Ohio's 8th Congressional District Blog
"Displaced:" How A Gov't Takeover of Health Care Hurts America's Seniors
Posted by
Press Office
on
October 26, 2009
As has been the case for months now, Democrats in Washington continue to engage in a debate among themselves over their government takeover of health care. One issue, however, where House Democrats have stood united from the get-go is paying for these costly proposals in part by implementing drastic cuts to Medicare benefits for seniors “on a scale not seen in years.” As a result, millions would see reduced benefits and be “displaced” from their current coverage, according to independent experts. Last month, Democrats in Washington grew so desperate to conceal the consequences of these drastic cuts that they imposed a “gag order” to prevent America’s seniors from knowing the truth. Even so, more than twice as many Americans said in a recent poll that Democrats’ government takeover of health care would hurt Medicare. Republicans are committed to ensuring seniors know the facts while offering better solutions to make their coverage more affordable and accessible.
Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) commented on Democrats’ continued efforts to cut Medicare benefits for seniors:
“Right now, America’s seniors are looking for reassurances that their current coverage won’t be hurt by a government takeover of health care, and Washington Democrats are unable to oblige. That’s because their trillion-dollar, 1,000-page plans would leave seniors with reduced benefits and fewer health care choices. Republicans are committed to ensuring America’s seniors know the facts while offering better solutions to make their coverage more affordable and accessible.”
A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE HURTS AMERICA’S SENIORS:
RHETORIC: “Nobody is talking about reducing Medicare benefits. … It works. We don't want to change it.” (President Obama, AARP Tele-Town Hall, 7/28/09)
REALITY:
• “Democrats are pushing for Medicare cuts on a scale not seen in years… The House bill … would reduce projected increases in Medicare payments to providers by more than $500 billion over 10 years, a gross cut of about 7 percent over the period. …. ‘What we hear from our members is that to them Medicare savings sounds like cuts,’ said Nora Super, AARP's chief health care lobbyist. ‘Our members over 65 really value their Medicare program ... and numbers like $500 billion are huge numbers, so that is really scary to our members.’” (Associated Press, 7/30/09)
• “Democrats seek cuts in Medicare Advantage. … Democrats want to cut Medicare Advantage by more than $120 billion over 10 years. It could leave seniors with fewer boutique Medicare options offered through private insurance companies or with private plans that offer fewer of the extra benefits such plans provide. … The White House is scrambling to fight back.” (The Boston Globe, 9/24/09)
• “Budget chief says Medicare benefits could be cut. Congress' chief budget officer is contradicting President Barack Obama's oft-stated claim that seniors wouldn't see their Medicare benefits cut under a health care overhaul. The head of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Elmendorf, told senators Tuesday that seniors in Medicare's managed care plans would see reduced benefits under a bill in the Finance Committee.” (Associated Press, 9/22/09)
• At Least Three Million Seniors on Medicare Advantage “Displaced.” FactCheck.org found that under H.R. 3200, “it’s probable that some unknown number of the 22 percent of seniors, or more than 10 million individuals, who participate in Medicare Advantage programs would indeed need to pay more out of pocket, change plans or face reduced benefits… Kenneth E. Thorpe, professor and chair of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University] said the number displaced by the House bill would be ‘at least’ 3 million.”
• “More than twice as many Americans (43 percent to 18 percent) say they think the legislation would weaken Medicare. …[M]ost [seniors,] 51 percent, still think reform would hurt the popular program.” (ABC News/Washington Post poll, 10/20/09)
|
|
|
