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Local heart patient dies just weeks after finally qualifying for Medicare

Posted on November 23, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Updated Monday, Nov 23 at 3:31 PM

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Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - A Louisville heart patient denied Medicaid because of what he earned in disability payments has died.
 

Chris Whitmer was 39-years-old.
 

In February of 2008, Whitmer shared his hopes for a heart transplant with WHAS11 News. 
 

The problem was that he made $27 too much per month to qualify for Medicaid. 
 

After a two year waiting period, Whitmer was approved for Medicare earlier this month but died last Wednesday.
 

Whitmer is survived by his two children and his wife Harriet.
 

"My husband was the definition of what a man should be. He always worked hard to support his family, he was a faithful and a devoted husband and father," says Harriet.

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purecountry said on November 23, 2009 at 3:43 PM

This is exactly the reason we don't need government involved in healthcare. A man is dead that could have lived but the government is greedy. Our government is NOT concerned with human life, but rather with profit.

gooat said on November 23, 2009 at 4:20 PM

Did anyone understand what purcountry comment mean't because I didn't

purecountry said on November 23, 2009 at 5:42 PM

Let me make it simple for you. This man didn't qualify because he made $27 a month too much to qualify, yet the democrats and liberals give every minority, or single mother welfare and medicare/medicaid even if they are perfectly capable of working. This guy has an income and is trying but gets screwed over.

randyk said on November 24, 2009 at 8:59 PM

Amen Brother, His problem was basically he was actually trying. If one is a female, a minority, and with fatherless kids, they can get a housing allowance, cell phone bill paid, a partial car payment made and food stamps!! Talk about a screwed up mess, and to think Social Security is going broke? Imagine that. This is certainly not the first time i have seen the sytem work against the working class. But someone has to support all the freeloaders so they can continue to vote in politicians who will always provide free handouts.

purecountry said on November 25, 2009 at 10:33 AM

randyk I agree. I was actually in the social security office with my father a few years ago when they were arguing with a man that they denied social security because he was dead. He argued that he wasn't. He was standing right there with his birth certificate and social security card and they still argued with him. Had I been him I would have been arrested for what I would have done in that office. There is NO excuse for them treating people like that.

deb742 said on November 26, 2009 at 10:46 AM

I've been saying this since the healthcare debate began. There are approx. 15 million people out there who qualify for Medicaid but are continually denied. If the government would focust on this problem first and foremost, we wouldn't need a 2,000 page bill that really doesn't fix anything. Raise the ceiling on how much money you can make in order to qualify for Medicaid. There are a lot of "working poor" out there. And put in a sliding scale payment system. Most folks can and do what to pay something. They just want to be able to pay there mortgages too. Too bad all the politicians are interested in is there "legacy" and power. I'm so over both parties.

thatwoman said on January 9, 2010 at 7:32 AM

I knew Chris from the many discussion boards he used. He was one small voice in this crazy world we live in standing up against TPTB for all he believed in Rest in Peace my friend J

rick_simg said on January 12, 2010 at 9:37 AM

Chris was an inspiration and a wonderful man and he'll be missed. He touched our lives and was an incredible man. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. My sincere condolences to his family.