Medicare Robbery (Post goes to bat for the elderly rich)

[zekeson]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3480-2003Jul16.html?nav=hptoc_eo

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has appointed himself to the conference committee that will hammer out the final text of a Medicare prescription drug bill, a sign of how important he thinks the negotiations will be.

--snip--

In practice, the refusal to countenance any means-testing will set in motion a vast transfer of wealth, from the pockets of America's poorer children -- who will eventually be working adults -- to America's wealthier elderly. The desire to maintain political support for Medicare is understandable, but the zealous opposition to any reform that would provide fewer benefits for the rich is profoundly misplaced. It guarantees the swindling of a generation that cannot vote in order to benefit a wealthy constituency that can.


The Post gets all concerned over the often maligned elderly wealthy once again. Somebody has to take care of them, right?

[pw]

1. Sounds like the Post is against transfers to the rich

" the zealous opposition to any reform that would provide fewer benefits for the rich is profoundly misplaced"

is a little hard to parse, but ultimate means: "It's wrong to oppose cutting rich people's benefits.", hence "Rich people's benefits should be cut."

I was kinda disgusted by this when my father was dying -- he was gainfully employed (for the first part) with lavish health insurance, but because he was over 65, guess who was primary payer for his medical expenses? That's right: medicare.

[SeattleDem]

2. that's my take too - Post favors means-testing

Sounds like they are against the minimum wage worker having to kick in 3% of his salary (1.45% personally; 1.45% from employer) to pay for prescriptions for the wealthy elderly who have more than enough to pay their own way.

like you, pw, I have some elderly relatives whose pensions include free private health insurance. I have an uncle with $1 million in his bank account, a paid-off house, and minimal expenses. His drug bills are large, and right now, Blue Cross, via his former employer, pays for them. Who wins if Medicare picks up his tab? Blue Cross and the corporation paying for it, NOT the taxpayer, not even my uncle. Means-testing is a reasonable thing - just think, in this case, too, if the GOP has their way, my cousins inherit that $1million tax-free and the working poor are the ones paying the drug bills. Reasonable???

[Frances]

3. When did the Republicans ever do anything not for the super wealthy?

My daughter was at the Hoover Institute for a year and she said that the right wingers want to get rid of medicare. They want means testing for it (and drug plans) so that it will be seen as welfare. Then it will be easy to underfund and eventually cut out altogether.

As for the Republican drug plan, my representative Eshoo explained that the Republicans want to force individuals to buy the drugs themselves so that the drug company can charge their normal high price. The Democrats want a plan so that the government buys the drugs in quantity (like Costco) and the drugs will cost less for the consumer.

By the way, my husband had medical benefits from his corporation (promised in writing) until the corporation decided to give the money to its execs instead. The courts said that the written promises were not a legal contract and upheld the cancellation of the benefits.

Right now I am 62 and a part time teacher (very low pay) without medical benefits. I am in a HMO (cheapest insurance I could find) with co-pays of about $20/ visit and most other things. I pay $310/month. I will need medicare when I reach 65.

I very much doubt you will get medical benefits from your company when you retire. So, please don't believe that the Republicans are looking after your best interests!

[scarletlib]

6. Means Testing -- not a good idea

First we need a universal health care plan for everyone.

The repuplican prescription plan for medicare sucks the big one. It will probably pass but seniors won't be fooled by this. they will know what a scam it is. The repugs hope to kill medicare. if they can force some into private hmo's and then means test others it will result in demise of the program. the original intent of medicare was to cover all seniors regardless of income. that's a good idea because we need universal health care. we don't need to take any backward steps. seniors who have adequate insurance plans or are wealthy do not have to take medicare. many sign up but don't always use it. I do not favor means testing. it is indeed turning an entitlement program that you were taxed on into a welfare program. many seniors do not want "welfare". but even if they were willing to take "welfare" the repugs will begin the drumbeat they apply to all people who get welfare or govt services. if it goes to states to administer then look for cutbacks.

[Frances]

4. My blood is boiling

<<In practice, the refusal to countenance any means-testing will set in motion a vast transfer of wealth, from the pockets of America's poorer children -- who will eventually be working adults -- to America's wealthier elderly.>>

The hypocrisy of such a statement! It's the tax policies of the Bush administration that will cause the transfer of wealth. The Bush drug plan will benefit the drug companies and cause a transfer of wealth from seniors to drug executives.

[SeattleDem]

5. good point, but the transfer is from TAXPAYERS to

drug executives, NOT from seniors to drug executives.

As much as I agree that an Rx plan is needed for Medicare, I worry deeply about it becoming the largest corporate welfare scam in the history of our nation.

Why is PhRMA for it?? Because there are no price controls and it's a certain source of income for the drug companies, at taxpayer expense.