4/26/12
Consumers In States Hostile To ACA To Receive Higher Average Rebates Than Residents In States That Support It
Consumers In States Hostile To ACA To Receive Higher Average Rebates Than Residents In States That Support It: By requiring everyone to purchase health insurance coverage in 2014, the Affordable Care Act provides millions of new customers to private health insurers. But the law also guarantees that companies don’t swindle premium dollars away on corporate profits and CEO bonuses. Under the law, insurers have to comply with a new Medical Loss Ratio or [...]/p
4/23/12
Obamacare will save Medicare $200 billion by 2016
Obamacare will save Medicare $200 billion by 2016
"The actual experience Medicare beneficiaries, and particularly seniors, have had with the Affordable Care Act has lessened some of the fear, and according to the March Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll, for the first time the law is seen more favorably by seniors than not."
"The actual experience Medicare beneficiaries, and particularly seniors, have had with the Affordable Care Act has lessened some of the fear, and according to the March Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll, for the first time the law is seen more favorably by seniors than not."
Report: Obama’s Affordable Care Act Will Save Medicare $200 Billion
Report: Obama’s Affordable Care Act Will Save Medicare $200 Billion: pThe Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s health care reform law, will reportedly save Medicare more than $2 billion by 2016, while saving seniors nearly $60 billion in out-of-pocket costs, according to a new report released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). According to the report, Medicare’s largest savings come from “cuts to [...]/p
4/20/12
Ryan’s Medicaid Cuts Would Have Cost States $555 Billion Over Past Decade
Ryan’s Medicaid Cuts Would Have Cost States $555 Billion Over Past Decade: States would have lost $555 billion over the past decade if House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed Medicaid cuts had been in effect starting in 2001, analysis from The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) shows. Under Ryan’s plan, which would convert Medicaid to a block grant, federal Medicaid funds in most [...]/p
4/17/12
Health Care in an Age of American Decline » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Health Care in an Age of American Decline » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
"The U.S. has very little to show for its insanely expensive health arrangement. Its per capita costs are twice those of other advanced OECD nations (11). However, it ranks pretty low in health outcomes such as infant mortality and and life expectancy (12)."
"The U.S. has very little to show for its insanely expensive health arrangement. Its per capita costs are twice those of other advanced OECD nations (11). However, it ranks pretty low in health outcomes such as infant mortality and and life expectancy (12)."
4/15/12
Cashin' In Regular Jonathan Hoenig Suggests Eliminating Medicare and Medicaid
Cashin' In Regular Jonathan Hoenig Suggests Eliminating Medicare and Medicaid
"Republicans like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are basically saying the same thing Hoenig did here with their goal of destroying our social safety nets. They're just a little more subtle about it."
"Republicans like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are basically saying the same thing Hoenig did here with their goal of destroying our social safety nets. They're just a little more subtle about it."
4/14/12
Patients Rarely Considered in Press Coverage of Medicare
Patients Rarely Considered in Press Coverage of Medicare
"For the elderly and disabled, catching up on the daily news during the latest Beltway brinkmanship—the deal to extend payroll tax cuts, unemployment benefits and current Medicare doctor fees—could be an exercise in frustration."
"For the elderly and disabled, catching up on the daily news during the latest Beltway brinkmanship—the deal to extend payroll tax cuts, unemployment benefits and current Medicare doctor fees—could be an exercise in frustration."
4/9/12
The Real Health Care Debate | Common Dreams
The Real Health Care Debate | Common Dreams
"Medical bills already lead to 62 percent of personal bankruptcies, and nearly 80 percent of those declaring personal bankruptcy because of medical costs had insurance. The U.S. spends twice as much per capita on health care as other industrialized nations, $8,160. Private insurance bureaucracy and paperwork consume 31 percent of every health care dollar. Streamlining payment through a single, nonprofit payer would save more than $400 billion per year, enough, the PNHP estimates, to provide comprehensive, high-quality coverage for all Americans."
"Medical bills already lead to 62 percent of personal bankruptcies, and nearly 80 percent of those declaring personal bankruptcy because of medical costs had insurance. The U.S. spends twice as much per capita on health care as other industrialized nations, $8,160. Private insurance bureaucracy and paperwork consume 31 percent of every health care dollar. Streamlining payment through a single, nonprofit payer would save more than $400 billion per year, enough, the PNHP estimates, to provide comprehensive, high-quality coverage for all Americans."
4/5/12
Report: 15 Million Would Have Received $2 Billion In Rebates If ACA Provisions Were Enacted In 2010
Report: 15 Million Would Have Received $2 Billion In Rebates If ACA Provisions Were Enacted In 2010: About $2 billion in health insurance rebates would have been issued to over 15 million American consumers if the Affordable Care Act’s new medical loss ratio (MLR) rules had been in effect in 2010, a new study from The Commonwealth Fund reveals. The MLR rules, which were enacted in 2011, require a minimum percentage — [...]/p
4/3/12
PERRspectives: Romney-Ryan Plan is the Real 2012 Republican Platform
PERRspectives: Romney-Ryan Plan is the Real 2012 Republican Platform
Here, then, is an overview of the Romney-Ryan Plan, also known as the 2012 Republican Platform.
Here, then, is an overview of the Romney-Ryan Plan, also known as the 2012 Republican Platform.
4/2/12
Republicans' Medicare plan finding few takers
Republicans' Medicare plan finding few takers
"The Republican Medicare plan, which does indeed end Medicare as we know it (just a little bit slower than the Paul Ryan budget they adopted last year) isn't finding much support outside the party"
"The Republican Medicare plan, which does indeed end Medicare as we know it (just a little bit slower than the Paul Ryan budget they adopted last year) isn't finding much support outside the party"
3/30/12
The Savage Arithmetic of the Pre-Existing Condition
The Savage Arithmetic of the Pre-Existing Condition
"Two years ago, Republican Mike Huckabee compared people with pre-existing conditions to houses that have already burned down. Just the other day on the Leno show, likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney voiced a very similar opinion.
"Two years ago, Republican Mike Huckabee compared people with pre-existing conditions to houses that have already burned down. Just the other day on the Leno show, likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney voiced a very similar opinion.
They both have awesome health insurance.
Do you? Forever?"
Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney: The Committee to End Medicare
Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney: The Committee to End Medicare
"These guys really believe that campaigning on a platform of turning Medicare into a voucher system is a stroke of political genius."
"These guys really believe that campaigning on a platform of turning Medicare into a voucher system is a stroke of political genius."
3/29/12
House Republicans vote to end Medicare as we know it, again
House Republicans vote to end Medicare as we know it, again
"The House Republicans made their ultimate dystopian statement today, in passing Rep. Paul Ryan's budget in a 228-191 vote. Ten Republicans voted against it, no Democrats voted for it and 13 members did not vote."
"The House Republicans made their ultimate dystopian statement today, in passing Rep. Paul Ryan's budget in a 228-191 vote. Ten Republicans voted against it, no Democrats voted for it and 13 members did not vote."
If Health Care Reform Falls, Watch Fox For Clues On Whether Social Security Will Be The Next Target
If Health Care Reform Falls, Watch Fox For Clues On Whether Social Security Will Be The Next Target
"If the Roberts Court's conservative majority strikes down the Affordable Care Act, observers seeking to learn which fundamental safety net provisions the Right will go after next would be well advised to look to Fox News for guidance. Based on the crucial role Fox News played in the rise of the Tea Party and the assault (based wholly on political arguments at first, later incorporating legal arguments as well) on the Affordable Care Act, the network likely will serve as the next campaign's chief communicator and cheerleader. A Fox Business Network host may have provided an early hint that Social Security could be next, and given a preview of what that campaign would look like"
"If the Roberts Court's conservative majority strikes down the Affordable Care Act, observers seeking to learn which fundamental safety net provisions the Right will go after next would be well advised to look to Fox News for guidance. Based on the crucial role Fox News played in the rise of the Tea Party and the assault (based wholly on political arguments at first, later incorporating legal arguments as well) on the Affordable Care Act, the network likely will serve as the next campaign's chief communicator and cheerleader. A Fox Business Network host may have provided an early hint that Social Security could be next, and given a preview of what that campaign would look like"
3/27/12
Republican Medicare plan tanks in new poll
Republican Medicare plan tanks in new poll
"House Republicans are sure they have a new message strategy for their plan to gut Medicare that will make the plan not devastatingly unpopular."
"House Republicans are sure they have a new message strategy for their plan to gut Medicare that will make the plan not devastatingly unpopular."
By Ditching the Public Option, Obama Gave His Enemies a Path to the Supreme Court | The Progressive
By Ditching the Public Option, Obama Gave His Enemies a Path to the Supreme Court | The Progressive
"If you want to keep your private health insurance provider, fine. But if you want the government, in essence, to be your insurer, then join the Medicare program. This option the Supreme Court couldn’t invalidate unless it threw out the entire Medicare system, which has stood for 47 years."
"If you want to keep your private health insurance provider, fine. But if you want the government, in essence, to be your insurer, then join the Medicare program. This option the Supreme Court couldn’t invalidate unless it threw out the entire Medicare system, which has stood for 47 years."
3/26/12
Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate Favors Privatizing Social Security, Ending Disability Payments
Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate Favors Privatizing Social Security, Ending Disability Payments: HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Senate candidate Sam Rohrer (R), an 18-year veteran of the state legislature, has already made a name for himself during this campaign as one of the GOP’s most radical candidates. He thinks federal highways are unconstitutional, doesn’t understand the budget process, and has compared driver’s license requirements to slavery. Rohrer also [...]/p
3/23/12
Why Seniors Could Pay $5,900 More for Health Care Under the Republican Budget
Why Seniors Could Pay $5,900 More for Health Care Under the Republican Budget: pOur guest blogger is Topher Spiro, the Managing Director of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress. Earlier this week the Center for American Progress released an analysis of the Republican budget’s Medicare plan, which would provide vouchers to beneficiaries to purchase either a private health insurance plan or the traditional Medicare plan. We [...]/p
Romney Celebrates Health Care Reform Anniversary By Lying About It
Romney Celebrates Health Care Reform Anniversary By Lying About It: pOn the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Mitt Romney seems willing to say almost anything to distance himself from the fact that his 2006 Massachusetts health care law served as a template for the national coverage expansion — even if it includes outright lying about its provisions. During an event this morning in [...]/p
3/21/12
3/20/12
Ryan budget would cut taxes for the rich and make seniors, the disabled, and children pay for it | Economic Policy Institute
Ryan budget would cut taxes for the rich and make seniors, the disabled, and children pay for it | Economic Policy Institute
"Reneging on commitments to seniors, the disabled, and younger generations because of an unwillingness—not an inability—to fund our social contract is a choice, not a necessity. Yet Ryan has once again unabashedly decided to aid the very fortunate at the expense of the rest of us—particularly the most vulnerable."
"Reneging on commitments to seniors, the disabled, and younger generations because of an unwillingness—not an inability—to fund our social contract is a choice, not a necessity. Yet Ryan has once again unabashedly decided to aid the very fortunate at the expense of the rest of us—particularly the most vulnerable."
ESTIMATE: At Least 48 Million Could Become Uninsured Under Paul Ryan’s Budget
ESTIMATE: At Least 48 Million Could Become Uninsured Under Paul Ryan’s Budget: pSince Paul Ryan’s new budget eliminates $1.5 trillion from the Affordable Care Act, cuts $770 billion from Medicaid and reduces Medicare spending by $200 billion, Ezra Klein points out that “it would be very interesting to see an estimate of the uninsured population under Ryan’s budget.” The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of Ryan’s plan [...]/p
Fox News Lies; An Elderly Woman Dies
Fox News Lies; An Elderly Woman Dies
"it seems, she got her news from Fox. It's not hard to understand where she got the idea that "Obamacare" had death panels. Just three days before Mrs. Culpepper's death, they were still calling them death panels. Republicans have been working hard (with the cooperation of some turncoat Democrats) to repeal that board, which is really the last best hope we have for keeping Medicare out of the crosshairs of budget hawks."
"it seems, she got her news from Fox. It's not hard to understand where she got the idea that "Obamacare" had death panels. Just three days before Mrs. Culpepper's death, they were still calling them death panels. Republicans have been working hard (with the cooperation of some turncoat Democrats) to repeal that board, which is really the last best hope we have for keeping Medicare out of the crosshairs of budget hawks."
The 5 Worst Things About The House GOP’s Budget
The 5 Worst Things About The House GOP’s Budget:
Ryan and the GOP have the social safety net and Medicare in their sights, and yet again, they’re attempting to pass the cost of massive tax breaks for corporations and the rich off to middle and lower-income Americans.
Ryan and the GOP have the social safety net and Medicare in their sights, and yet again, they’re attempting to pass the cost of massive tax breaks for corporations and the rich off to middle and lower-income Americans.
Three Reasons Why The Medicare Reforms In Ryan’s New ‘Path To Prosperity’ Still Set Us On The Wrong Track
Three Reasons Why The Medicare Reforms In Ryan’s New ‘Path To Prosperity’ Still Set Us On The Wrong Track: pHouse Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has released a new version of his ‘Path To Prosperity’ budget that makes significant concessions from Ryan’s original plan to privatize the Medicare program, but would still take us down a fairly bumpy road that could throw many seniors out of the car altogether. Like last year’s Ryan/Wyden reform [...]/p
3/19/12
Seniors Saved $2.16 Billion On Prescriptions Last Year
Seniors Saved $2.16 Billion On Prescriptions Last Year: pThe Department of Health and Human Services will announce today that nearly 4 million seniors saved $2.16 billion on prescription medications last year thanks to the health care law. Under the law, prescription medication in the so-called “doughnut hole,” or the gap area between traditional and catastrophic coverage levels, must be discounted by 50% until [...]/p
3/16/12
Senate GOP Presents Bill Ending Traditional Medicare, Putting Seniors Into Private Plans
Senate GOP Presents Bill Ending Traditional Medicare, Putting Seniors Into Private Plans
"Oh, here we go again. Remember, the Republican game plan is not just to pass the legislation — it's to firstmake the legislation seem reasonable. Thus, under the guise of "helping," they offer what appears to be a better deal to seniors, knowing it's actually a time bomb that will undermine the federal employee coverageand destroy Medicare."
"Oh, here we go again. Remember, the Republican game plan is not just to pass the legislation — it's to firstmake the legislation seem reasonable. Thus, under the guise of "helping," they offer what appears to be a better deal to seniors, knowing it's actually a time bomb that will undermine the federal employee coverageand destroy Medicare."
3/15/12
PERRspectives: Oregon, Massachusetts Gains Bolster Obama Health Care Reform
PERRspectives: Oregon, Massachusetts Gains Bolster Obama Health Care Reform
"The Affordable Care Act is working. 2.5 million more young adults ages 19 to 26 now have health insurance. The shrinking of the Medicare "donut hole" allowed 3.6 million seniors to save $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs last year. And the ban on insurers refusing to cover pre-existing conditions is saving lives."
"The Affordable Care Act is working. 2.5 million more young adults ages 19 to 26 now have health insurance. The shrinking of the Medicare "donut hole" allowed 3.6 million seniors to save $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs last year. And the ban on insurers refusing to cover pre-existing conditions is saving lives."
3/13/12
Mitt Romney Declines To Enroll In Medicare So He Can Destroy It
Mitt Romney Declines To Enroll In Medicare So He Can Destroy It
"Romney has endorsed the Paul Ryan Medicare plan which would voucherize Medicare and leave senior citizens floundering on their own with private insurance companies."
"Romney has endorsed the Paul Ryan Medicare plan which would voucherize Medicare and leave senior citizens floundering on their own with private insurance companies."
Mitt Romney announces he won't enroll in Medicare. And he doesn't want anybody else to either.
Mitt Romney announces he won't enroll in Medicare. And he doesn't want anybody else to either.
"Romney's decision is a window into the future that he promises to deliver. Instead of a Medicare program that directly provides coverage, Romney wants seniors to obtain coverage from private insurers. Depending on their income and personal wealth, a portion of that coverage would be subsidized, but the guaranteed coverage of Medicare would be eliminated."
"Romney's decision is a window into the future that he promises to deliver. Instead of a Medicare program that directly provides coverage, Romney wants seniors to obtain coverage from private insurers. Depending on their income and personal wealth, a portion of that coverage would be subsidized, but the guaranteed coverage of Medicare would be eliminated."
3/12/12
Pro-GOP Pharmaceutical Front Group Running Deceitful Attack Ads Against Senate Democrats
Pro-GOP Pharmaceutical Front Group Running Deceitful Attack Ads Against Senate Democrats: pThe 60 Plus Association has launched a series of “issue ads” attacking Senate Democrats up for re-election this November. On the surface, they appear to be a concerned group of senior citizens worried about the future of Medicare — but a closer examination reveals that the ads are really dishonest hits by an industry front [...]/p
Mitt Romney embraces the GOP's big Medicare lie
Mitt Romney embraces the GOP's big Medicare lie
"Substance aside, this is as fundamentally dishonest as Romney has been on any policy issue. He's smart enough, and has a sophisticated enough grasp of health care policy (Romneycare and all that) to know that this statement is nothing but flat out lies. Which gives a very simple answer to Sargent's basic question: "Is there any limit to Mitt Romney’s dishonesty?"
"Substance aside, this is as fundamentally dishonest as Romney has been on any policy issue. He's smart enough, and has a sophisticated enough grasp of health care policy (Romneycare and all that) to know that this statement is nothing but flat out lies. Which gives a very simple answer to Sargent's basic question: "Is there any limit to Mitt Romney’s dishonesty?"
On The Day He Qualifies For Medicare, Romney Touts Mistruths About The Program
On The Day He Qualifies For Medicare, Romney Touts Mistruths About The Program: pOn the day of Mitt Romney’s 65th birthday — officially making him eligible for Medicare — his campaign has released five questions about Medicare for President Obama, ranging from why the president is “ending medicare as we know it” to why he’s “creating an unaccountable board to ration care.” The only problem? None of the [...]/p
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