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Forum
-> Household Management
-> Finances
Is it worth going from middle class to poor
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| no |
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| Total Votes : 172 |
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amother
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 Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:14 pm
| amother Ivory wrote: | | And I need to sign up to private insurance to get the services I need covered because they won’t accept Medicaid but do accept blue cross blue shield. So idk if you live in a different area or your needs are different from mine or what, but I literally have the opposite experience from you. I was on my parents bcbs plan until I was 26 and did so much better with that plan. So many things aren’t covered by Medicaid that were covered by bcbs. | would you mind sharing a few examples. Was therapy (as some therapists) one of them ?
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:18 pm
| amother OP wrote: | | would you mind sharing a few examples. Was therapy (as some therapists) one of them ? | Yes, aba and ot. But also my thyroid specialist, my gi specialist, the neuropsychologist etc. they all took bcbs and not Medicaid
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:21 pm
| amother Ivory wrote: | | Very very odd. Where are you located? NY? That’s the only place I can think of where maybe Medicaid pays more. | Boro Park NY I get nothing from my insurance that is eating up all my money. Actually an orthopedic took it for my daughter broken foot but it ate up my deductible. would have been cheaper paying cash.
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:23 pm
| amother Zinnia wrote: | | Boro Park NY I get nothing from my insurance that is eating up all my money. Actually an orthopedic took it for my daughter broken foot but it ate up my deductible. would have been cheaper paying cash. | If you live in NYC then I agree you will come out ahead being poor. It’s a socialist city. Most other locations aren’t like that.
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:30 pm
| amother Ivory wrote: | | Very very odd. Where are you located? NY? That’s the only place I can think of where maybe Medicaid pays more. |
I’m in nj. Lost my dentist, lost all my specialists. My insurance pays so little I end up paying tons to the places that are willing to take my insurance. Had no issue on Medicaid. None. I went to all the doctors I felt were top in the field. I couldn’t even get basic blood work covered on this insurance. I’ve been skipping appointments because it’s so ridiculous.
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:37 pm
| amother Orange wrote: | | I’m in nj. Lost my dentist, lost all my specialists. My insurance pays so little I end up paying tons to the places that are willing to take my insurance. Had no issue on Medicaid. None. I went to all the doctors I felt were top in the field. I couldn’t even get basic blood work covered on this insurance. I’ve been skipping appointments because it’s so ridiculous. | Which insurance?
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:38 pm
| amother Currant wrote: | .
Firstly if food stamps is peanuts then why do people have leftovers to sell or buy extras to stock the coffee room(true story)
Secondly maybe it depends on community but where I live there is no indignity of being on Jerseycare. When I take my kids to the dr. I need to remind them that I have a copay. Its sort of a given that noone has one |
Because it's how you save your dignity. They probably used WIC anyway. WIC is dumb. You get gallons and gallons of milk and if half the family is lactose intolerant you have a way to give back a bit and gift milk to the food bank, school, shul etc. If you have an allergy you still can only buy specific foods. For example my kids get peanut butter from wic but are allergic to peanuts. I can feel like a contributing member of society donating milk and peanut butter.
Also, Food stamps was enough when the kids were all small. You get paid the same amount for a 2 year old as an adult, or a teenager. Now the kids are bigger and eat more and it's not enough. Some people also eat very little or are short or eat at work/shul/school. My husband has the biggest appetite and he usually eats a meal at shul (lots of shiurim serve food) to stretch the groceries at home. If you have small kids and eat at shul then you could conceivably sell your food stamps to pay your electric bill.
Another thing that's very tempting is selling food stamps that can be used at chain grocers to take the money and buy at discount warehouses. For example BJs usually doesn't take food stamps. If you know your money will go further at BJs than say Amazon Fresh (does take food stamps) it makes sense to sell your food stamps and go to BJs with cash. If you don't have a car and the place that takes foods stamps and is walking distance is very expensive it can make a big difference also. I've never sold my food stamps but it's tempting.
Medicaid is great. I get my asthma medication for free. You know what? Before I was poor and could afford to live in an apartment that wasn't moldy next to a power plant I didn't need asthma medication. I also can't get the asthma medication that would be safer for my heart problem since it isn't prescribed by a PCP only a pulmonogist and I'm STILL on the wait list to see a pulmonogist that takes Medicaid.
On Medicaid in my state it's very hard because you wait months and months for non emergency appointments. I hurt my foot and was told I couldn't get an xray for 4 months. So I ended up in the ER. Where I waited 8 hours to find out my foot was broken. At least this was free. I got a bandage but I guess Medicaid didn't cover crutches. I got crutches from the gemach. Medicaid technically covers dental work but since nobody takes it we had to pay ourselves. Since Medicaid pays a flat rate for a hospital visit I was home within a day when I had a postpartum hemorrhage. I had another hemorrhage at home.
Anyway this whole thing is silly. If you're "middle class" but you can't afford food, a decent safe place to live, clothing that's suitable for the weather and health care you aren't middle class you're poor. So this thread is arguing over whether it's worse to be poor or poor. It's silly. Being poor sucks.
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:43 pm
| amother OP wrote: | | I'm just wondering when people post that they pay their therapist 300-400 an hour (or even 150-200 whch is a lot for us so we would never do) who is that referring to ? If it's the wealthy then not everyone is wealthy (and Im sure these therapists wouldnt want to have empty spots nor do they provide discounts)... and the poor cant afford it.. |
Credit card debt
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:46 pm
| amother Yarrow wrote: | Because it's how you save your dignity. They probably used WIC anyway. WIC is dumb. You get gallons and gallons of milk and if half the family is lactose intolerant you have a way to give back a bit and gift milk to the food bank, school, shul etc. If you have an allergy you still can only buy specific foods. For example my kids get peanut butter from wic but are allergic to peanuts. I can feel like a contributing member of society donating milk and peanut butter.
Also, Food stamps was enough when the kids were all small. You get paid the same amount for a 2 year old as an adult, or a teenager. Now the kids are bigger and eat more and it's not enough. Some people also eat very little or are short or eat at work/shul/school. My husband has the biggest appetite and he usually eats a meal at shul (lots of shiurim serve food) to stretch the groceries at home. If you have small kids and eat at shul then you could conceivably sell your food stamps to pay your electric bill.
Another thing that's very tempting is selling food stamps that can be used at chain grocers to take the money and buy at discount warehouses. For example BJs usually doesn't take food stamps. If you know your money will go further at BJs than say Amazon Fresh (does take food stamps) it makes sense to sell your food stamps and go to BJs with cash. If you don't have a car and the place that takes foods stamps and is walking distance is very expensive it can make a big difference also. I've never sold my food stamps but it's tempting.
Medicaid is great. I get my asthma medication for free. You know what? Before I was poor and could afford to live in an apartment that wasn't moldy next to a power plant I didn't need asthma medication. I also can't get the asthma medication that would be safer for my heart problem since it isn't prescribed by a PCP only a pulmonogist and I'm STILL on the wait list to see a pulmonogist that takes Medicaid.
On Medicaid in my state it's very hard because you wait months and months for non emergency appointments. I hurt my foot and was told I couldn't get an xray for 4 months. So I ended up in the ER. Where I waited 8 hours to find out my foot was broken. At least this was free. I got a bandage but I guess Medicaid didn't cover crutches. I got crutches from the gemach. Medicaid technically covers dental work but since nobody takes it we had to pay ourselves. Since Medicaid pays a flat rate for a hospital visit I was home within a day when I had a postpartum hemorrhage. I had another hemorrhage at home.
Anyway this whole thing is silly. If you're "middle class" but you can't afford food, a decent safe place to live, clothing that's suitable for the weather and health care you aren't middle class you're poor. So this thread is arguing over whether it's worse to be poor or poor. It's silly. Being poor sucks. | Interesting. I never knew food stamps could be sold. Besides who would even want to buy it ?
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 8:46 pm
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You are guessing or know from experience..
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naturalmom5
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 9:07 pm
| amother PlumPink wrote: | As someone who is poor, most of the issues on your list are not even anywhere near my list. This is my list of issues due to being poor:
1. Constant crushing stress about how I will be able to buy food, pay tuition, pay the bills. Will the electricity be shut next week, will my kids be allowed back in school next year, will my credit card be declined so that I can't even buy potatoes and beans for supper?
2. My dd needs braces but medicaid won't cover it. But she really needs braces desperately. What can I do?
3. Ultimate shame at asking relatives or the local tzedakah organizations for handouts.
4. I can find clothing for my little kids at the local gemachs, but my teens would be mortified. But they desperately need new clothing. What do I do now?
5. My niece who I am close to finally got engaged! But they're asking $15 to chip in for the gift. How can I chip in? How can I not?
I can go on. But I think you get the picture. Cancun isn't even on the wish list. Vacation means a hike in a nearby park. And if it's a good month I'll buy a special treat. |
They insist that I go to parlor meeting or Chinese Auction
I give 1 or 2 dollars. They give it back to me
Several times I had to toivl by beach because mikva lady screamed at me about not paying several months
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amother
Ecru
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 9:33 pm
I can't ask this to anyone but I'm genuinely curious - am I poor?
I know I choose to be somewhat poor. I did very well during COVID from the PPPs and other grants. Was BH able to put that away for a house. NYS doesn't require you to report assets for benefits so now I choose to work part time and we qualify for all programs. I can't really afford much besides Drs and food though. We BH make rent and put heavily discounted tuition monthly somehow. I can't buy new clothing for my family or mostly anything that isn't covered by food stamps. So I think I'm poor for daily expenses but because we have some money put away for a down payment I feel rich lol. And yes if I worked full time it would probably stick us in the worse income bracket so why would I do that?
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amother
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Tue, Jan 10 2023, 9:36 pm
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Post people would say if you can afford a house then you are not poor.
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amother
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Wed, Jan 11 2023, 5:17 am
We were on food stamps and medicaid until very recently. We got to the point with the recent increases in cost of living that we just couldn’t afford the basics on the salary that kept us eligible, we literally we’re borrowing money to pay our mortgage and electricity bills. Food stamps used to cover everything but lately food has gotten crazy high. We needed a new car when our 25 year old car breathed its last but couldn’t afford one. I haven’t gotten a sheital since my wedding 12 years ago. The free medical coverage was huge but I am missing 2 teeth and can’t afford implants (not covered by medicaid).
Eventually we decided I am going to open up my own business and get out of this hole. It’s been less than a year and we are almost deciding to give up and go back to the old life.
I am neglecting my medical needs because I can’t afford the copays. We are currently making about $10,000 too much for benefits but all that goes to health insurance so we are still living on the same $35,000 a year. My business has the potential for growth but it will take a couple years and no one wants to lend us seed money with our low income. Our pantry is empty, we fill it once a month at the Chessed center and buy a lot of noodles.
We are going to keep trying for one more year and see if my business takes off but it’s not easy in either situation.
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seeker
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Wed, Jan 11 2023, 5:21 am
| amother Bottlebrush wrote: | We were on food stamps and medicaid until very recently. We got to the point with the recent increases in cost of living that we just couldn’t afford the basics on the salary that kept us eligible, we literally we’re borrowing money to pay our mortgage and electricity bills. Food stamps used to cover everything but lately food has gotten crazy high. We needed a new car when our 25 year old car breathed its last but couldn’t afford one. I haven’t gotten a sheital since my wedding 12 years ago. The free medical coverage was huge but I am missing 2 teeth and can’t afford implants (not covered by medicaid).
Eventually we decided I am going to open up my own business and get out of this hole. It’s been less than a year and we are almost deciding to give up and go back to the old life.
I am neglecting my medical needs because I can’t afford the copays. We are currently making about $10,000 too much for benefits but all that goes to health insurance so we are still living on the same $35,000 a year. My business has the potential for growth but it will take a couple years and no one wants to lend us seed money with our low income. Our pantry is empty, we fill it once a month at the Chessed center and buy a lot of noodles.
We are going to keep trying for one more year and see if my business takes off but it’s not easy in either situation. |
Not to derail the thread but can't you make your business into a corporation or separate entity from you so you can keep the $10k in the business, not count it as income, and stay on the benefits until the business grows?
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amother
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Wed, Jan 11 2023, 5:23 am
| amother OP wrote: | | Interesting. I never knew food stamps could be sold. Besides who would even want to buy it ? |
It's totally illegal.
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