Unintended consequences can be painful....

  The State of Working America is an annual report from the Economic Policy Institute. It studies the economic conditions of low and middle income workers and their families. It looks at several different areas, including income, economic mobility, wages, jobs, wealth, poverty, health, and international comparisons. 


  With a great deal of discussion  focused on cutting back entitlement programs, many are calling for less spending in Medicare. Medicare mostly helps the very poor, the disabled, children and pregnant women. This chart shows poverty rates for three groups.  Ages 18+, under 18 and those under the age of 6...

  While abuse is always a target for any large government program and an area that should be attacked vigorously, keep in mind there are consequences, that can be painful. Looking at the groups showing the under 18 age group, cuts across the breadth of Medicaid will likely results in less money for food stamps, health care, education, etc. The increase is visible in all three racial groups, (White, Black and Hispanic.) Its actually children under the age of six that are in the worst shape. Most of the children represented in this chart are likely receiving Medicaid benefits from their States.

  How exactly do children under the age of six abuse Medicaid?