Remember that little thing called \u201cMedicaid expansion\u201d that was an optional part of ObamaCare? You know, the one where states could optionally expand Medicare eligibility and the Federal government would pick up the tab \u2013 for a while?<\/p>\n
Well, guess what. Pretty soon (2017) part of the bill starts getting transferred to the states.\u00a0 (Even so, the Federal government still will pick up 90% or more of the cost for the expansion.)\u00a0 And guess what that means?<\/p>\n
If you guessed \u201cbig bills for the states who signed up\u201d \u2013 give yourself a pat on the back.<\/p>\n
Moreover, those bills are significantly larger than originally projected. Because you see \u2013 enrollment under those \u201cexpanded eligibility\u201d guidelines has been much<\/em> higher than projected.\u00a0 Many states are seeing an overage of over 100% of projections.<\/p>\n Gee \u2013 people finding out that they can get \u201cfree sh!t\u201d and taking advantage.\u00a0 Why would anyone ever think that might possibly happen in greater numbers than expected?\u00a0 Sheesh.<\/p>\n Predictably, several states are now re-looking their ObamaCare Medicare expansions. I can\u2019t say that I blame them; in the case of one state \u2013 Florida \u2013 the projected additional cost to the state is about $5 billion over the first 10 years. Guess who\u2019s going to pay for that if they stick with it?<\/p>\n You see, when it comes to goods and services \u2013 like medical care \u2013 there isn\u2019t really any such thing as \u201cfree\u201d. Someone, somewhere pays for it.<\/p>\n And if it\u2019s a government giveaway like ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion . . . that means we<\/em><\/strong> pay for it in the form of higher taxes and interest rates. Well, at least those of us who ever pay taxes or borrow money do.<\/p>\n