Whoops

[Rinualdo]

Looks like a blunder in the Heath Care and Patient Portability Act will allow some early retirees access to Medicaid.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43490650/ns/health-health_care/


Couple notes here.

Yes, this should have been caught by the bill's authors.
The Administration has already said they will look for a fix.
This certainly isn't the first bill to have a loophole from either party.
I'm wondering why the republicans who have been so adamant about repealing didn't catch this earlier.

Unless the administration can fix this soon, this will turn into great fodder for Republican candidates.

[Parkbandit]

Looks like a blunder in the Heath Care and Patient Portability Act will allow some early retirees access to Medicaid.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43490650/ns/health-health_care/


Couple notes here.

Yes, this should have been caught by the bill's authors.
The Administration has already said they will look for a fix.
This certainly isn't the first bill to have a loophole from either party.
I'm wondering why the republicans who have been so adamant about repealing didn't catch this earlier.

Unless the administration can fix this soon, this will turn into great fodder for Republican candidates.

LOL... I love the "I'm wondering why the Republicans didn't catch this"

I think it was Nancy Pelosi that famously stated "we have to pass this bill so that you can find out what is in it."

SUCKERS!!!!

http://www.frumpzilla.com/image_gallery/pelosi-laughing.jpg

[Inspire]

The change would affect early retirees: A married couple could have an annual income of about $64,000 and still get Medicaid, said officials who make long-range cost estimates for the Health and Human Services department.



Is 64k really considered middle class?

[Tgo01]

I'm wondering why the republicans who have been so adamant about repealing didn't catch this earlier.

So this is the Republicans' fault?

[Gnome Rage]

So this is the Republicans' fault?

Of course it is, because democrats shit marshmellows and ride rainbows to work.

[Parkbandit]

Is 64k really considered middle class?

Yes. What would you consider 64K?

[Rinualdo]

So this is the Republicans' fault?

Of course not. It was a pretty stupid mistake to make.

Its genuine curiosity.

This fits exactly into the Republican narrative of government takeover, too expensive, no one read the bill, etc...
If I wanted to run on a repeal platform, I would have a team of people combing through it day and night trying to find exactly these kinds of things, which make the Democrats look pretty silly.

I'm simply wondering why it wasn't caught- was there a change in a CBO estimate, was there some other catalyst, was it widely known for a year and not reported, did the Administration lie about the estimate, etc

[Inspire]

Yes. What would you consider 64K?

I'm not sure, I guess I thought middle class started somewhere at 100k-250k per year.

[CrystalTears]

I'm not sure, I guess I thought middle class started somewhere at 100k-250k per year.
Middle class? WTF.

[WRoss]

64k a year in combined income is towards the lower end of middle class. Though, for every academic and politician you ask, you will get a different definition of middle class.

[Rinualdo]

It depends on how you define the term. As best I can tell, there is no government official method of defining middle class in relation to annual household income.
If you look at median income, in 2009 it was 50k a year.

[Hulkein]

Depends on location too. 64k annual income for a married couple in non-city is probably a very comfortable income. 64k is the low end of middle-class if you're living in New York as a married couple, though.

[AnticorRifling]

Is 64k really considered middle class?

Think of it in terms of myklian scales to buy weed.

[Inspire]

Think of it in terms of myklian scales to buy weed.

When I first started in Myklians, Tycine was level 57 and I could make $140 per day in there.

[g++]

I have a similiar scam going where I get paid slightly more to sit in an office chair.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

What is the household income range for upper class?

[Hulkein]

What is the household income range for upper class?

I would personally put it at 500k>. Not sure what the consensus is.

[Gnome Rage]

Too bad most Americans deem themselves middle class, no matter what their income is, even though the (statistical) middle class is shrinking.

[Inspire]

I guess I've always thought that middle class was 100-250k. Upper class starting at 250k and the rest of us schlubs are average-class. (I don't wanna say low-class, because that makes me think of homeless people)

[WRoss]

I've always thought of upper class as worth more than income. There are a lot of people I know making 300k+ but if laid off, wouldn't be able to last more than a few months because they live way out of their lifestyle. On the other hand, I know of a teacher who retired at 48 because she lived so frugally and invested her money. I'd consider her more upper class because she is worth a ton more than the 300k+ a year people.

[HJFudge]

/shrug I've always put middle class at 50-100k for Married Couples. 100k+ is pretty ritzy, assuming you dont have 10 kids or some such.

[WRoss]

/shrug I've always put middle class at 50-100k for Married Couples. 100k+ is pretty ritzy, assuming you dont have 10 kids or some such.

It all depends on where you live. For example, in downtown Chicago (and I'd imagine other big cities) you can reach the 6 figure mark working as a bartender/server.

[HJFudge]

It all depends on where you live. For example, in downtown Chicago (and I'd imagine other big cities) you can reach the 6 figure mark working as a bartender/server.

Oh fair enough. I'm assuming non-major city. If you live in the city, it obviously shifts upward.

[WRoss]

Oh fair enough. I'm assuming non-major city. If you live in the city, it obviously shifts upward.

If you move to Long County, GA, you can buy property for about 50 an acre. At least you could in the early 00's. They even have a paved road now!

[Cephalopod]

All studies on obesity point to the middle class growing quite a lot.

[WRoss]

All studies on obesity point to the middle class growing quite a lot.

There is a nice correlation between obesity, interracial couples, and black men and hispanic men being the fastest growing population! Being fat is key to getting laid, don't ya know?!