New York – The number of city residents qualifying for Medicaid has hit a record that’s likely to go even higher next year when enrollment will almost certainly reach the milestone 3 million mark—or more than 37 percent of the population, officials said yesterday.
As of July, a record 2,927,952 people here were getting their health insurance covered by the government. Although the numbers fluctuate slightly from month to month, the annual trend is headed in one direction: up.
Five years ago, in July 2006, the city’s Medicaid rolls stood at 2,573,610.
Robert Doar, commissioner of the city’s Human Resources Administration, which oversees Medicaid, said the steady increases are evidence that low-income workers are becoming dependent on the government for medical insurance as more and more employers drop health coverage.
(Source: NY Post)
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6 Responses
in case you haven’t heard, there’s been a major recession since 2007 (and that’t what the optimists call it). While the economy stopped shrinking, it’s still no where’s near where it was back in 2006 (the last time the Republicans were in charge of the White House and both houses of Congress).
Under current economic policies, expect Medicaid to grow even if they restrict eligibility. It’s the economy
akuperma, the recession ended in June 2009.
Welfare in general is a sinkhole where people get in and then its hard for them to get out of it even if they no longer need it but when it comes to Medicaid it is exponentially harder.
private insurance will cost a family with kids, a minimum of $1,200 a month where you get it for a tenth of this price or even for free if you go through Medicaid.
as they say, The Middle class Always Suffers.
#2- the academic group that declared the recession “over” bases it on the direction of the economy – thus when it stops shrinking, they consider the recession to be over.
Thus the “Great Depression” ended in 1933 when the economy started growing, relative to its “bottom” – which is how contrary to how everyone else see’s matters. NO ONE would claim the Great Depression was 1929-1933, and everyone agrees it was 1929-1939 (or even 1942). By this standard the “Great recession” is 2007-?????. Just ask the unemployed or look at government tax receipts.
I would suggest a better definition is based on when the level of economic activity, e.g. employment, regains its previous levels, meaning returns to its early 2007 level – something which appears to be in the distant future.
Charlie – Who really knows where one recession ends and another begins and why. Times are very bad now and it’s going to get worse. G-d bless America and her heart of gold to help those less fortunate.
#2 ever hear of double dip recession?