If not for Medicaid and Medicare 1/3 of Americans would have no health insurance. That’s a shame and a scandal since the GOP is fighting to trash those two programs. The GOP’s solution to health care for the poor is “hurry and die.”
RK, interesting that your “facts” about the Republicans don’t match up with anything I’ve heard. If folks think we can fund all medical care by the government as this country ages, think again. 10-20 years down the road there just isn’t enough money, period. That’s really true right now.
How do we pay for it?
.We senior retirees are all just leaches and non producers regardless.
Not you, it’ll be me and the folks that follow. Problem is the decreasing number of workers per retiree. This is a scary plot to me:
And here’s a cause:
Health Subcommittee Hears from Patient Recently Denied Access to Obamacare’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program
CSA
@texases
The number of workers down, yes, But their productivity has climbed dramatically causing huge increase in profits to the companies while the number of workers is declining . Workers wages are going down too. If their wages kept with their productivity like it should, the tax base would be high enough to offset any difference in the number of workers. Productivity not number of wage earners should determine support of retirement programs.
http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/user?destination=node/332691
The money is there… It’s just getting paid disproportionately to the corporations and not the workers. So it’s a good conservative argument to talk about low numbers and not talk about low wages and high productivity…!!,
Two key items; raising the minimum wage and legitimizing and taxing immigrant wages would be a windfall in a additional payroll and income taxes for Medicare and Medicaid .
@CSA
Where is reference to the article ? What is a pre existing condition program?
@texase
It’s a false argument that we can’t pay for care for everyone because it’s too expensive,it’s too expensive because WE have decided to pay "for profits " who gouge the system and increase the cost of med insurance beyond the COLA. Medicare,part D has increased the burden of Medicare by billions…a GOP plan. Single payer healthcare for all saves lives and cost less because the single payer determines the price of services, not the provider and they must negotiate the prices. Prices of the services are the reason for the increase in health costs, NOT the number of people enrolled.
So the federal budget DOUBLING as a % of GDP has nothing to do with it…okey-dokey…
The federal budget is doubling if you include Medicare and Social Security which pays for itself and only needs adjustments like increase the pay ment level and means testing for collection,. Throwing out that the Federal budget is doubling discounts that as of NOW, social security Medicare are in the black. They are contributing NOTHING to the deficit.
The reason conservatives want to include Social security in the mix is so they can continue to raid their surplus. And do nothing about the cost of health care but leave it totally in the hands of for profits.
It is defense and the reduced taxes going into the GENERAL FUND that has caused the deficits. oNLY economic growth, not cutting welfare programs which are in the black except for medicaid which is paid out of the gemeral fund. can pay down our yearly deficit. But, it all comes down to money over lives with conservatives…when in reality, saving lives increases productivity.
I have yet to hear an idea from a conservative on how to save 30000 lives a year, okey dokey
Most of my Republican Dr, acquaintances are rich,nuff said on that, I assure you they have recouped thier educational expenses many times over(see original post a few pages back)-Kevin
http://www.usfederalbudget.us/federal_budget_fy10
The undisputed facts for our conservative friends is on this web sight. Please peruse.
The final budget counting for the fiscal year ending in 2009 was the playing out of final budget under George Bush. The first year of President Obama admainistration operates under the constraints of the Bush final fiscal budget year, ending in 2009. The Final Bush deficit was 1.8 trillion dollars. Each year after that, representing the succeeding budgets under the Obama administration, the deficits have dropped to the final projected .9 trillion. The deficit had been dropping too, each year since. The sudden deficit increase in the fiscal year ending in 2009 represents the war budget finally being put on the general budget instead of counting as a supplement to hide deficits as Bust did his previous years.
It also represents Bush signing of TARP, along with the Bush tax cuts. Each succeeding budget has been an attempt to bring down the inherited deficit of 1.8 trillion dollars by ending the Bush wars, which took time, recovering Bush TARP loans, and finally, ending the Bush era tax cuts for the wealthy. The overall condition of the economy, a deep recession in 2009, is a direct reflection of the Bush administration the previous 8 years. Our conservative friends keep arguing for cuts in social programs which had nothing to do with this economic down turn, NOTHING. Increase welfare spending in the succeding years was a result of it, to help keep people from dying. Slowly, as more people get back to work, more growth has and will continue to occur. Unless our conservative friends want to reinstitute the Bush policies of more tax cuts dor the wealth esp. In capital gains and higher military spending which the Ryan budget reflex.
Keep this in mind…the deficit under the Bush’s final fiscal policies was greater then in every fiscal year folowing an Obama budget with deficits dropping continually since, even under the influence of Bush’s failed economic policies.
Our conservative friends would like nothing more then to take ore the Senate, elect another Bush( Jeb), reduce taxes for the rich, start another war and run us into an even deeper debt with loss of lives through welfare cuts and wars…that’s the history of each Bush administration.
@Dagosa, Oops, Sorry !
" Health Subcommittee Hears from Patient Recently Denied Access to Obamacare’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program "
" @CSA
Where is reference to the article ? What is a pre existing condition program? "
http://energycommerce.house.gov/rss.aspx?groupTypeID=1
CSA
Has ANY other discussion generated > 1000 comments?
I Haven’t Yet Drawn Any Social Security, Although I Was Eligible Quite Some Time Ago And I’m Not Counting On Medicare Or Government Social Programs For Help. I Agree With Texases That These Programs (Ponzi Schemes) Can No Longer Work Properly With Our Aging Population. They Were Established When We Had A Growing, Booming Population.
Obamacare is already a disaster and just wait until it starts in January. It’s way more expensive than first thought, health exchange market places will not be ready and open on time (October), major and minor employers are cutting full-time workers to 20-29 hours/week, folks who receive subsudies and wind up earning more in 2014, than their 2012 tax returns show, will have to pay back some or all of the subsidies to the IRS . . .
Also, a major component of Obamacare was the requirement that states would expand their Medicaid programs and take in some of the lower income folks, but the SCOTUS struck down the requirement as unconstitional and many states are opting out. Other states expanding Medicaid are finding too many doctors opting out of seeing Medicaid patients (too little reimbursement) and there are doctor shortages. . . .
This is possibly the straw that will break the camel’s back.
This back room plan looked good on paper (you’ll see what’s in it when we pass it !) . . .
Disaster - Sorry to rain on your parade.
CSA
A myth (pushed hard by both parties) is that there is an actual ‘trust account’ for Social Security. It is merely an accounting entry, there’s no bank account with money or assets of any kind, except an ‘IOU’ from the Feds, no different than federal debt.
That’s why we have to look at the big picture:
Money in - money out = deficit.
And it’s an ugly picture, getting worse by the year.
Mike, I agree. Retailers will not change their practices. The reason those people you refer to don;t have health insurance is simple; the can’t afford to buy it. The only change now is that they’ll be forced to buy it or the IRS will take it out of their paychecks…making life even more difficult for them.
Dag, find me a family of four making $290/week before taxes that can afford to have another $88 a month taken out of their household income and you’ll have found a truely amazing family.
It would strike me from your posts that the consevatives are not the ones showing total lack of empathy for the working poor.
I can only hope that the R’s take over the Senate.
Give them 2 years, and the R Party as we know it will be dead.
@same
I see your point. But in reality, Medicaid will pay the premium for people in this situation. Please read the additional comment. For really low income like these people, states have to participate in thE Obamacre plan so the Medicaid funds they now receive can be paid into these people’s account to pay for their health insurance. It’s just an illustration of how you arrive at the amounts…please read the additional comments I made or look on line yourself.
Same…one question.
Do you know anyone who has not gone to a doctor in their entire lives ?
@CSA
I read that pre existing condition program as a way to cover those who need it most before the Obama plan is fully implemented 2014. It is overed under Obamacare, but funds are not available till then. So a special program is needed. When Obamacare is fully imprlimented, preexisting conditions will be an integral part. Just like Meducare.
CSA, these are just a few of the advantages that have already been put in place. Is your answer then LET THEM DIE if you wish to eliminate them
So far, which of these parts don’t you like and which has your party offered ?
No pre existing condition exclusion
No loss of coverage do to limits on pay outs
Kids up to 26 remain on your plan if they live at home
Insurance companies must pay out more then 80% of preminums they take in , in coverage. This limits profits to less then 20%
Plans must offer preventative care measures like physicals with NO co pay
Women’s health screening for some women related diseases with no co pay.
Maximum of 8% of salary pay out…that amount can be reduced by deductions or paid in by Medicaid for those who qualify and if the sate chooses to participate. If they don’t, these people can be completely on their own
So, states can still choose not to participate and poor residents can continue to be uninsured.
No limit to procedures deemed necessary by primary care and referral doctors
Keep or change primary care or facility
All we hear are criticism and money cost…do you have a solution to 30000 dying each year ?
But of course, if critics were really interested in answers, they would just do the research them selves instead depending on Faux News Obamacare attempts to offer the same coverage opportunities offered to the Republican and Democratic representatives they have in Washington. The people who voted for it have a concience, those that did not, don’t.
" So far, which of these parts don’t you like and which has your party offered ? "
" Kids up to 26 remain on your plan if they live at home "
My son was on my premium employer provided health care (through a major insurance company) when he graduated from graduate school, age 23, during summer when this provision of Obamacare was already law. With the bleak job market in our area/state (Obabma economy) I was relieved that this provision would help him with insurance if need be. Ordinarily, he would be removed from my insurance by year’s end. Much to my surprise he was not going to be covered by insurance, even though " Kids up to 26 remain on your plan if they live at home. " My insurer was grandfathered and was not required to provide his insurance beyond the end of the year. He was employed full-time and earned his own wonderful insurance benefits before the end of the year.
" Plans must offer preventative care measures like physicals with NO co pay "
Again, my plan (a very expensive plan) was not required to participate.
These are just two examples. I could go on.
However, my insurance premiums went up to cover other people getting their “free” government mandated health benefits !
It seems no matter what “free” stuff the government provides (I’m from the government and I’m here to help) it never seems to help me, only costs me (and irritates me).
And it’s not just me. " So, states can still choose not to participate and poor residents can continue to be uninsured. " Those are people in my state who will not be covered, too.
" All we hear are criticism and money cost…do you have a solution to 30000 dying each year ? "
The Obama government doesn’t have the solution, either. That many (or more) will remain uninsured, but they’ll be different people. Some will get insurance. Others will lose insurance.
What would I do ? Have an actual leader get folks together from at least both major parties to work on a solution, not rushed through by one party and passed only beccause of the lies told to get the votes. Obamacare is not the answer to anything. Mark my words.
The government is about to turn our healthcare into the DMV !
CSA