FINANCIAL PLANNING
Beware: The Government Is Not
Planning for You
By Ryan F. PLATT, MBA, ChFC, ChSNC
In our last issue, we discussed the continued rise in technology that will support
individuals with autism as they live and work in their communities in the most
independent manner possible. However, in order to take advantage of these growing
opportunities, individuals with autism must be financially prepared to do so.
A
t A Special Needs Plan, we advocate that
as families look toward the future, they
must consider the risk of government ben-
efit support being reduced as the result of
changes in federal and state coverage. Un-
fortunately, this risk may become a reality
sooner than anticipated.
The proposed new Health Care Act combined with
the proposed federal budget is drastically changing
Medicaid and the manner in which services are pro-
vided. It is estimated that these changes will mean a
cut to Medicaid funding by the federal government
of $610 to $834 billion. The changes also institute
a new way in which the funding is provided to the
states, which many disability experts fear will dras-
tically reduce benefits for individuals, placing much
more financial burden on families for their loved
ones’ support needs. The proposed budget not
only affects Medicaid, but it also reduces funding
to special education, the US Department of Labor’s
Office of Disability Employment Policy, state devel-
opmental disabilities councils, autism programs,
and medical research. (https://www.disabilityscoop.
com/2017/05/23/trump-medicaid-disability-pro-
grams/23746/).
Based upon these impending changes to funding
streams for those individuals with disabilities, in-
cluding individuals with autism, it is becoming quite
clear that each family must have their own plan with
specific strategies that ensure a secure future. Fam-
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