AC:Six months into the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the Drains are among 162,000 Tennesseans who got caught in a coverage gap. Their household income is too little to qualify for a government subsidy to buy health insurance, and they live in a state not expanding Medicaid. Their predicament was caused by a series of legal, political and bureaucratic decisions that included the U.S. Supreme Court striking down part of the federal health law, but Larry Drain said he feels to blame. “In September of last year, I made what looking back on it in retrospect was the worst decision I ever made in my entire life,” he said. “I decided to take early retirement from Social Security.” Even though his monthly benefit was significantly less than the paycheck he had been bringing home, the decision changed the eligibility requirements for Linda Drain to continue receiving Supplemental Security Income. If she kept living with her husband, she would lose SSI eligibility, which would make her no longer qualify for TennCare… Had Tennessee expanded its Medicaid program, they both would have been eligible for coverage. *The Drains are seriously considering separation after being together for 33 years in marriage so that Mrs. Drain can keep her medical benefits.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 01:13:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015