The state is a huge consumer of health care in the form of medicaid which the legislature is in charge of forming the rules. Are you aware of the fact that you must have less then $8200 to be covered by medicaid in Indiana? If you have more income…say more than $683 per month then you have a spend down until you reach the $683 and then the state pays the medicaid bill. That leaves $683 for you to eat, pay housing bill, transportation, etc. The individual must negotiate with the doctor, hospital, etc. while providers attempt to obtain full price for the care, not medicaid rates.

The legislature has fallen down in caring for current medicaid recipients. The future care of medicaid recipients will increase to $12,000. HMMM. $13,000 is not a living wage. This does not occur till at least $20,000. AND THIS INCREASE IN MEDICAID DOES NOT KICK IN TILL 2014! What does this mean? There is going to be no relief for the poor for the next four years. Good luck to you if you have no job where you can get health care.