Am I surprised by this story and infographic? Not exactly. It makes me sad, certainly, especially since it isn't right areas that are being impacted. It's poor, rural areas. Many of these places have conservative governors who would restrict Medicaid spending to ease their state budget woes.
I feel that this is very short-sighted for several reasons. Medicaid isn't exactly glamorous. You have to be extremely poor to receive it in most places. Then you're restricted in what you get done and how and where and by whom. It limits your ability to have much say in your care, especially since it really doesn't cover all that much.
The idea that someone wants to cut health care to the poor is abhorrent to me on many levels, but the fact that they use the economy as an excuse... the same economy that is forcing more people to delay care or onto the rolls of Medicare.... it fails to inspire much confidence in their humanity. Sure, give tax breaks to businesses and the wealthy when times are good, but poor economic outlooks are no excuse to increase these subsidies and decrease help to the poor. Poor people don't choose to be poor, for the most part, and really can't help it if they're poor and sick.
This trend is here to stay, my friends, and I don't see a way to reverse it until we're able to give people good, affordable health care on a consistent basis.
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