SOME STATS

As of December 1994, according to the Medicaid Working Group, 3.5 million people are on SSI, and 2 million get Medicaid because they are medically needy. Of those on SSI 43% have physical disabilities, 28% have developmental disabilities and 29% have mental illnesses.

Under the age of 65 yrs

3.3 million people on SSDI

3.2 mililion people on SSI

671,000 adults on SSDI & SSI

A total of 7.2 million are on SSI and\or SSDI

In 1994 we spent $42 billion for Meidaid disability payments, $12 billion for Medicaid long term care.

By March 1995 there were 204 Medicaid waivers in effect.

HCFA Medicaid: An Overview (HCFA publication 10965) shows that in Medicaid paid for 68% of nursing home residents, over 50% of nursing home costs, and 52% of all nursing home expenses in the USA.
--- GAO Report HEHS 96-62 4/96 SSA Disability

National Council on Disability report Achieving Independence Long Term Services recommendations included the following information:

About 12.7 million people need long term services.
Of these 2.4 million live in institutions.
40% are working aged adults and 2% are children.

(AARP 1995)

In 1991 America spent about $59.9 billion on nursing homes and $9.8 million on home health care services. Medicaid paid $28.4 billion and Medicare $2.7 billion of nursing home bill. Public funding for home health was $7.1 billion of the home health care costs. AARP 1994 Among attendant service users 10% use paid only, 11% use paid and volunteer, and 79% use only volunteers’ help. (WID & Rutgers 1990)