Meg brings out an interesting point when she mentions that it wouldn't be fair to the taxpayer if the PALS was able to leave his estate to his children after taking Medicaid. This means that Medicaid in some circustances is somewhat a loan, although most likely a non-profit one.

The point is interesting because it highlights a divide in this country. Does the state and therefore the taxpayer have an obligation to take care of those who have been dealt devestating circumstances. ALS certainly qualifies for that. There are a range of opinions on that from "absolutely not" to "of course" and you can probably see those opinions shift as you cross from blue to red state.

It does boggle the mind that ALS research is so underspent. It boggles me as much though that so little help finanically is available to PALS. The arguement that the country "can't afford it" is really not accurate. The truth is that as a whole, it simply doesn't want to.