We really need to talk about "entitlement status" because this is KEY!

Years ago when I worked at Catholic Charities....families in sufficient poverty were "entitled" to assistance based on severity of need. It was open ended federal state match but the amounts of money were subject to legislation...

Folks who paid into Medicare and Social Security are "entitled" to payments...again adjustment to the dollar amounts are possible but the programs are NOT "capped" or block granted, but are open ended and paid by the Feds (or repaid in the SS and Medicare cases)...

Ryan et al desperately want to STOP the entitlement deal on healthcare....they don't care if folks lose services...they CARE that the fed govt is NOT OBLIGED to pay for healthcare costs of Medicaid folks...often the poorest and most vulnerable..often living in inadequate "nursing homes" funded by Medicaid....over half these homes house poor and elderly patients and at least half the cost nationally is paid by the Feds!