how will government shutdown affect us?

[sullidog]

Hi all,
I was just wondering with a possible government shutdown, how will this affect us dialysis patients and those of us who are also on SSDI? I haven't seen any discussion or can't find anything health related on this topic.

[Bill Peckham]

Current beneficiaries through SS will continue to receive benefits as they are funded outside what is being shut down. It will impact people applying for benefits - either due to age or disability - because no one is processing their applications..

For Medicare it is a little harder to know but the administration has said that payments by Medicare for services rendered should continue unless the shutdown lasts weeks.

The main impact will be felt by those who work for the government - including service members - and their families. Aside from those directly employed it'll impact people trying to visit the Smithsonian (it's spring break for a lot of kids) or destinations like national parks.

And of course future taxpayers as the shut down will likely cost more than the cuts either side is proposing.

[Beth35]

Well it's going to screw up my medicare being processed.  Here I have gone without insurance for months.  I finally begin dialysis and qualify for medicare and the girl on the phone said yesterday that my medicare will probably take a lot longer to process b/c they may be shutting down.  AND I am scheduled to have surgery next Thursday.  Grrrr!

[willowtreewren]

We had been planning our first post-transplant camping trip for this weekend.

What a trivial thing to be worried about in the grander scheme of things.

Aleta

[Rerun]

It boils down to "Essential an Nonessential" workers.  The Farm Service Agency is considered nonessential because no ones life depends on it.  So it will be shut down if this goes that far.  Then they will PAY them for their days off.......

Stupid!
 

[Bill Peckham]

It boils down to "Essential an Nonessential" workers.  The Farm Service Agency is considered nonessential because no ones life depends on it.  So it will be shut down if this goes that far.  Then they will PAY them for their days off.......

Stupid!
 

That's a good point - the workers will be paid eventually so it isn't as if closing the doors is going to save money. However, the difficulties will be real - many people need next week's pay check to pay this week's bills.

[jbeany]

It's actually going to cost them more to pay the workers in a lot of places, since they are going to have to pay them overtime to catch up on the back log.

Polls are showing that 58% of Americans don't want the idiots in Washington to shut down the government tonight.  Not that the idiots care - they're the only ones still getting paid.

My thought for when I rule the world...
All highly paid elected positions now come with a new feature - a shock collar.  All politicians are required to post their current decisions (or in this case, refusal to come to a decision) for 24 hours afterward on a website.  Each person who voted in the election, regardless of who they voted for is given a passcode.  Those with a passcode can either call in or post online or from a smart phone a thumbs up or thumbs down within that 24 hour cut off.  If the thumbs down reaches 60%, the politician gets zapped publicly.  Just think how many people would start voting and paying attention to politics.....

Seriously, I'm a bit annoyed listening to the fools blather on about standing on principal when I know several young military moms who are living paycheck to paycheck and trying to juggle kids and their own college courses while their reservist hubbies are stuck in the middle of a desert.  They're going to be standing in the grocery line trying to figure out how to feed their kids with no money while the politicians are waving their flags and their principals around with a fat paycheck in their pockets.

[rsudock]

Seriously, I'm a bit annoyed listening to the fools blather on about standing on principal when I know several young military moms who are living paycheck to paycheck and trying to juggle kids and their own college courses while their reservist hubbies are stuck in the middle of a desert.  They're going to be standing in the grocery line trying to figure out how to feed their kids with no money while the politicians are waving their flags and their principals around with a fat paycheck in their pockets.

Here here I agree! Washington is a hot mess!!! My heart goes out to soilders' wives....I couldn't do it!

xo,
R

[Lillupie]

yes I had thought about people on dialysis dying (i know a little extreme) because the staff at the centers werent getting paid, so noone was at the centers.

Yes I do

Seriously, I'm a bit annoyed listening to the fools blather on about standing on principal when I know several young military moms who are living paycheck to paycheck and trying to juggle kids and their own college courses while their reservist hubbies are stuck in the middle of a desert.  They're going to be standing in the grocery line trying to figure out how to feed their kids with no money while the politicians are waving their flags and their principals around with a fat paycheck in their pockets.

Here here I agree! Washington is a hot mess!!! My heart goes out to soilders' wives....I couldn't do it!

xo,
R

My boyfriend is over in Afghainstan at this very moment and is not happy about this. Imagine being in a war and not getting paid! he is actually stationed in Germany and heard that the grocery store there on base had to close because noone was getting paid.
and now it looks like we are in war with Lybia(sp?). We cant afford these wars!

Lisa