Az I AARP It....
At the most recent AARP Chapter #1 meeting, State Director David Mitchell presented AARP's reasons for endorsing the current health care reform package, and dispelled the misrepresentations that is meant to scare senior citizens - including Sen McCain's admonition to 'tear up your AARP card, and send it back - they have sold you out!'
Mr. Mitchell explained that the supposed $450M in Medicare cuts - over a 10-year period - are directed at eliminating wasteful and fraudulent payments, as well as eliminating a 14% subsidy that all Medicare recipients are now paying for elitist programs on the Medicare Advantage program. This is intended to improve solvency for Medicare, while offering the same, or more benefits than previously. And while Republican legislators attempted to eliminate long-term care benefits, AARP lobbyists successfully fought to keep long-term care included! And the prescription drug 'donut hole' will be closed(presently costing those affected up to $4,550 annually!)
No Social Security COLA this year? That has nothing to do with health care reform, but is from a formula designed during the Bush administration. Pres. Obama is pushing for a $250 payout to offset the increased Medicare premiums, etc.
All questions were satisfactorily answered, even if disagreements continued, and Mr. Mitchell vowed to answer anyone's questions. There are some problems, however, that remain unanswered, ie., how can insurance companies raise premiums now, when health care reform - if it happens - is still at least two years away? Why, then, are defeatists declaring this to be Pres. Obama's fault? Why are people being led to believe that they will no longer have supplemental coverage?
And finally, I remember when I was a kid - 1965 - when the same hysteria prevailed as Pres. Lyndon Johnson initiated a 'socialistic, government-run health care system' - Medicare! And yet, today, are there any seniors willing to relinquish the benefits that the Republicans claim they will soon lose? By the way, if the Republicans were in power, I think the Democrats may have used the same tactics. In the meantime, stay healthy!
Mr. Mitchell explained that the supposed $450M in Medicare cuts - over a 10-year period - are directed at eliminating wasteful and fraudulent payments, as well as eliminating a 14% subsidy that all Medicare recipients are now paying for elitist programs on the Medicare Advantage program. This is intended to improve solvency for Medicare, while offering the same, or more benefits than previously. And while Republican legislators attempted to eliminate long-term care benefits, AARP lobbyists successfully fought to keep long-term care included! And the prescription drug 'donut hole' will be closed(presently costing those affected up to $4,550 annually!)
No Social Security COLA this year? That has nothing to do with health care reform, but is from a formula designed during the Bush administration. Pres. Obama is pushing for a $250 payout to offset the increased Medicare premiums, etc.
All questions were satisfactorily answered, even if disagreements continued, and Mr. Mitchell vowed to answer anyone's questions. There are some problems, however, that remain unanswered, ie., how can insurance companies raise premiums now, when health care reform - if it happens - is still at least two years away? Why, then, are defeatists declaring this to be Pres. Obama's fault? Why are people being led to believe that they will no longer have supplemental coverage?
And finally, I remember when I was a kid - 1965 - when the same hysteria prevailed as Pres. Lyndon Johnson initiated a 'socialistic, government-run health care system' - Medicare! And yet, today, are there any seniors willing to relinquish the benefits that the Republicans claim they will soon lose? By the way, if the Republicans were in power, I think the Democrats may have used the same tactics. In the meantime, stay healthy!
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