By skyforbes 
Medicaid is not ‘just’ for the poor — it also undergirds our entire flailing medical system
In the unique absence of universal health care in the ‘wealthy’ United States, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act have offered grudging but often life-saving health care to large US populations: the poor, children, disabled persons, and the elderly in nursing homes.
It is still possible, even with these systems in place, to experience personal bankruptcy in the process of seeking treatment for serious accidents and disorders. In 2019 (before the COVID pandemic) researchers found that 66.5% of US individuals surveyed cited medical costs as a primary factor in their bankruptcy declarations.
Who qualifies for Medicaid? Each state sets its own income qualifications, based on the federal poverty level (FPL). Let me remind you that in 2024, the federal poverty level for a family of three was just under $25,000. Let me also remind you that a full-time minimum wage worker in California, the state with the highest minimum wage at $15 an hour, makes $30,000 per year.
Think about living as an individual — without family obligations — on $30,000 annually. Subtract 7 or 8 percent for federal taxes, including Social Security…