# KY Governor: "Nice health insurance you have there, would be a shame if something happened to it". **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239 "2018-07-03T17:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gollu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2acd7d/32.png) [@Gollu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/1 "2018-07-03T17:15:05Z")
I can’t even… The sheer spite and vindictiveness of this GOP Governor is just sickening. Governor Bevin demanded that the state institute work requirements as a condition of having Medicaid health insurance. Never mind that [most Medicaid beneficiaries already work or can’t work; many of those out of work are in poor health.](https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2017/12/12/study-finds-most-medicaid-beneficiaries-already-work-or-cant-work-many-of-those-out-of-work-are-in-poor-health) And, [many working people also will likely lose coverage due to work requirements, especially if their jobs have fluctuating hours or if they are seasonal or self-employed workers.](https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/many-working-people-could-lose-health-coverage-due-to-medicaid-work-requirements) And that his plan would result in [costing more money to cover fewer people.](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/14/kentucky-medicaid-changes-bevin-work-requriements/319384002/) But wait, it gets better. In a Trumpian tantrum, Bevin then threatened [to cancel health insurance for almost half a million Kentuckians](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/6/25/17502484/kentucky-medicaid-expansion-work-requirements-lawsuit) if he doesn’t get his punitive work requirements in place. :mad: Fuck you Matt Bevin. With a rusty coal shovel. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/2 "2018-07-03T17:24:44Z")
> [@Gollu](#): > > And, [many working people also will likely lose coverage due to work requirements, especially if their jobs have fluctuating hours or if they are seasonal or self-employed workers.](https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/many-working-people-could-lose-health-coverage-due-to-medicaid-work-requirements). I don’t understand this part. The study says > [@](#): > > But while most adults in low-income families worked substantially, many did not work continuously and for a consistent number of hours each month. As a result, 46 percent of likely Medicaid-eligible low-income working adults would have been at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage for at least one month during the year under Kentucky’s work requirement But if the person can’t get 80 hours of work a month, there are other things they can do that qualify as “work or work activities” right? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/3 "2018-07-03T17:36:44Z")
The good citizens of Kentucky voted him in. He said all of this crap before the election. They are getting what they wanted. Fuck Matt Bevin, sure, but frankly the people now getting fucked _by_ him have no one to blame but themselves. Vote less stupid next time. . ---
**Author:** ![Gollu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2acd7d/32.png) [@Gollu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/4 "2018-07-03T17:45:32Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > But if the person can’t get 80 hours of work a month, there are other things they can do that qualify as “work or work activities” right? It’s not 80 per month, it’s 20 per week. Now imagine you are a waitress working an average, 20 hours per week. The rest of the time you are caring for your children at home because you can’t afford daycare. Then, on the last day of the week, your boss calls and says the restaurant isn’t very busy and he doesn’t need you to come in after all. Bam! You only worked 19 hours that week and bye-bye health insurance. You’re locked out of accessing your health care [for up to six months.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/06/29/judge-rejects-kentuckys-medicaid-overhaul/747328002/) ---
**Author:** ![Gollu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2acd7d/32.png) [@Gollu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/5 "2018-07-03T17:50:23Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > The good citizens of Kentucky voted him in. He said all of this crap before the election. They are getting what they wanted. Fuck Matt Bevin, sure, but frankly the people now getting fucked _by_ him have no one to blame but themselves. Vote less stupid next time. > . While it’s true that [62.54% of the state voted for Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Kentucky,_2016), 37.46% of them, (more than one in three) did not. Those voters will lose their healthcare just the same. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/6 "2018-07-03T17:51:53Z")
> [@Gollu](#): > > It’s not 80 per month, it’s 20 per week. Now imagine you are a waitress working an average, 20 hours per week. The rest of the time you are caring for your children at home because you can’t afford daycare. > > Then, on the last day of the week, your boss calls and says the restaurant isn’t very busy and he doesn’t need you to come in after all. Bam! You only worked 19 hours that week and bye-bye health insurance. You’re locked out of accessing your health care [for up to six months.](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/06/29/judge-rejects-kentuckys-medicaid-overhaul/747328002/) Sorry, but I’ve read through the links you provided, and I cannot find where Kentucky requires 20 hours a week. Everything I see says 80 hours a month. Can you point it out? I also found this: “In addition, 1 primary caregiver of a dependent minor child or adult with disabilities per household is exempt” which would seem to cover a single mom working as a waitress. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/7 "2018-07-03T17:53:28Z")
> [@Gollu](#): > > While it’s true that [62.54% of the state voted for Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Kentucky,_2016), 37.46% of them, (more than one in three) did not. Those voters will lose their healthcare just the same. And voter turnout for the 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election was just 30.6%. Again, vote less stupid next time. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/8 "2018-07-03T19:06:27Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Sorry, but I’ve read through the links you provided, and I cannot find where Kentucky requires 20 hours a week. Everything I see says 80 hours a month. Can you point it out? On average, every month has four weeks. What’s 80 divided by 4? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/9 "2018-07-03T19:10:01Z")
> [@Gollu](#): > > While it’s true that [62.54% of the state voted for Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Kentucky,_2016), 37.46% of them, (more than one in three) did not. Those voters will lose their healthcare just the same. The Entire state is on medicaid? I agree that this feels vindictive and heartless. I also think its the wrong approach, but there is a reason: > [@](#): > > Adam Meier, Bevin’s secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, has said if the ruling stands, the state would have “no choice but to make significant benefit reductions.” He said the state faces a $300 million shortfall in Medicaid over the next two years, and the new rules would have helped the state save money. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/10 "2018-07-03T19:12:47Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > On average, every month has four weeks. What’s 80 divided by 4? I don’t know. I don’t have that many toes. :rolleyes: A more reasonable answer: You either report 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month. 20 hours a week reporting doesn’t leave you much chance to make up any missed hours. 80 hours a month gives you plenty of chances to make up hours. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/11 "2018-07-03T19:24:24Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t know. I don’t have that many toes. :rolleyes: > > A more reasonable answer: You either report 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month. 20 hours a week reporting doesn’t leave you much chance to make up any missed hours. 80 hours a month gives you plenty of chances to make up hours. “Please, employer. We’ve come down to the end of the month and due to scheduling, you’ve only given me 70 hours. Could you put me on for two double shifts later this week so I can hit 80 hours so I can retain health insurance?” “No, sorry.” ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/12 "2018-07-03T19:33:10Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > “Please, employer. We’ve come down to the end of the month and due to scheduling, you’ve only given me 70 hours. Could you put me on for two double shifts later this week so I can hit 80 hours so I can retain health insurance?” > > “No, sorry.” This would be such a great reply, if working was the only way to get to 80 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/13 "2018-07-03T19:36:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > This would be such a great reply, if working was the only way to get to 80 hours. How else am I going to get my 80 hours? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/14 "2018-07-03T19:38:12Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > How else am I going to get my 80 hours? There are various other activities explained in the actual policy. You can start there. ---
**Author:** ![Gollu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2acd7d/32.png) [@Gollu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/15 "2018-07-03T19:51:34Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > The Entire state is on medicaid? No, but almost [one in four are.](https://www.kff.org/medicaid/fact-sheet/medicaids-role-in-kentucky/) > [@](#): > > I agree that this feels vindictive and heartless. I also think its the wrong approach, but there is a reason: "Adam Meier, Bevin’s secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, has said if the ruling stands, the state would have “no choice but to make significant benefit reductions.” He said the state faces a $300 million shortfall in Medicaid over the next two years, and the new rules would have helped the state save money. " Did you miss the part where [under Bevin’s plan, it actually will cost Kentucky more to provide health coverage to people affected by the Medicaid changes than if the state did nothing.](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/14/kentucky-medicaid-changes-bevin-work-requriements/319384002/)? ---
**Author:** ![Gollu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2acd7d/32.png) [@Gollu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/16 "2018-07-03T19:57:28Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > There are various other activities explained in the actual policy. You can start there. That still won’t help someone who gets their last shift of the month cut unexpectedly and falls even one hour short of the 80 hours with no time left to scramble to find extra work. Or volunteer. Where would you, with no notice, get an hour of volunteer work at 11 pm on a Sunday night on the last day of the month? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/17 "2018-07-03T20:22:21Z")
> [@Gollu](#): > > Did you miss the part where [under Bevin’s plan, it actually will cost Kentucky more to provide health coverage to people affected by the Medicaid changes than if the state did nothing.](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/14/kentucky-medicaid-changes-bevin-work-requriements/319384002/)? Yes, yes I did. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/18 "2018-07-03T20:36:32Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > On average, every month has four weeks. What’s 80 divided by 4? You have a very strange calendar. Inquiring minds want to know: (A), Are there 48 weeks in a year? or (B), Are there 13 months in a year? In my calendar, each month has about 4.3 weeks, not 4 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/19 "2018-07-03T21:05:42Z")
Bevan\>Bevin. Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239/20 "2018-07-03T21:19:23Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > You have a very strange calendar. > > Inquiring minds want to know: > (A), Are there 48 weeks in a year? > or > (B), Are there 13 months in a year? > > In my calendar, each month has about 4.3 weeks, not 4 weeks. Subtract [ul] [li]Holidays[/li][li]Sick time[/li][li]Vacation time - (even if it’s used for things like doctor visits & not actually going away)[/li][/ul] & you’re pretty much at exactly 4 weeks. Of 31 days this month, only 21 are business days. A job in the “business district” isn’t necessarily open nights or weekends. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ky-governor-nice-health-insurance-you-have-there-would-be-a-shame-if-something-happened-to-it/817239.md?page=2)