Just What Has Obama Done With That $700 Billion Medicare Money

[tay]

The Congressional Budget Office wrote a letter to House Speaker John Boehner. It basically said that if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, it will cost US citizens $716 billion over the next 10 years. Republicans are twisting this number to say the president stole $716 billion from Medicare. The great irony in this GOP strategy is that they’re the ones stealing from Medicare.


http://current.com/shows/the-young-...icare-hes-saving-the-us-more-than-700-billion

 

[TenPenny]

What's that I read the other day, "Only in America would so many overweight, diabetic people with heart disease be upset that they're gonna have healthcare"

 

[Walter]

What's that I read the other day, "Only in America would so many overweight, diabetic people with heart disease be upset that they're gonna have healthcare"

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

 

[The Old Medic]

Among the many changes in Medicare under the "Affordable Care Act" is the elimination of all of the "Medicare Advantage" programs.

These are programs where you sign up with an insurance company, to get all of your care provided by that company. The insurance company is paid 80% of the average cost per Medicare recipient each month, to provide all care and medications (with a co-pay in some cases).

I have Medicare Advantage, as does my wife. The change will cost us hundreds of dollars each month, in additional expenses. My wife is a quadraplegic, who requires a LOT of additional medical care (much more than the average). This law will be a financial disaster for us.

 

[MapleDog]

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

Wasn't there some free clinics for those who can't afford it?

 

[Walter]

Wasn't there some free clinics for those who can't afford it?

It's called Medicaid.

 

[TenPenny]

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

Don't you mean Romneycare Extended version?

 

[Niflmir]

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

But could they trust it? I have heard many stories about people who were refused coverage because apparently they received treatment for some latin jargon that they couldn't understand at a time before they were aware of what it meant to have health insurance and they failed to disclose this in the application.

At the very least, the Affordable Care Act puts an end to those shenanigans. If you accept somebody's money for health insurance, you are now responsible for insuring them. Even if you disagree with the rest of it, this much should be agreed on: the insurance companies should have done their due diligence before accepting payment.

 

[Tonington]

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

In some states pre-existing conditions meant automatic denial. And for those states where you could get coverage-at significantly higher cost- there would be riders denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Now Americans can purchase a plan that will cover them until 2014, when the healthcare reform law makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage or renewal of policies for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

But apparently the GOP is against these Americans having the economic freedom to purchase their own insurance.

 

[L Gilbert]

In some states pre-existing conditions meant automatic denial. And for those states where you could get coverage-at significantly higher cost- there would be riders denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Now Americans can purchase a plan that will cover them until 2014, when the healthcare reform law makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage or renewal of policies for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

But apparently the GOP is against these Americans having the economic freedom to purchase their own insurance.

Right.

 

[tay]

Weekly Address: Preserving and Strengthening Medicare - YouTube



Insurance executives and their Wall Street investors are addicted to massive profits and double-digit annual rate increases. To squeeze more profit, Potter says, if a person makes a major claim for coverage, the insurer will often scrutinize the person’s original application, looking for any error that would allow it to cancel the policy. Likewise, if a small company’s employees make too many claims, the insurer, Potter says, “very likely will jack up the rates so much that your employer has no alternative but to leave you and your co-workers without insurance.”

Wendell Potter is the health insurance industry’s worst nightmare. He’s a whistle-blower. Potter, the former chief spokesperson for insurance giant CIGNA, recently testified before Congress, “I saw how they confuse their customers and dump the sick—all so they can satisfy their Wall Street investors.”

While visiting family in Tennessee, Potter stopped at a “medical expedition” in Wise, Va. People drove hours for free care from temporary clinics set up in animal stalls at the local fairground. Potter told me that weeks later, flying on a CIGNA corporate jet with the CEO: “I realized that someone’s premiums were helping me to travel that way ... paying for my lunch on gold-trimmed china. I thought about those men and women I had seen in Wise County ... not having any idea [how] insurance executives lived.” He decided he couldn’t be an industry PR hack anymore.

"They Dump the Sick to Satisfy Investors": Insurance Exec Turned Whistleblower Wendell Potter Speaks Out Against Healthcare Industry



Whistleblower FIRED For Reporting Unnecessary Surgeries at For-Profit Hospital


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/b...ports-found-dubious-cardiac-work.html?_r=1&hp

 

[Goober]

In some states pre-existing conditions meant automatic denial. And for those states where you could get coverage-at significantly higher cost- there would be riders denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Now Americans can purchase a plan that will cover them until 2014, when the healthcare reform law makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage or renewal of policies for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

But apparently the GOP is against these Americans having the economic freedom to purchase their own insurance.

Over 20% of GDP was for health care in one way or another- It had to be changed - How a country like the US that cannot provide basic coverage is beyond me.

 

[B00Mer]

Just What Has Obama Done With That $700 Billion Medicare Money?

I don't know, maybe you should ask Romney, after all it was created using Romneycares' model, maybe he would know how it works?

 

[Walter]

In some states pre-existing conditions meant automatic denial. And for those states where you could get coverage-at significantly higher cost- there would be riders denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Now Americans can purchase a plan that will cover them until 2014, when the healthcare reform law makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage or renewal of policies for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

But apparently the GOP is against these Americans having the economic freedom to purchase their own insurance.

Hear-say.

 

[Goober]

Hear-say.

Prove him wrong - other than that you post is not relevant.

 

[Tonington]

Hear-say.

Hearsay? The House Republicans want to repeal the entire law. And Romney specifically said if elected he would repeal the law, but keep the clause that does not allow insurers to drop those with pre-existing conditions. However he didn't say a thing about keeping the clause that prohibits insurance companies from denying people a plan that covers their pre-existing condition.
Romney: Repeal health law, keep pre-existing conditions clause - The Hill's Healthwatch

Hearsay? Yeah right.

 

[BaalsTears]

The $716 billion is taken out of Medicare's hospital and provider trust fund. But instead of retaining these savings the money is transferred to Obamacare. That's the truth. American seniors realize that the money they paid into the system is being stolen from them. They're angry about this.

 

[gopher]

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

And 45,000 died every year from lack of health care.

 

[Bar Sinister]

Most US citizens had healthcare before Bamstercare.

You are certainly correct there. But Obama's plan (and Romney's) is all about those who did not; those who had below average coverage; and those who found their benefits were withdrawn for "preexisting conditions" as soon as they became ill.

 

[Walter]

I have a brother who is a GP in the states and he has not seen or heard of anyone dieing for lack of healthcare insurance in the US because even the poorest get medicaid.