Obama's Not-So-Secret War On Private Medicare Plans

Investors' Business Daily ^ | 3-3-14 | John Merline

[afraidfortherepublic]

To say that President Obama is not an enthusiastic backer of the two Medicare programs that offer seniors private insurance options would be something of an understatement.

Over the years, Obama has repeatedly derided Medicare Advantage — the program that lets seniors enroll in subsidized, private insurance. He once called it "wasteful," and said it amounted to "giveaways that boost insurance company profits but don't make (seniors) any healthier."

Obama has been equally harsh when it comes to Medicare Part D — the drug benefit President Bush signed into law that relies on privately run plans.

In his 2006 book, "The Audacity of Hope," Obama blasted the program, saying it "somehow managed to combine the worst aspects of the public and private sectors." As president, he said it gave overly generous "taxpayer subsidies to prescription drug companies."

Both programs, it turns out, have been wildly popular with seniors and, by most measures, big successes. But Obama nevertheless appears determined to undermine them with sharp cuts in payments and sweeping new regulations.

Started back in 1997 — and initially called Medicare+Choice — the Medicare Advantage program pays private insurers a set amount per enrollee to provide comprehensive benefits and anything else they can afford to offer.

The idea was that private insurers could better co-ordinate care and manage health costs than the old fee-for-service Medicare, and so provide more comprehensive benefits.

While enrollment in these private plans was flat for the first several years, it has skyrocketed since 2005, to the point where almost one in three seniors are covered by a private health plan. And, contrary to Obama's claim, these seniors tend to get better quality health care than those in traditional Medicare.

[afraidfortherepublic]

[RightGeek]

Obammy and the Dems shift their focus to screwing up Medicare.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The goal is to have seniors dependent upon Uncle Sam Sugar for the very air they breathe.

[GailA]

You nailed it. And they will tax it.

Hubby served 20 yrs in the Navy, so our secondary health care to Medicare is Tricare LIFE as he is over 65. BOTH are RATIONED and 0’care gutted both.

Military Waste and Fraud Continue In the Middle of the Government Shutdown Washington’s Blog
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/10/wasted-military.html

http://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1

Mugging the Military
http://www.ijreview.com/2012/06/9466-mugging-soldiers/

Mugging our Troops
http://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1

0bama to Force Military Families Away From Tricare ...By Tripling Their Fees. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.”

Military Pay Chart: http://www.militaryfactory.com/military_pay_scale.asp

CBO: The military is getting squeezed for domestic spending cash
http://www.humanevents.com/2014/02/26/cbo-the-military-is-getting-squeezed-for-domestic-spending-cash/

[Mike Darancette]

The seniors will shut up and eat their peas and no doubt the bad news will be delayed until after the election and the Democrats will keep the Senate. Of course in 2015 Medicare Advantage will be ruined.

[livius]

They’ve already done it. They essentially took over the Part D plans, most of which are now “free” to the user because the government pays for their administration.

However, the plans have been revamped, cover much less, have sharply reduced drug coverage, and have huge deductibles and vaguely defined out of pocket expenses. Essentially, Obama has destroyed Part D.

Grandma may have paid $60 to $200 a month for her old part D plan, but she had a reasonable deductible and pretty good coverage - now it’s up to $6,000, just for the deductible, and more for the “out of pocket” expenses. Where is somebody on a fixed income going to come up with that? And do it every year?

Obamacare, the gift that keeps on giving.

[The_Reader_David]

it amounted to "giveaways that boost insurance company profits but don't make (seniors) any healthier."

If Obama regards people paying insurance premiums to insurance companies for programs that "don't make [them] any healither" as a cogent critique of an insurance program, he should get behind the repeal of his now eponymous health care program, since Obamacare obliges lots of people (young healthy people) to pay insurance premiums which boost insurance company profits, but won't make them any healthier.

[Cheerio]

and the Democrats will keep the Senate.

IMHO the Repubs will lose the US House also. Probably do good in State elections and I have a distant hope that an Article V convention can ultimately succeed. I will not vote for any GOP-e in 2014 election - PERIOD.

[anoldafvet]

I am already seeing it. I have been on an anti-inflammatory for 15 years. It’s a generic. I got a letter yesterday saying the drug is not in the “Formulary” any longer so I have to pay for it myself or switch to an inferior (cheaper) drug.