Tenncare reform...what it really means! (insurance, home, cost)

[trmihall01]

I just want to make all of you really aware of a problem that we are facing in healthcare. A recent change in tenncare is forcing thousands of truely and totally disabled people off Tenncare. Please read the following article and get outraged, call and write you elected officials and tell them how wrong this is.
'I want to see their faces' | jacksonsun.com |
Thanks!

[mbmouse]

I believe this statement from the nurse in this story is the real heart of the issue:
"Simrell said seeing patients lose their coverage is even more difficult because so many patients who abuse the system are still on the rolls.

"I see people who don't deserve TennCare; that is what is costing so much, the people who are abusing it," Simrell said. "But they'll put someone like Angela in a nursing home, all for a couple thousand dollars."

"

It is not persons like the disabled lady in this story that the system is trying to flush out, it is those who are abusing the system. Those that have no want to work but want to have everything handed to them.
I believe this lady in the story will have to go through the review process and get to keep her coverage, as will others who are using it as supplemental for those needs the private coverage does not cover but is needed.
How can any system pick and choose of thousands and thousands of people who are using this system and know who is abusing it? They have to choose by the paperwork. Look at this without the emotional part: Husband has a high paying job and private coverage, yea, on the surface, this looks like a case of possible abuse of the system. Once the details are given, this lady will probably keep her coverage. Yes, it is stressful and inconvenient, but there are SO many people on Tenncare that are abusing it. It takes some stress and inconvenience of some to get the abusers out of the system, this will only make the coverage better and more stable for people like this lady who really does need it available to them for a lot longer and maybe even better coverage for those who really do need it.
Personally, I think all they need to do is drug test every recipient and that would weed out a whole bunch right there. If they find meth, crack or what ever street drug of choice in your system, you loose your coverage, period.

[hiknapster]

Actually, this person is representative of the millions of people that have insurance but can't get care.

Her husband has a decent job and has insurance. What the article says is that the insurance is not enough for nursing care. This woman has had muscular dystrophy since 1996 and is in a wheelchair and on a ventilator. She can't suction herself or rub her own eyes.

Her only alternative is to be put in a nursing home. And her only alternative for that is a nursing home in Cordova that has a waiting list. And she doesn't want to go to the nursing home, which will cost more in the long run, anyway.

The problem isn't Tenn Care. Her husband makes too much money for her to even be on it.

The problem is she has a gap in her coverage that she can't afford. That's par for the course in this country. Pay your premium and then try to get them to pay for your healthcare.

[trmihall01]

I am the nurse in this case guys. Her husband makes about $10.00 hr. In what country is that a high payying job? Also to clarify, she refiled for Tenncare and guess what...She was denied. She is in the appeal process. The insurance her husband has does not cover her nursing care. We met with state sen. Lowe Finney and Curtis Halford and basically were told the governor did it! So we know who to write!