Poll shows only 38% of Americans are aware that AHCA will make major cuts to Medicaid

While almost three-fourths of Americans have a favorable view of Medicaid, only about four in 10 — 38 percent — are aware that the House-passed American Health Care Act would make major funding reductions and structural changes to the program. About a fourth of respondents said the bill made “minor reductions” to Medicaid, and 13 percent didn’t realize there were any proposed cuts. (The poll was conducted before the Senate released its legislationon June 22.)

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the House bill would cut the program by $834 billion over a decade. The Senate measure has not yet been scored — that analysis is expected next week — but its cuts to Medicaid are steeper. Congressional Republicans argue their plans gives states more flexibility, so they can run efficient programs that make up the difference. Critics worry the size of the funding cuts would mean states ultimately scale back benefits and limit who’s eligible for the program. Traditionally, states and the federal government have jointly funded the program, and its budget isn’t capped.

So I found this to be an interesting bit of news, only 38% of people even know that the republican "healthcare" bill will slash medicaid. I wonder what they would say if they suddenly found out that it would be slashed, and slashed by $834 billion over the next decade. How many people do you guys know that rely on medicaid? Do they deserve it in your opinion?

http://khn.org/news/poll-most-americans-unaware-gop-plans-would-make-deep-funding-cuts-to-medicaid/

hell I'm on Medicaid but not by choice it's my insurance until I find a job that offers insurance or a job that is full time

The less the government is involved, the better.

All of those people should meet up with all the people who never knew they were using the ACA, that way they can all learn about these new and exciting times together.

That's more than what I would have guessed.

Yeah but like only half of voting age Americans voted, so...your point?

We get it: we suck, we don't know current affairs. We vote against our own self interests.

That'd be fine if people were involved, but they're not. Someone has to be. This isn't a Tesla; the car known as America is not going to drive itself.

I was thinking the same thing.

Well the republicans have tried to keep the whole thing a secret so it's not that surprising.
But it likely will be for those 38% once it is put into effect

Sad to say it isn't surprising. I know a single mom family on Medicaid, and she had no idea this was being scaled back until two weeks ago.

As far as deserving it, no... They don't "deserve" it as they've done nothing to explicitly earn it, but they need it. And that's kind of the point of Medicare. She does, however, work full time, the job just pays peanuts.

I'm guessing those who needs medicaid most also supports AHCA? :P

Taking medical care away from anyone is despicable.....but they want those tax breaks for themselves. Disgusting all the way around.

Out of curiosity what does she do for work and how many kids does she have?

Victim blaming I see......

Whose fault is it if she has a low paying job? I know I know blame everyone else because we certainly can not hold people accountable for their choices in life, right?

Such a simplistic and naive view of the world which shows little education into the reality many people face through no fault of their own.

Yet you lack both the integrity and ability to answer but you were so fast to defend something in which the factors were unknown to you. You people are always full of excuses.

Edit: Throwing aside your tactic of pulling at the heart stings, are you aware of how much is spent for this particular program and have you looked at the cost over the past few years?

@Solaryellow: She works for a community college assisting students with scheduling and things like that. It pays about 11 bucks an hour.

She has 3 children.

As I said, she doesn't "deserve" it, but she (and her children) need it.

You lack both the integrity and ability to admit you were going to blame the person for their situation. I'm merely calling you out on your bullshit. Newsflash....many people that need assistance are not sitting at home all day. There is a working poor in this country and it sucks the conservatives want to give their wealthy buddies tax cuts at the expense of these people. But I don't expect you to understand that. You're too entrenched in right wing ideology. Also have you looked at how corporate welfare dwarfs personal welfare?

@LJS9502_basic: Her work situation isn't necessarily her fault but having three kids kind of is.

Entitlements need to be cut contrary to you lefties thinking the money tree has infinite cash. She works a shitty job and has multiple children yet she is the victim?

So either you haven't looked or don't care about the cost of this program based on your justification due to corporate welfare. That's not logical nor helpful. Being blunt, an intelligent adult does not justify one wrong with another. Children use that approach.

She is well aware that she messed up in her youth. She is not blaming anyone.

She just needs her children to be able to get medical care.

My friend just lost his last remaining leg to diabetes. He goes to kidney dialysis a few times a week. He worked as a machinist until he was let go for safety reasons related to diabetes, 7 years ago. He couldn't get insurance until ACA because of 'preexisting conditions' which is why diabetes devastated him so much.

Go ahead...blame him.

You're always quick to shit on poor people, the disabled, the elderly, and just the generally down on their luck. Yet you have never proposed any kind of solutions other than "holding people accountable" and "personal responsibility" which are useless platitudes that seem to only come from morons with no grasp of the issue.

So removal of whatever safety net she has and see if she sinks or swim is the correct thing to do?

Money is finite in case you are unaware. Entitlements make up a huge portion of our budget yet you lefties seem to think no one should ever be responsible for themselves. Everyone always has a story why they need and deserve entitlements. Everyone receiving the benefits is most deserving, right? Shit on poor people? That all depends how their choices contributed to their situation. Shit on someone old or the person who is sick though ZERO doing of their own? No. To suggest something like that is something I resent but I'm not surprised.

Personal responsibility and accountability are terrible concepts yet continuing with the burden shifting is o.k.? How does one improve a situation when they are not pushed to do so? More money (benefits) is not the answer.

@Solaryellow: It's funny that you state money is finite because whenever Republicans try to justify spending cuts for high income tax cuts they proclaim that economics isn't a zero sum game and a rising tide lifts all boats.

People can justify anything provided they want it bad enough.

Except when it comes to cannabis, who we stick our dick into, a womb, etc..

@Solaryellow: So which, according to you, is correct?

I love conservatives showing their true colors.

Stripping poor children of healthcare coverage to 'teach' their mother a lesson? People supporting this mentality are psychopaths. The GOP doesn't want to provide healthcare coverage, they want the sick, poor, and elderly to simply die.

Neither is 100% correct in the sense of the word.

Of course money is finite, where did I say otherwise? That is why resources are allocated to the best possible areas, and one of those areas are the social safety net. There have been literally thousands of studies done that show stuff like employment insurance, welfare, food stamps, social housing, etc. are a net benefit to the economy. You are so obsessed with your ideology and wanting to kick people when they are down (out of what reason, I don't know maybe you are a sociopath) that you can't don't seem to care about evidenced-based policy making.

Personal responsibility and accountability are platitudes that do not mean anything and it's quite telling of your knowledge in this area if that's how you approach a complex, multi-faceted problem like poverty in America. They are not serious proposals to fix complex problems and you'd get laughed out of any public policy class if you seriously suggested otherwise.

The Democrats war on poverty has worked great, huh? Your solution is to keep throwing money at an issue and it will get better. Hopefully the right makes these much needed costs to entitlement programs because it will never stop if it isn't seriously addressed and the left will not get serious when it comes to entitlements. You do not incentivize people to make good, solid choices that will improve lives if you always run to their beacon call. You've seen how much is spent on this program, yes?

A safety net is not meant to be a prolonged experience. Entitlement programs should not end nor be cut, right?

It is almost necessary if moving up is difficult...

The alternative is to take away people's entitlements and they're up shit creek even more - that is not a solution to the problem. The way to incentivize people is to give them the tools and help to get their lives in order and not to tell them to go **** themselves and to fend for themselves. Unless you are a callous individual with no regard for his fellow man I don't know how you can seriously propose something like that.

The most important resource one has is time and when you are working two full-time jobs to make ends meet while trying to raise children, getting a higher education or training is not realistic.

Americans are quite unique in this regard where it's socially acceptable to act like a selfish cretin. If there was something like the ACHA in another rich nation like Canada, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, etc. those politicians would be run out of government overnight.

Feel free to expound and enlighten us.

Stuff like Medicare and Social Security aren't just used by 'lefties'. Touching either program is political suicide by supporters on the right as well. Don't fool yourself into thinking that conservatives don't use just as much from these programs. The difference is that they only define an 'entitlement' as something the other people are using, not them.

Lefties don't want to cut these programs though. Being fair, each persuasion has its own depts it doesn't want to see cut. Our government (tax dollars) can not sustain our spending and that goes down the ladder whether speaking of entitlement, military, discretionary, etc.., Have you looked at what we spend, what we take in, what we are spending money on, etc..,? Any thoughts?

Yes and I'm not one of the wealthiest 1% in this country and would like more of my paycheck BUT I'm not willing to take medical away from people that need it. So apparently having compassion and empathy is being a lefty which makes being cold hearted and selfish a rightie. Enjoy.

I'm not talking about funding them or projected liabilities, so your post is more or less a tangent that doesn't need to be brought up.

I merely pointed out that 'righities' LOVE LOVE LOVE their own entitlement programs as well. Your attempt to frame the narrative that conservative voters aren't using the same programs is disingenuous and at odds with reality.

A safety net may be necessary for social mobility to be a thing, people dont have any capability to improve their situation when they work 2 full time jobs to make ends meet.

Have you explained how she is a victim or is it such a typical M.O. that you don't even know why you apply it anymore?

Something is either a necessity or it isn't.

The world isn't black and white. And some people don't like to speak with 100% certainity. Especially with the ammount of variables that factor in to social mobility. But that doesnt change the fact that countries that have a strong social safety net have much greater room for opportunity to move up the social ladder.

Edit: On a side note, cute. Your entire response focused entirely on my usage of words rather than even remotedly touching the argument and evidence presented.

Either way, I don't see it passing if it gets to Trump. He doesn't seem to like it.

Yes he does...

@LJS9502_basic: He said it was mean. Doesn't sound like he likes it

rob from the poor, give to the rich, this has been the Republican mantra for decades

Yes, but only after praising it when it was passed the first time which suggests he clearly didn't read it. My concern is that he will or would do the same with the final bill after signing it.

yet conservatives are going to feel the burn when this passes since a majority of them are in red states... and yet they continue to vote against their own needs just to screw others