Perry -- our fine governor -- doesn't want to expand Medicaid to cover to 133% of the poverty level
let's look at that -- for a family of 4 -- it's just under 31K
So really -- they make $27,600 after taxes (because yes -- they still have to pay taxes and medicaid eligibility is on your gross wages.
ok
family of 4 -- at 31k - that means that two adults are earning just under $15 an hour for the two of them.
if they both work -- it means that they either have to have a family member watch the kids -- or they have to work different shifts -- or they have to leave the kids alone some of the time -- which happens more than you think.
Rent -- at $600/month (and you can't get an apt in my city for that) -- it's 7200 a year (20.4K left to raise your family)
Utilities -- let's assume they have the bare min -- no cable -- just electric and water -- it about $100/month here on average or $1200/year (19.2K left to raise your family)
Car -- you have to buy gas -- and we'll assume you own the car -- and have no payments -- but you'll have some sort of maintenance to do -- or repairs plus the gas -- so let's say $150/month for gas (1800/year) plus $200 for repairs (because you'll do some of it yourself) 2K (17.2 K left to raise your family)
Food -- this is hard to gauge - online most people who have a strict budget would say $350/month -- so let's assume that you don't have kids on formula (which costs $14/can and mine eats 9 cans a month) or teenagers -- so that's $4200/year ($13Kleft to raise your family)
Clothing -- Let's give our little family $200/person per year for clothes -- so that's $800 ($12.2 left to raise your family)
now -- let's remember -- you don't have medicaid -- so you have to pay your medical expenses.
Insurance for a family of 4 is about $200/month if you have insurance through your company (2400/year) plus -- you have to meet your deductible for care -- so let's assume that's another $1000. Plus any medication your family might need (even at $25/month -- that's $300/year) -- so that brings healthcare costs to $3700 (8.5K left)
oh wait -- car insurance -- $900/year ($75/month) -- (7.6K left)
but we made some big assumptions there --
have childcare costs? -- then you will pay at least $400/month (4800/year)
have a major car repair? -- add $1000
have to buy tires? -- add $400
have to go to the ER -- even once? -- add $500 -- 3000K
have to make a car payment? -- even a cheap payment is $200/month (2400/year)
(heaven forbid all of these things happen -- this leaves you with $1500 at the end of a year or just $125 unbudgeted dollars a month)
oh shit
diapers
and this family is subsisting.
they live in a horrible apartment (because a 2 BR in this town costs closer to $800 even in a bad area). This family isn't taking care of basic medical issues -- because they can't afford the time away from work. If they are paying childcare - -it's killing them -- and $400/month is cheap -- if you have a baby it's more like $600 --$800/month -- if you have 2 kids in daycare it's more like $800/month-- and you're likely to have a baby -- because we didn't budget in your birth control costs (crap)
this family didn't go see one single movie. they don't have a TV. they didn't eat at McDonalds even once. They shop at the thrift store because our clothing budget is unreasonable for a growing family.
this family didn't pay down any debt
they didn't pay child support
they didn't take a trip
and when their kids are on vacation -- they don't have anything for them to do
they bought no christmas presents
they didn't buy their kids a toy or a book.
the reality is
this family decided that their company insurance was too expensive
so they didn't get it
they played chicken with fate
and their kids still got sick
but they went to the ER
and ran up a debt they can't pay.
this family is on the edge
they get poorer every year
they get sicker every year
and they're one accident
away from joblessness
and homelessness
so
Mr. Perry
before you decide that we can't do it
that there's no way
perhaps -- you should live on their budget for a year.
and see what your life is like
I am more than willing to pay more in taxes to care for my brothers and sisters.
the real question is
why aren't you?
