| Pages: 1 2 |
$parechange
Senior Member
Posts: 381
Registered: 12-30-2004
Location: southern Indiana
Member Is Offline
Mood: cool
|
![[*]](./images/xpsilver/default_icon.gif) posted on 11-9-2009 at 05:24 PM |
|
|
As the Democratic congressmen proceed to rubber-stamp the Obama healthcare reform despite the drubbing their party took in the '09 elections, the
president trotted out the endorsements of the AMA and the AARP to stimulate support. But these -- and the other endorsements -- his package has
received are all bought and paid for.
Here are the deals:
* The American Medical Association (AMA) was facing a 21 percent cut in physicians' reimbursements under the current law. Obama promised to kill the
cut if they backed his bill. The cuts are the fruit of a law requiring annual 5-6 percent reductions in doctor reimbursements for treating Medicare
patients. Bravely, each year Congress has rolled the cuts over, suspending them but not repealing them. So each year, the accumulated cuts threaten
doctors. By now, they have risen to 21 percent. With this blackmail leverage, Obama compelled the AMA to support his bill...or else!
* The AARP got a financial windfall in return for its support of the healthcare bill. Over the past decade, the AARP has morphed from an advocacy
group to an insurance company (through its subsidiary company). It is one of the main suppliers of Medi-gap insurance, a high-cost, privately
purchased coverage that picks up where Medicare leaves off. But President Bush-43 passed the Medicare Advantage program, which offered a subsidized,
lower-cost alternative to Medi-gap. Under Medicare Advantage, the elderly get all the extra coverage they need plus coordinated, well-managed care,
usually by the same physician. So more than 10 million seniors went with Medicare Advantage, cutting into AARP Medi-gap revenues.
Presto! Obama solved their problem. He eliminates subsidies for Medicare Advantage. The elderly will have to pay more for coverage under Medigap, but
the AARP -- which supposedly represents them -- will make more money. (If this galls you, join the American Seniors Association, the alternative
group; contact sbarton@americanseniors.org. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)
* The drug industry backed Obama and, in return, got a 10-year limit of $80 billion on cuts in prescription drug costs. (A drop in the bucket of their
almost $3 trillion projected cost over the next decade.) They also got administration assurances that it will continue to bar lower-cost Canadian
drugs from coming into the U.S. All it had to do was put its formidable advertising budget at the disposal of the administration.
* Insurance companies got access to 40 million potential new customers. But when the Senate Finance Committee lowered the fine that would be imposed
on those who don't buy insurance from $3,500 to $1,500, the insurance companies jumped ship and now oppose the bill, albeit for the worst of
motives.
The only industry that refused to knuckle under was the medical device makers. They stood for principle and wouldn't go along with Obama. So the
Senate Finance Committee retaliated by imposing a tax on medical devices such as automated wheelchairs, pacemakers, arterial stents, prosthetic limbs,
artificial knees and hips and other necessary accoutrements of healthcare.
So these endorsements are not freely given, but bought and paid for by an administration that is intent on passing its program at any cost.
|
|
|
Captain Bob
Master Member
Posts: 6953
Registered: 6-18-2002
Location: Always close by
Member Is Offline
Mood: Relaxing..
|
| posted on 11-9-2009 at 06:24 PM |
|
|
One man's opinion..
| Quote: | Originally posted by boater4life
AARP is in it for themselves. |
As are most such "organizations".
It is rare anymore to find any organization that you "subscribe to", "join", or pay a "membership fee" that is there to help YOU.
Like so many others, I quickly became disillusioned with AARP. I get far more "benefits" from my Kroger Plus card and my Library
card than I ever received from AARP.
|
|
|
Jaybird
Senior Member
Posts: 281
Registered: 1-20-2007
Location: Northern Kentucky (SD)
Member Is Online
Mood: Retired
|
| posted on 11-9-2009 at 08:55 PM |
|
|
AARP has had some minimal advertising for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Complete plans. however they are usually through Humana or Secure Horizons
insurance companies. Also some one told me that some pension plans such as Kentucky Teacher Retirement insurance plans for retirees 65 and over are
the Adavantage plans. What happens there if they are done away with?
|
|
|
Captain Bob
Master Member
Posts: 6953
Registered: 6-18-2002
Location: Always close by
Member Is Offline
Mood: Relaxing..
|
| posted on 11-9-2009 at 09:14 PM |
|
|
Folks, let's get this thread back on it's "tracks".. The thread centers on how many of our members belong to AARP.
So far, everyone has done pretty well but let's not let it become a political discussion (you know where that leads). If you want the thread to
survive, stick to the topic -and stick to facts.
BTW, I am a participant in the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System (KTRS). As a retiree, I find their insurance expensive and I go elsewhere.
|
|
|
| Pages: 1 2 |
|
