Medicare and Double Standards - An ObamaCare mailer tells some howlers

Wall Street Journal ^ | 05/28/10

[MissesBush]

In the full-circle department, recall the moment last September when Senator Max Baucus and Medicare went after the insurer Humana for having the nerve to criticize one part of ObamaCare. It turns out those same regulators have different standards for their own political advocacy.

This week Medicare sent a flyer to seniors, ostensibly to inform them of what ObamaCare "means for you." Many elderly Americans are worried—and rightly so—about where they'll rank in national health care, given that the new entitlement is funded by nearly a half-trillion dollars in Medicare cuts. They must have been relieved to hear that "The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama this year will provide you and your family greater savings and increased quality health care."

That's the first sentence of the four-page mailer, and it gives a flavor of the Administration's respect for the public's intelligence. It goes on to mention "improvements to Medicare Advantage," the program that Democrats hate because it gives nearly one out of four seniors private health insurance options. "If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you will still receive guaranteed Medicare benefits."

But that's not what Medicare's own actuary thinks. In an April memo, Richard Foster estimated that the $206 billion hole in Advantage will reduce benefits, cause insurers to withdraw from the program and reduce overall enrollment by half. Doug Elmendorf and his team at the Congressional Budget Office came to the same conclusion, as did every other honest expert.

That's also what Humana told its customers, warning that seniors "could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage so valuable." Medicare threatened the Kentucky-based company with fines and regulatory punishments for "misleading and confusing" beneficiaries, then issued a blanket gag order on Advantage insurers.

[MissesBush]

Where's the media? Oh that's right--too busy running endless footage of oil gushing from a pipe to worry about the increasing corruption of this eggregious administration.

[rickb308]

Rule #1. Never try to BS a Seasoned Citizen. The lies that you think a so slick because you came up with them?

They have forgotten more than you’ll ever know. LOL

[FormerACLUmember]

“The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama this year will provide you and your family greater savings and increased quality health care.”

Gosh, no mention of the $600 Billion in Medicare cuts in the Orwellian titled Affordable Care Act.

[Graybeard58]

I got mine yesterday, it went straight into the round file.

It's a sad day when a government agency sends out political propaganda.

[zanarchist]

First they claim there you will get Medicare Advantage. But next they tell you that it cost a $1000 per person than the 77% not in one of them and they are going to level the playing field. How, Take the $1000 away from the insurance companies and by making sure that 85% of every dollar is use for care. All I know is before Medicare Advantage I had a lot more out of pocket cost then now. So I guess I one of the rich that got to pay my fair share now./s

[GailA]

obamacare taking on water, very good read, book mark and pass on. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2523143/posts