Maybe it's your tone of voice......or maybe it's the other 10,000 in his inbox that he's trying to answer before he gets to yours.
Posted on 07/09/2013 11:15:43 AM PDT by 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.
I’m not for government being involved in anything except military and border control , keeping international things out. that’s it.
Currently about $8000 a year for a family of 4. Plus max of $6000 per person/$1200 per family out of pocket if we actually have to use it. Expecting $18,000-$20,000 before too long after BamyCare fully kicks in.
I’ve been listening to Rush for 20 years and I have never once heard him refer to Medicare recipients as “leaches.†You probably rarely, if ever, tune into his show, and are merely responding to caricatures of him you have heard from hostile sources.
Are you not required to accept Medicade since that is the only health insurance available by law after 65?
Maybe it's your tone of voice......or maybe it's the other 10,000 in his inbox that he's trying to answer before he gets to yours.
Socialism Lite being replaced by Socialism Classic
Everyone that has looked at Medicare knows that more money is going out than is going in.
However high your premium is, however low doctors believe the payments to them are, that still doesn't change the fact that Medicare is losing money.
The difference is being made up in taxes and deficit spending. That will only work for so long.
I have no argument with you, just wanted to correct one misconception you’re making.
You asked “How many Freepers are paying $1200 per year for their medical benefits...probably not many.”
I’d say that’s a major misconception. $1200 per year is cheap.
My husband works for a large organization, and we have never, in the many years he’s worked there, paid less than $250 per month, now it’s $300 per month, and that’s just for the two of us, no kid’s included. In that policy, we have a deductible, and copays on most things as well as copays on meds. The insurance policy costs the company $1200 per month...we pay 1/4, thus $300. It’s always been that way.
As far as wage/cost of insurance, his company took a pay cut of 4% 4 years ago, and have not had any raises since...so the insurance is costing us more in real dollars.
My son works for a Fortune 100 company and he pays about the same as we do for their “family plan” insurance policy.
So $100 per month is not top end. My dad pays around $250 per month for his medigap policy, but it pays off in the end because they pick up the 20% Medicare won’t pay.
I have no idea what other people pay for health care; I know some pay nothing; likely others pay thousands... that changes nothing in my post.
I pay over $600 a month for health insurance and still have SS deducted. I wish I paid $100 a month.
total ignorance
Uh huh.
The plan to paint old folks as leeches sucking the life blood out of the producers is working well. My advantage plan will disappear next year and, like you, I pay for Medicare much like I did my working years. Well, I’ve got to go now and get about dying.
You are in over your head... study the difference of Medicare from Medicaid - a welfare program.
Must be a different Rush.
Check your spelling and your facts.
Thank you for posting; there is also a deductible every year ($150??) and then the Part D Drug Plan is a separate premium for those who have regular Medicare...so about $140 a month comes right out of your SS payment after the deductible has been met. And of course, the additional 20% coinsurance due for services paid for —this is Medicare.
Medicaid, however, is different and a LOT of people, including those who work IN the health insurance industry confuse the two. Which is amazing, but they don’t understand the difference.
Medicaid has NO premiums and NO copays and NO co-insurance and NO deductibles...NO money out of pocket period. It is considered a “program”, NOT insurance and is run by the state.
My parents did not “leech” off of Medicare and paid for premiums and coinsurance and a lot of other things not covered-but they were grateful to have it as they had no other insurance when they retired.
So again, thank you for posting...
You signed up in 1997 to post this?
I do remember youngish anti-Tea Party protestors asking their elderly opposite about Medicare, and posting the responses to YouTube, thinking that they were being clever.
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