My mother worked hard for 40 years at a full-time job while raising me as a single parent and supporting her brother. She was a vibrant 73-year-old when she had a fall and became quadriplegic, though she is still herself in mind and spirit. However, because of the care she needs, she now is having to impoverish herself and her family. Why? Because of the eligibility rules for Medical Assistance (Medicaid).

Medicaid is a form of governmental insurance which covers most medical costs and skilled nursing care. HOWEVER, most people don't know the horrendous rules surrounding eligibility for this coverage. The main rules are that people in desperate need of coverage for chronic conditions and skilled care must spend down all their assets (https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/medicaid/spend-down until they have only $3000 (or less in some cases) to their name -- and sometimes this means losing their home if they cannot live and receive care there; they cannot gift assets to family because there is a 5-year look-back period and they will not be covered for several months based on the amount gifted, even if they need coverage (https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-look-back-period/); AND, the government decides, once people are on Medicaid, whether they will cover care at a person's home or put someone in a care facility.

What is worse is that the rules vary from state to state, so some people are better off than others. For example, in Minnesota, you are required to spend down all your retirement savings. In Wisconsin, they can't touch your retirement savings. Each state has made its own rules, but the basic idea is the same: impoverishing families before providing coverage for life-saving care.

Health care -- covered health care -- is a universal right. My mother and everyone who needs skilled care should not have to impoverish themselves and their families to pay for the skilled care they MUST have. While this is true for everyone, it is especially true for the completely disabled. These rules are barbaric and harmful to individuals and the wider community. Other developed countries not only have universal health care, they do not require you to spend down your assets (for example, in the UK nhscare.com). If we want universal health coverage, we must make sure that this coverage does not come at the cost of losing your life's earnings, your home, and your dignity.

I call on the state and federal governments to change Medicaid eligibility rules NOW: to get rid of the spend down and 5-year lookback penalty and to provide full coverage: medical, room, and board, with no expiration date, for those who need skilled care. This is NOT financially infeasible. If you don't impoverish whole families, people can continue to contribute to the economy. Please be humane and change these rules NOW!