Comments on: Repubs, Dems, Blue Dogs and Tea Partiers: Everybody Loves Medicare http://www.healthcare-now.org/repubs-dems-blue-dogs-and-tea-partiers-everybody-loves-medicare/ Organizing for a national, single-payer healthcare system. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:42:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Jerry Call http://www.healthcare-now.org/repubs-dems-blue-dogs-and-tea-partiers-everybody-loves-medicare/comment-page-1/#comment-7164 Jerry Call Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:25:46 +0000 http://www.healthcare-now.org/?p=3221#comment-7164 Donna, Fantastic article!!! I only wish we could get that published in the MSM. Keep up the great work!!! Donna,

Fantastic article!!!

I only wish we could get that published in the MSM.

Keep up the great work!!!

]]> By: James Miller http://www.healthcare-now.org/repubs-dems-blue-dogs-and-tea-partiers-everybody-loves-medicare/comment-page-1/#comment-7000 James Miller Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:54:13 +0000 http://www.healthcare-now.org/?p=3221#comment-7000 Ah, yes! But it simply makes too much sense. Too bad these groups ARE so disingenuous and/or hypocritical. Ah, yes! But it simply makes too much sense. Too bad these groups ARE so disingenuous and/or hypocritical.

]]> By: John Barker http://www.healthcare-now.org/repubs-dems-blue-dogs-and-tea-partiers-everybody-loves-medicare/comment-page-1/#comment-6973 John Barker Sun, 14 Feb 2010 02:13:14 +0000 http://www.healthcare-now.org/?p=3221#comment-6973 While the above "Everybody loves Medicare" acknowledges Republican insincerity it cannot be emphasized enough that when Republicans shed crocodile tears for Medicare it is not for Medicare they cry but because a road block has appeared on the path of one of their Medicare privatization schemes. In this case, in particular, they are crying because Medicare subsidization of Medicare Advantage plans would be ended with the proposed healthcare reform much to the outrage of Republicans. Medicare Advantage plans are private plans subsidized by Medicare to offer perks to seniors to entice them off regular Medicare into the private plans--a backdood Medicare privatization scheme. Republicans have since the onset of Medicare worked to privatize Medicare. It is their plan to see Medicare as we know it to "whither on the vine. Medicare advantage plans are only one scheme. Another was written into the balanced budget bill of 1997 where pay to doctors is cut 20% if the budget isn't balanced. Republicans hoped to starve Medicare and drive doctors from the program with the pay cut clause. It hasn't happened yet because Congress has restored the pay cuts every year so far. Medicare privatization began with the enactment of the orginal Medicare bill. To get the original Medicare bill enacted, Republicans had to be appeased with 20% privatization of Medicare. The so called for profit private "gap" insurance that regular Medicare recipients must enroll for full medical coverage. Thus Medicare is already 20% privatized and with 20 million seniors that have been enticed into the private medicare advantage plans, Medicare is more than 20% privatized. Many seniors on regular Medicare cannot afford the for profit premiums of gap insurance and do not have full medical coverage. Many seniors who have enrolled in the private Advantage plans do not understand that they are undermining regular Medicare by diluting the regular Medicare insurance pool. Some are confused tea baggers who realize they are enrolled in a private plan but since it is offering them perks above regular medicare offerings they say "get the government out of my Medicare". The most recent attack on Medicare came from Republican right wing hack Paul Ryan of Wisconsin where he proposed to "save" Medicare by letting everyone now 55 years or older enroll on regular medicare but for those under 55 their future Medicare would be privatized. The Ryan plan is unlikely with a democratically controlled Congress but that could change if disinterested Americans with short memories elect a Republican president and Congress. Let us not forget that Republicans are determined that Medicare as we know it shall not survive. It is imperative that everyone realize that fighting to save Medicare is an on going battle and if Republicans get their way, Medicare for all is a lost cause. It is important that current Medicare recipents fight for HR676 because HR676 would eliminate gap insurance and help insure survival of Medicare by universalizing the insurance pool. While the above “Everybody loves Medicare” acknowledges Republican insincerity it cannot be emphasized enough that when Republicans shed crocodile tears for Medicare it is not for Medicare they cry but because a road block has appeared on the path of one of their Medicare privatization schemes. In this case, in particular, they are crying because Medicare subsidization of Medicare Advantage plans would be ended with the proposed healthcare reform much to the outrage of Republicans. Medicare Advantage plans are private plans subsidized by Medicare to offer perks to seniors to entice them off regular Medicare into the private plans–a backdood Medicare privatization scheme.

Republicans have since the onset of Medicare worked to privatize Medicare. It is their plan to see Medicare as we know it to “whither on the vine. Medicare advantage plans are only one scheme. Another was written into the balanced budget bill of 1997 where pay to doctors is cut 20% if the budget isn’t balanced. Republicans hoped to starve Medicare and drive doctors from the program with the pay cut clause. It hasn’t happened yet because Congress has restored the pay cuts every year so far.

Medicare privatization began with the enactment of the orginal Medicare bill. To get the original Medicare bill enacted, Republicans had to be appeased with 20% privatization of Medicare. The so called for profit private “gap” insurance that regular Medicare recipients must enroll for full medical coverage. Thus Medicare is already 20% privatized and with 20 million seniors that have been enticed into the private medicare advantage plans, Medicare is more than 20% privatized. Many seniors on regular Medicare cannot afford the for profit premiums of gap insurance and do not have full medical coverage.

Many seniors who have enrolled in the private Advantage plans do not understand that they are undermining regular Medicare by diluting the regular Medicare insurance pool. Some are confused tea baggers who realize they are enrolled in a private plan but since it is offering them perks above regular medicare offerings they say “get the government out of my Medicare”.

The most recent attack on Medicare came from Republican right wing hack Paul Ryan of Wisconsin where he proposed to “save” Medicare by letting everyone now 55 years or older enroll on regular medicare but for those under 55 their future Medicare would be privatized. The Ryan plan is unlikely with a democratically controlled Congress but that could change if disinterested Americans with short memories elect a Republican president and Congress.

Let us not forget that Republicans are determined that Medicare as we know it shall not survive. It is imperative that everyone realize that fighting to save Medicare is an on going battle and if Republicans get their way, Medicare for all is a lost cause. It is important that current Medicare recipents fight for HR676 because HR676 would eliminate gap insurance and help insure survival of Medicare by universalizing the insurance pool.

]]>