Could someone please explain why this Medicare bill is bad?

[caledesi]

I am very confused on this and was trying to debate it with a friend who is a Democrat, but he is "buying" the whole thing. Thank you.

I have never joined AARP, but they still send me literature.

edit: typos

[JanMichael]

1. OK.

http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/socialsecurity/medicarebasics/ns10292003.cfm

"Under the Republican-backed plan, the bill raises costs for 32.5 million Medicare participants through higher premiums, co-payments and deductibles. It does nothing to rein in soaring prescription drug costs and threatens the employer-provided drug benefits of as many as 4.5 million retirees."

"A study by the USAction Education Fund (USAEF) finds as many as 13.4 million seniors and people with disabilities will be forced to pay more for their prescription drugs under the House and Senate Medicare prescription drug bills."

"Paying More for Less reports that if the Senate provisions on premiums, deductibles and co-payments are adopted, Medicare beneficiaries would pay $1,100 a year—more than what 48 percent of seniors and people with disabilities, or 13.4 million people, currently pay in drug costs. Each of the proposed bills also would increase out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and laboratory tests for 32.5 million of Medicare’s 40 million beneficiaries. Says Edward Coyle, executive director of the Alliance: "The big winner in this will be the pharmaceutical companies."


Basically the bill hamstrings Medicare and gives incentives to it's private competitors, it's a "Wither on the Vine" deal with the Devil.

[w4rma]

13. My gosh, that thing is worse than I thought it was. Greedy SOBs in charge.

:wow:

[roughsatori]

2. It is an entitlement for seniors wealthy enough to ALREADY afford

health-care. It will not help those who can not afford health-care. Then it will weaken the already existing plans. People will be duped into thinking it is a good program and the Bushies will continue in the privatization vein. Before long it will just be Socialism for the rich (Dems and Repukes seem fond of this form of Socialism).If you can afford health-care you will get a kickback. If you can't, you still can't. It is disgusting and based on greed. AARP sold itself a while back to corporate interests (and makes money off of insurance) so of course it backed it.

There are other more specific reasons that others can add.

[funkyflathead]

4. That is what I am complaining about

Helping people who don't need it and screwing over those who do.

[NewJerseyDem]

6. Well

I don't like the idea of the bill hurting the poor. However, the wealthy should have the prescription drugs benefits anyway. This program should be universal for seniors. Medicare shouldn't become a welfare program which will make it unpopular. Everyone should be able to get these benefits no matter how wealthy they are.

[roughsatori]

9. So helping the Poor is "welfare" but helping the rich is a "benefit"?

I did not say the wealthy should not get benefit. I said that the plan ONLY gives benefits to the wealthy. You write:
"Everyone should be able to get these benefits no matter how wealthy they are." I say that EVERYONE should receive health-care no matter HOW POOR they are. Universal Health-care is the answer.

Approving of the Bushies plan is nothing more then WELFARE for the rich. I am not OK with that. You write: "Medicare should not become a welfare program." That is a right-wing talking point. So it is welfare when it helps the poor but a "benefit" when it helps the wealthy.

[sam sarrha]

12. it also cuts benefits to the POOREST ..8,000,000, It fails to get group

purchasing for prescriptions which would cut costs over 1/3, It is a give away to the insurance companies..the beginning of total privatizing of medicare.... and since the economy has turned around and things are all better they are talking about starting to Privatize social security.

[papau]

3. See the DU posts in the Health/education forum

:-)

[Eric J in MN]

5. it stops the government from negotiationg for lower prices

It stops the government from negotiationg for lower prices on pharmaceuticals.

It costs $40 billion over 10 years, and spending that money by borrowing instead of by reversing the Bush tax cuts means having to pay interest.

[JanMichael]

7. Yep. It doesn't allow negotiating down the costs.

What bastards.

[caledesi]

8. Thank all of you. I needed this "ammo" to explain to my friend

why it's not a good thing.

[lfairban]

11. Check this thread, and read the article

Paul Krugman--AARP GONE ASTRAY

[0007]

22. This point should grab a few in the ass!

"And this Medicare bill is very friendly to insurance and drug companies. Senator John Breaux, one of only two Democrats who participated in negotiations over the bill, takes the controversy as a good sign: "No one got everything they wanted." But as Jonathan Cohn points out in The New Republic, drug and insurance companies got exactly what they wanted: no efforts to limit prices, generous subsidies and lots of additional business. For example, insurance companies that offer an alternative to Medicare will not only be able to pick and choose their customers, but will also get 30 percent more per client than the government spends on the average Medicare recipient.

Everyone should be writting Senator John Breaux a very nasty letter. And that sheep herder from Montana.

The Republicans have stole the turkey off my table and I hate eating Alpo. I'm pissed!

[BGAL1965]

10. It denies medicaide beneficiaries

Wrap around coverage of state medicaid benefits. 7 million of us will have our drug coverage denied and ALL of us are under the poverty line and NONE of us can afford to pay for our medications. I am on social security disability and recieve 628 dollars a month my medications cost 1000 dollars a month you do the math. WIth medicaid i merely pay a token 1 dollar payment. But under this new plan i will pay the same as medicare recepients pay. If this bill becomes law it will mean i and millions of others like me will DIE!!!!

[Ksec]

14. Private insurers will keep the healthy and the sick will be put on the dol

Just like usual. Insurers will pick thru and keep the healthy rich folks and dump the unhealthy ones. The unhealthy ones will be forced to take a really bad medicare plan that shorts them on care.

[HairyPoppins]

15. Because the Republicans will get credit for it

It's all politics and the Democrats have the monopoly on entitlements.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HairyPoppins]

17. That's what I heard on NPR

Don't shoot the messenger.

[Ardee]

20. Yeah and I have a bridge to sell, interested?

Misstating the gist of a conversation on NPR to make a silly point accomplishes exactly what?

[lfairban]

19. I don't think the Democrats want to take credit for this bill . . .

any more than they want to take credit for the "Clear Skies" initiative that allows more pollution.

[thebigidea]

21. that is completely sick

[leftyandproud]

18. Bush wants it.

and he will get credit for it..

that's enough explanation

[Ardee]

23. More info

Alliance For Retired Americans Outraged Over Medicare Bill
http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/1122-01.htm

Physicians for a National Health Program: AARP to Reap Huge Profits from Flawed Medicare Drug Bill; Seniors' Group Makes $163 Million Annually on Insurance Sales
http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/1121-17.htm