Elizabeth New (Hovde) says limiting Medicaid LTC to people in need is not punitive or unjust
Elizabeth New (Hovde)
Washington Policy Center
Right now, qualifying for taxpayer-provided help with services and supports for long-term care (LTC) is too easy. People can appear impoverished when they’re not. And a lack of more aggressive estate recovery efforts helps seal the deal for those wanting to use other taxpayers’ money for their LTC needs, preserving their assets and life savings to pass on to heirs.
Medicaid is not an inheritance-preservation program, but it is being used as such. State and federal lawmakers can and should better protect resources for the vulnerable and contain program costs for taxpayers.
Limiting Medicaid LTC to people in need is not punitive or unjust. The real injustice lies in allowing people with means to use a taxpayer-provided safety net they do not need. Read more about these policy solutions here.
Elizabeth New (Hovde) is a policy analyst and the director of the Centers for Health Care and Worker Rights. She is a Clark County resident.
Also read:
- Opinion: Defend bail now or face more chaos on our streets
A proposed Washington court rule would cap bail for most misdemeanors and allow defendants to bypass bondsmen, raising concerns about accountability and public safety. - Opinion: Someone explain the Democrat Party to me please
Lars Larson criticizes Democrat politicians for shutdown threats, Homeland Security funding refusals, and positions on election laws, housing, and gun rights. - POLL: Do you agree with requiring board members to follow council direction?
Disagreement among county councilors centers on whether C-TRAN board members should reflect the council’s collective wishes or act independently, highlighting ongoing concerns about public accountability. - Opinion: In plain sight – yielding to pedestrians
Drivers often fail to see pedestrians due to inattentional blindness, which highlights the need for more focused awareness at intersections and stronger safety practices. - Opinion: The legislature has committed $2.4 billion to recurring pension increases since 2018
Six legislative COLAs have raised public employer costs by $2.38 billion since 2018, driving up unfunded pension liabilities and increasing burdens on county and city budgets.
