Couple married for 33 years divorces so she can have health care

Caught between two cracksFederalThe Social Security Administration allows a couple to earn up to $2,249 a month in wages if someone receives Supplemental Security Income. However, the couple cannot make more than $1,102 when the income is not from wages. Even though Larry Drain’s Social Security retirement check is significantly less than his old wages, his new and lower household income put them over the threshold. Linda Drain would have lost her SSI had she continued living with him – a scenario that would have caused her to lose TennCare coverage. These differing income formulas were in place before the passage of the Affordable Care Act.StateThe Drains made too little to qualify for a subsidy to help them buy insurance on healthcare.gov, the federal exchange. However, both would have qualified for TennCare while still living together if Tennessee had expanded its Medicaid program. Now, Linda Drain lives with her mother to keep getting TennCare. Larry Drain is uninsured. The Affordable Care Act would have basically required all states to expand Medicaid to people who fall within the Drains’ income range, but the U.S. Supreme Court struck down that provision of the law.People insured because of the Affordable Care Act• 1 million young adults between 19 and 26• 8 million who bought coverage on federal or state exchanges• 5 million who purchased coverage directly from an insurer• 6 million who enrolled in Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program• Total: 20 million- New England Journal of MedicineA Medicaid gapPeople left out• Nationally: 4,831,580• South: 3,800,940• Tennessee: 161,650Southerners left outEthnic breakdown:• White: 40 percent• Black: 31 percent• Hispanic: 24 percent• Other: 5 percent- Kaiser Family FoundationLeft outThe poorest people in Tennessee get no health plan coverage or subsidies toward buying it from the Affordable Care Act because the state is not expanding its Medicaid program.• Individual making less than $11,490: Nothing• Couple making less than $15,510: Nothing• Family of three making less than $19,530: Nothing• Family of four making less than $23,550: Nothing• Family of five making less than $27,570: Nothing• Family of six making less than $31,590: Nothing- www.healthcare.gov