I Can No Longer Tolerate Rush Limbaugh Misrepresenting Medicare

self post | July 9, 2013 | Bob Ireland

[Bob Ireland]

For some years I have listened to Rush Limbaugh, and heard him picture Medicare recipients as some sort of ungrateful leaches sucking off of the public dole. He characterizes them as resisting having to pay a dime for their medical coverage.

Being a fan of Rush, I have tolerated this misguidance on his part and sent him e-mails [I am 24-7 member] trying to save him from being caught in a 'lie'. He has never responded to these e-mails - for whatever reason.

Then yesterday - Monday - he mentioned a story about the Congress considering a bill to make Medicare recipients pay 'a few pennies' for their medical coverage - and the bill going down to defeat. I simply cannot remain silent in the face of this total fabrication.

I have been on Medicare for 15 years. My Medicare Part B presently costs me a little pocket change short of $100 a month - a little less that $1,200 a year. That money is deducted out of my Social Security check before I ever receive it. That benefit offers to pay 80% of my allowable medical bills, and I am responsible for the other 20%.

In my case - since I look at government programs with a jaundiced eye - I have signed my Medicare obligations over to a private HMO [called an Advantage Plan]. However, Obama's health care plan has drained the Medicare treasury by hundreds of billions of dollars; therefore the future of the program is in question. In some states I understand the Advantage Plans have already been canceled. Many doctors and hospitals are trying to figure how to get free of Medicare since the Medicare payments are either delayed, diminished or missing altogether. I still cannot be sure my HMO will be part of Medicare next year.

BUT, back to the main theme of this article: How many FReepers pay $1,200 a year for their medical insurance? Probably some do; likely most do not. I am not complaining about paying for my health care - I voluntarily and happily pay the premium.

Furthermore, if it becomes a matter of saving the dollar from total collapse I would accept the cancellation of Medicare altogether. Just stop charging me $100 a month and send the program into the Bermuda Triangle. I have led a fruitful life. HOWEVER, under Obama's healthcare program, that cannot happen. My Medicare could be cancelled and I could be set with the old Indian squaw by the side of the road to waste away - but I would still have to pay my health care premium in order to provide health care for younger folk.

Would someone who can get through to Rush Limbaugh get these points across to him - if he is really interested - so that people can understand the truth about Medicare - not a bunch of myths and misrepresentations.

[Bob Ireland]

***The fact that you paid for other public leaches while you were working is not revelent***

I have never said such a thing... for the fortieth time: I have private insurance not Mediare... try to open your brain to understand that if possible.

[RetiredNavy]

My reply was a general statement for everyone on the thread, not a personal attack on you.

I can see where you might be a little defensive tho, you are getting hit pretty hard here.

[Bob Ireland]

***you are getting hit pretty hard here***

Thanks for the insight... I can stand a bit of buffeting on FR - I have been around since about 1997 [before registration.] What amazes me is how people are so incapable of reading and understanding what they read... they just see what they want to see and go off on scurrilous attacks that have nothing to do with anything posted.

In 1998 when we went to Washington and made history we thought FR was the future of the country. If these posters are the future of the country - God help us! :-/

[Fledermaus]

Sucker

[Weirdad]

Just re-checked this thread, and it blossomed, and now I see a series of mis-statements you are making toward the end, now claiming that you do not have Medicare, for example your reply #301.

You DO in fact have Medicare! Guaranteed! You have it, you wrote yourself that you had it for 15 years, and you have NOT “opted out” — all you did is choose another variation of Medicare on the menu. Americans who qualify for Medicare are basically forced to use Medicare unless they completely opt out and pay cash, a surprisingly complicated thing to do even if you can afford it.

You are simply taking advantage of the Medicare Advantage system which allows you to get a Medicare supplement policy that itself gets paid by Medicare to to the main portion of Medicare for you in it’s own way. You premium your pay is only about as much as you would pay for many other Medicare supplements, and is no nowhere close to the cost of a premium on full private insurance.

In fact, full private health insurance in the usual form bypassing Medicare for you is essentially ILLEGAL and is not available!

I know for a fact that if you are hospitalized that the hospital will have to treat you just like it does MEDICARE, with all the extra rules and trepidations that they have to go through for Medicare. And moreover, if it is a teaching hospital then you are considered by the government to represent one more of the Medicare patients it is taking care of.

So you do not have private insurance, not have chosen an option of the Medicare program and are paying for a supplement.

I do not think you should distort this issue to the Freepers who are reading this who need to understand the details of the system we are fighting as we try to fight against government healthcare and welfare programs, and I hope my comment here clear it up for those who do not understand.

[relentlessly]

Bob, Bob, Bob....

MediCare is the best deal going! Without it, most seniors couldn’t afford health insurance at all. You should thank your lucky stars that you going through the coverage now, versus the next generation. You and I and millions of others will use up all the available funds as they are paid into the fund, nothing with be left.

Rush is basically saying that we should pay a little more. You’ve posted nothing to dispute that position.

[Bob Ireland]

***Rush is basically saying that we should pay a little more***

Rush said it is 'free'... now stick your head back in the sand and go to sleep.

[relentlessly]

I have never heard Rush say what you claim about Medicare.

You may be going south on us. If you can find his quote, provide a link.

[Bob Ireland]

***I have never heard Rush say what you claim***

Well, I am not trying to convince anyone but Rush. He knows whether he has said it or not. If so - and he sees the post - hopefully he will reconsider his position; if not, he will ignore the post. Of course, if he doesn't see or hear of it at all it will be like trying to get an e-mail to him on his 24/7 mail site: hopeless.