Sometimes life gets bitchy and sticks it to ya. (Not the greatest first line but I'm in a slump, so bite me.)
I've been fortunate since I became unemployed, broke, and in the hospital in 2022. Even though at the time I felt like I was being buried by paperwork, it eventually paid off and I received Medicaid. For those who think people on Medicaid are moochers just shut up and try to develop some empathy. My body was messed up because for the 3 years I had been working I did not receive health insurance. I lived in constant pain and still worked. I didn't make enough money to afford to pay for it, and even though I worked plenty of over time I had been hired as part time.
I didn't know that the fall I had at home, when I was first employed, had fractured 3 discs in my back. Believe me, over the counter pain meds did very little to help. It wasn't until I was unemployed and had Medicaid that I found out my back has broken. My employer worked us 30 days straight with no time off and dumped us on the 31st day. No severance pay, just Get Out. This was August 2020, the height of COVID-19. I tried to get unemployment but was turned down. Millions of people were also applying at that time. I gave up.
If it wasn't for Medicaid I wouldn't have had the medical care that I really needed. I retired early after trying to work on a couple of jobs and didn't feel well doing so, turns out I had multiple health issues that needed to be addressed. Passing out or falling while at work wasn't something I was willing to do.
You don't just coast along with Medicaid, you are told several times a year to show your income sources and bills, it's a big hassle but one I had to do to keep my coverage. Then... I turned 65. Suddenly my status changed because I was applicable for Medicare.
My financial situation had not changed but now I was expected to pay out of pocket. I'd certainly like to know why. Those 3 years on Medicaid proved my financial situation, and couldn't afford extra costs. I managed to get HMO coverage through Humana, which frankly was great, no out of pocket costs for 6 months anyway.
After 6 months Humana wanted to know if I was still covered under Medicaid. Medicaid advised Nope, you turned 65. So long story short I lost the perfect coverage. I was forced to change to a PPO. I'm expected to pay 20% of everything. So, unless I want to incur medical debt I can't use my insurance. Just stop everything that was being done to help me because I cannot afford to pay it. I might as well be right back where I was 5 years ago. Medical coverage means jack shit if you can't use it
Sorry, but this topic has been stewing and boiling over since the end of June and it had to come out.
Truly, I'd be more upbeat if I wasn't always fighting the system. There are plenty of things we seniors have to worry about in Trump world, the biggest being Social Security. If he plays games with Our money it's possible we'll be unable to pay rent and buy food, not that he'd ever care. It could create a terrible future with the elderly, millions of us, forced to the street.
His biggest fault, and we know he has many, is that he has never ever lived a life without luxury and money. He's never been hungry without food. He's never worried about not having rent money or a car payment. He's completely without empathy because he has nothing to relate to, and cannot perceive living as we do. So he doesn't care, at all. In fact the poor seem to be despised.
His Big Bullshit Bill proves that without a doubt.
My empathy and sympathy goes out to all the elderly, the very young and the disabled who will be losing their Medicaid during late December 25 and January 2026. Somehow we are all expected to go back to work and find money to pay for everything. It's not going to be good. Not everyone has family to help. Not everyone is fit enough to work. So Grandma and Grandpa are not going to be able to do it.
I have nothing nice to say about trump and those that thought he was the Messiah coming to make everything great. Say good bye to the America you thought would be restored, because Emperor trump wants total submission and control. Doesn't matter if you lose your rights, your insurance, your retirement, am I right?
Good night and good luck.
And release the Epstein files. Trump has a history of sexual abuse. Let's bring it out into the daylight and expose him for what he really is.
