Millionaires on Medicaid?

There was a house subcommittee hearing on September 21 to discuss alleged abuses of eligibility rules for Medicaid long-term care. One witness argued that the wealthy were abusing the generous eligibility rules for Medicare, but the lead witness felt that the middle class was the main group abusing the eligibility rules.

The lead witness said that Medicaid could save up to $30 billion annually “if people had to consume their home equity before qualifying for public benefits.” Other witnesses also agreed with the lead witness that millionaires were not the problem, pointing out that millionaires don’t want Medicaid – they want more sophisticated care.

House Panel Hunts the Elusive ‘Millionaire on Medicaid’, ElderLawAnswers, Oct. 3, 2011.