Did you miss the part of the article about elders living in nursing homes relying on Medicaid?  If you are lucky enough to live long enough to need care you are required to liquidate your assets to pay for it.  That seems right and just.  However, what happens when the money runs out?  More than 75% of nursing home residents in Alaska rely on Medicaid.  What should we do about them?  How about other people with complex medical needs who require round the clock care and expensive procedures?  Let them die? Should their families quit their jobs to provide it?  There are many people who are incapable of self support.  Grow up. Applying third grade logic (people should live on voluntary charity because otherwise it's stealing) isn't sensible or efficient.  Anyone can become disabled at any time.  I reject your characterization of Medicaid recipients as parasites. Selfishness isn't a virtue.