As a result, they were reluctant to enter into the workforce and purposely kept their incomes under the cap to remain eligible for Medicare. The act changed this predicament and allowed them to enter the workforce while allowing them to get the health care they needed. Children with disabilities and their families face a similar situation. In a number of cases, parents are forced to seek more drastic action to avoid debt. A good deal quit their jobs to become Medicaid-eligible again.
Some couples divorce to keep their salaries low.
The Family Opportunity Act will end this problem. It will allow children who qualify to be covered by Medicaid even if their parents have private insurance and are not eligible for the program under current law. They are only eligible for the Medicaid portion. Each state will decide whether or not to implement a buy-in program. Once a state decides to participate, it will decide its premium rates using a sliding scale based on the family's income.