | This would impact the clients that I serve; many of the parents that I work with have difficulties but are not eligible for disability services; they often struggle to function on a daily basis in a positive way and would not be able to do the community engagement requirement; then in turn this would further disadvantage them because there insurance and therefore mental health services would be taken away. It's like hitting someone who is already down, you could say. |
759 | This would negatively affect me. I am already working but my hours fluctuate greatly. |
760 | This would not directly affect me but many clients who would be unable to meet this requirement many due to needing to care for children with mental health needs |
761 | This would not directly affect me but would make it harder for my clients to keep coverage. |
762 | This would not directly impact my family because my husband and I are both full-time students, but this requirement seems ridiculous. I’m sure most Medicaid receipients will be exempt for one reason or another. |
763 | This would not impact me as I am not a recipient. I work with people who are on Medicaid and I see the difficulty many have with getting employed or even finding volunteer work. I am particularly concerned about people dealing with these requirements in rural areas of the state where there are less resources, lack transportation and there are fewer jobs. |
764 | This would not impact me personally as I work full time. This could have some positive impact for some but could still end up hurting others. It just needs to be well thought out and looked at closely by people who actually understand the people and population who are going to be affected by this and not by those who have no understanding. |
765 | This would not impact me. It would impact many of my patients who are disabled or unable to find and maintain stable work due to mental illness. |
766 | This wouldn't impact me. |
767 | Those who can already do. It's just a tactic to create an obstacle to much needed services. |
768 | Transportation is a barrier to be able to volunteer. |
769 | transportation is a problem even if to disabled |
770 | Transportation is a problem in most of KY. Volunteer positions and work is not available in the rural areas. |
771 | Transportation is a very big barrier for many. If they are required to volunteer, who will help transport them? We are setting people up for failure. |
772 | Transportation is difficult in rural areas. Not many places will take volunteers without background checks or uniforms. |
773 | Unable to do this, not only because of my physical health, but my child and all his appointments, therapy, etc would prevent this for me |
774 | Unable to work |
775 | Unable to work. |
776 | Unknown |
777 | very difficult for low income citizens who have so many issues to deal with folks |
778 | VERY reasonable! If the state is supporting me, I need to give back. |
779 | Volunteering brings pride and self-worth |
780 | Volunteering is a good idea, particularly if these folks need something to do or skills to learn, but I believe health care should be there regardless, and many on Medicaid that I’ve known, really couldn’t volunteer much that I could think of do them actually needing help with self care. |
781 | Way too much to keep track of...Most of the time just trying to make ends meet without figuring out if they've worked/volunteered for 80 hours. |
782 | We already work full time. |
783 | We are both employed |
784 | We are disabled, mentally and physically, and we are limited in what tasks we can and can't perform. |
785 | We are sick.... It would kill us. |
786 | WE cant afford the administrative burden to allow folks to volunteer at our organization and our folks don't always feel well enough to do this consistency. |
787 | We hardly can walk or stand. Hardly drive! If we can't work why would we be able to volunteer! Really!! |
788 | We have one vehicle that my husbands workd 7-4 in. We are in a very rural area where volunteer work is few to find. |
789 | We work at least 50 hours a week each and have 2 kids. I’d like to spend some time with each other. |
790 | We work more than full time as it is it would be very hard to find any time that's not taking away from somthing else to volunteer that many hours. |
791 | What counts? Caring for my mother? Picking up trash along the street for a couple of hours? Mowing the neighbor's lawn 'cause they're ancient, too? |
792 | What if you have health concerns or risks? |
793 | While I do think that community engagement is worthwhile, some communities lack a variety of opportunities for Medicaid recipients to fulfill this requirement, so it may negatively affect Medicaid recipients. |
794 | While I would not be directly impacted by the requirement, indirect impacts would include fewer children getting regular services. Many of the parents of the children I work with have limited availability due to family or other needs, and they have very little free time, even if they are not working. This requirement would make it even more difficult for them to come to appointments. Additionally, many of these families already have difficulty accessing transportation to medical appointments, so I foresee a great amount of time being spent merely trying to get to and from these community engagement requirements. |
795 | While it would not effect me directly, many disabled people in our community would not be able to meet this requirement. |
796 | While this sounds like a reasonable thing, the truth is that many people who need these Medicaid benefits are already engaged in meaningful work activities, or they have legitimate reasons why they cannot do so. |
797 | Why? There are no jobs in the area we live in. |
798 | Wil;l not. I am required and on Medicare. |
799 | Will not |
800 | Will not impact me. |
801 | With a new baby, this requirement will be next to impossible. Who is going to watch the child? Who is going to pay a sitter? This work requirement is just flat ridiculous. Most people already work. Let’s increase minimum wage and pay people a livable wage then most problems may be solved. |
802 | With many having to pay for daycare for their children it would cost them too much. |
803 | With to 2 special needs daughters at home. It would be impossible for me. I have no help with their care. |
804 | won't impact directly |
805 | Wonderful it would get participants out among others and not be so centered on self. Volunteering to help others is needed and an asset to community. |
806 | Work requirements in Medicaid are illegal. They do not promote Medicaid's objectives. Medicaid objectives is "providing medical assistance" . Work is not listed as one of the requirements in Medicaid in order to be eligible for Medicaid assistance. How can the Secretary create a whole new eligibility requirement of his own without it first going through Congress? Kentucky's wavier is supposed to promote Medicaid's objectives. A demonstration of promoting health is not the same thing as providing medical assistance to low income people. Denying health coverage will not help people find a job. Giving people Medicaid coverage not only helps people get jobs, but could also help them keep theirs job as it will keep them healthier. When they are healthy, they have the ability to work. How can kicking people off health care give them this ability? Ohio has reported this finding in their Medicaid expansion study. |
807 | Working 20 hours extra a week just to have health care, and pay premiums on top of it is RIDICULOUS. Many of us already have 2 or 3 part time jobs and work extra to support our families. There is not time to work extra. And with childcare costs?!?! How is that going to work? |
808 | Working and barely making ends meet already. |
809 | Working in mental health, most of our clients are not capable of working or volunteering 80 hours a month. We would lose many clients due to them not having coverage. Mental health is very important for the whole community. |
810 | Would affect my son in few months. Is attending college.. |
811 | Would be good |
812 | Would be very difficult. My grandson is a special needs child. |
813 | Would be willing to participate |
814 | Would effect my clients greatly. First of all 80 hours is a lot of time. There has been no global effort by the state to assist agencies to develop or support volunteer programs. Programs that would be needed to meet this need take a lot of time and therefor money to supervise. Getting a part time job just means you have enough money to decrease or eliminate any benefits you may have. So it puts you behind not ahead. Also there are many reasons clients can't work that were not covered in the guidelines to qualify for medically frail. I believe this requirement will greatly reduce people's ability to have health care. |
815 | Would have to pay someone to look after my grandchildren |
816 | Would impact my daughters. One already works full-time and has two young children. One just got out of school and is searching for a job and is also considering getting a baccalaureate degree. |
817 | Would let me see hopefully a sense of purpose for people rather than a handout. |
818 | Would make it more difficult to help get my family out of poverty. |
819 | Would not affect me personally since I already work. But again, this is creating another level of bureaucracy - who is going to track this? Who is going to monitor? I DO NOT support this requirement. |
820 | Would not affect me. |
821 | would not affect myself but I feel it would give folks some self confidence and possibly provide them with employment in the future. |
822 | Would not affect us, but....could affect those with severe handicap or those who don't have access to child care. It's transparent....another excuse to deny health care. |
823 | Would not impact me and would negatively impact Kentucky. An unrealistic and again, financial burden, on the state. |
824 | would not impact me personally --- if this were a way to earn enhanced benefits and not setup to maintain routine/standard benefits, it would seem more desirable. |
825 | would not meet the requirements 3-4 months for year working on a farm. |
826 | Would not personally impact me, would impact our clients at my job therefore causing me more work at my job. |
827 | Wouldn't directly. But WHERE do you expect people to find places to volunteer or work if they don't have a car? Plus I'm not convinced that there is 10-hour-a-week volunteer work available in every community. Who would track these hours? Again -- how is that a good use of taxpayer money? |
828 | Wouldn't impact me, but would definitely impact some family members. |
829 | Wouldn't impact me. It would affect many who suffer from addiction, mental health issues or other medical issues that may make it difficult, if not impossible for them to do this. |
830 | Yes |
831 | Yes because I am not able to do so. |
832 | Yes, I would have to enroll my children in daycare to meet the requirements. |
833 | Yes. If I can't find work, how will I work? I have many family who cannot drive and live 15 miles from anything resembling civilization. How can you have community engagement when you can't get there to engage? |
834 | Yes. I would not be able to work at all if I had to fill these guidelines. Causes slave labor |
835 | You are talking again about penalizing people who cannot reach a place to volunteer, work, or job training. If they have no income or transportation to get to these places, they cannot do what is required. How about the families who have 3 little ones at home to take care of in addition to no transportation? Have you identified how much it would cost that family to get child care for those children? Could they find time to look after their children without CPS saying they were "neglectful" while holding a job or volunteering (again, without any pay to pay a babysitter?) I thought the U.S. was having a decline in birth rates that they were concerned about as there would be less people to pay taxes. Now you want those same people to work instead of having babies? |
836 | You cannot be engaged in the community and work 80 hours per month if you have no transportation, no money to pay someone to transport you to the community engagement; it is not right! |
837 | You have to look at the requirement for the community engagement requirement. Some aren't able to do it because state of KY haven't seen them as medically frail. Some aren't pulling disability or anything but they aren't able to work. Some aren't mentally able to work, but they are not drawing disability or have income coming in. Some don't have the funds to catch the bus due to fixed income or no income. |
838 | Young people I work with are not capable of doing this until they reach a healthier mental/physical condition; especially those who are homeless. |