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Biden-Harris administration using taxpayer money to mask Medicare premium hikes before election: critics
Fox News ^ | August 14, 2024 | Jamie Joseph

Posted on 08/14/2024 4:38:19 PM PDT by dennisw

'The program is in a death spiral,' former domestic policy adviser to former President Trump says

In a move critics say is designed to shield the Biden-Harris administration from election fallout, the administration has leveraged taxpayer funds to mask upcoming increases in Medicare premiums.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was intended to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries, insurers are poised to significantly hike monthly premiums, with average bids for Part D plans expected to triple by 2025.

In response to potential voter backlash, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out a three-year "demonstration project" to subsidize these premiums, aiming to keep them artificially low. However, despite the appearance of relief, some critics are saying that taxpayers will fund a dramatic increase in subsidies — from $30 per recipient per month in 2024 to $142.70 in 2025 — raising concerns about the long-term impact on government spending and debt.

Former President Trump adviser Joe Grogan has criticized the maneuver, arguing that it merely shifts costs rather than providing real relief.

"They've destroyed Part D premiums," Grogan told Fox News Digital in an interview. "I'm not sure it'll survive legal scrutiny if someone were to sue. Objectively, it shouldn't be done. It's just interjecting $5-$10 billion of taxpayer dollars, while the taxpayers are paying the price 85 days before an election. It's sickening."

"This is only going to get worse in 2025, 2026," Grogan continued. "The program is in a death spiral. They announced a three-year demo. It's already broken. The demo is going to fail. Premiums are still going to go up."

Paragon Health Institute, a health care research group, called the CMS demo plan a "fake, costly demonstration," in a recent analysis.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: biden; bidenadm; bidenharris; bidenomics; bidenregime; bookcooking; cms; deathspiral; gaslighting; harriswalz; ira; kamalanomics; lyinbiden; medicare; misappropriation; pandering; partd
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To: BipolarBob

My family is on Tricare Prime, but when I turned 65 they booted me off. I had to sign up for for A and B, same as you $174 a month. Tricare says I’m eligible for Tricare For Life, but I don’t understand what that entails. They won’t sign me up until I have my Medicare cards in hand. It’s very confusing to me, and no one seems to know anything. Tricare blames Medicare, and visa versa.


21 posted on 08/14/2024 11:08:34 PM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: ViLaLuz

The Medicare person said I had to sign up for Parts A and B,

I got that same spiel - sign up for ALL parts of Medicare, else you will later be penalized for not doing so at the outset.


22 posted on 08/15/2024 4:39:16 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: dennisw

The big change for Medicare was in Part D, the druggie benefit. It’s pretty confusing to most, but a serious druggie can be out up to $8,000 before 100% coverage (the famous ‘doughnut hole). That drops to $2,000 in 2025, so someone has to pick up that difference, and it appears it will be the people buying the Part D plans, rather than the feds, although that can change. At least that’s my take, but I haven’t studied the program in a while so I could be off somewhat.


23 posted on 08/15/2024 6:14:15 AM PDT by BobL
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To: BobL

Thanks/ I don’t use Part D, so I am good for now. I use parts A and B.


24 posted on 08/15/2024 11:04:24 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: ViLaLuz

no problem Friend

part A is for Hospital, part B is for physicians and we pay the premium for. work in the medicare claims payment world for close to 30yrs.


25 posted on 08/15/2024 11:36:59 AM PDT by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: dennisw

What is this $30/mo. jazz for Medicare? I already pay a lot more than that & that’s what they take out of my S.S. payment.


26 posted on 08/15/2024 3:53:34 PM PDT by oldtech
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To: dennisw

What is this $30/mo. jazz for Medicare? I already pay a lot more than that & that’s what they take out of my S.S. payment.


27 posted on 08/15/2024 3:54:12 PM PDT by oldtech
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To: dennisw

YOU may not need any drugs now... BUT you will be PENALIZED for each month after age 65 you don’t have “creditable” (at least as good as Part D) coverage!!! This year the cheapest plan was $0.50 per month, which as a broker is where I put all my non prescription clients so they don’t get hit with the penalty when they do need drugs in the future. Don’t skip signing up or you will pay a penalty as long is you are in Medicare. Read that huge book they sent you at 65 or consult an experienced broker! Big $$s at stake if you don’t follow the complex rules... ymmv


28 posted on 08/15/2024 5:54:47 PM PDT by PalominoGuy ( )
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To: PalominoGuy

Thanks/ I just checked my Medicare plan. It includes parts B and D. I never use D. But it’s in my plan.


29 posted on 08/16/2024 5:47:18 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

...that’s great, many Advantage plans include D without any deductible and ofter no co-pay for Tiers 1 & 2. But no one should be subject to the IRMAA penalty payment for having no creditable drug coverage.

Watch for major changes in MC for ‘25 with rates available to the public on 10/1....


30 posted on 08/17/2024 4:56:40 AM PDT by PalominoGuy ( )
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To: PalominoGuy

Wasn’t the monthly bite taken out of Medicare Advantage (what I have) recipients reduced by $6 in 2024? Down $6 from the 2023 bite?


31 posted on 08/17/2024 5:50:23 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: BobL

My Medicare Advantage has part D that I never use. Let the part D users pick up the difference. Not me and not Los Federales.
I use parts A and B of Medicare Advantage. And not very much.


32 posted on 08/17/2024 6:10:58 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

“. Objectively, it shouldn’t be done. It’s just interjecting $5-$10 billion of taxpayer dollars, while the taxpayers are paying the price 85 days before an election.”

Trafficking ❌


33 posted on 08/17/2024 6:11:46 AM PDT by Varsity Flight ( "War by 🙏 the prophesies set before you." I Timothy 1:18. Nazarite warriors. 10.5.6.5 These Days)
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