Posted on 08/11/2009 7:00:47 PM PDT by caper gal 1
Edited on 08/12/2009 3:14:21 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
There are special interest groups trying to block progress on health care reform by using myths and scare tactics. Like the notion that health care reform would ration your care, hurt Medicare or be a government takeover. Actually, these are false statements.
All of the health care reform plans currently being debated in Congress would ensure that you and your doctor are the ones making decisions about your health. The majority of working Americans will continue to receive their health care through their employer. In addition, health care reform will strengthen Medicare by eliminating billions of dollars in waste while lowering prescription drug prices.
Throughout the debate on how to fix what's broken about our health care system, AARP pledges to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your family. When we see special interests using scare tactics, we'll make sure you're given the facts so you can make informed decisions about health care reform.
The following are some of the most common myths being spread about health care reform and the facts that prove them wrong click here to watch a video by AARP on the myths and facts of reform.
Fact: Health care reform will preserve the employer-based health care system, meaning an estimated 200 million Americans will continue to get their coverage through their employers.
Fact: For people buying coverage for themselves, there would be a range of private health plans to choose from. Also, the so-called "public plan" option would seek to give American consumers another choice if they can't find affordable, quality coverage in the private insurance market. The goal of the "public plan" is to give consumers the best value for their money and force greater competition among insurance plans for our business.
Fact: Every proposal that Congress is considering would allow people to choose their own doctors and hospitals.
Bottom Line: Health care reform isn't about a government takeover. It's about guaranteeing all Americans a choice of health care plans they can afford.
Fact: None of the health reform proposals being considered would stand between individuals and their doctors or prevent any American from choosing the best possible care.
Fact: Health care reform will NOT give the government the power to make life or death decisions for anyone regardless of their age. Those decisions will be made by an individual, their doctor and their family.
Fact: Health care reform will help ensure doctors are paid fairly so they will continue to treat Medicare patients.
Bottom Line: Health reform isn't about rationing; it's about giving people the peace of mind of knowing that they will be able to keep their doctors and that they will always have a choice of affordable health plans.
Fact: None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services.
Fact: Health care reform will lower prescription drug costs for people in the Medicare Part D coverage gap or "doughnut hole" so they can get better afford the drugs they need.
Fact: Health care reform will protect seniors' access to their doctors and reduce the cost of preventive services so patients stay healthier.
Fact: Health care reform will reduce costly, preventable hospital readmissions, saving patients and Medicare money.
Fact: Rather than weaken Medicare, health care reform will strengthen the financial status of the Medicare program.
Bottom Line: For people in Medicare, health care reform is about lowering prescription drug costs for people in the "doughnut hole", keeping the doctor of your choice, improving the quality of care, and eliminating billions in waste that is causing poor care and medical errors.
Fact: The President and Congress have committed to producing legislation that will be paid for so it won't saddle our children and grandchildren with debt.
Fact: If we do nothing to fix health care, families with Medicare or employer-based health coverage will likely see their premiums nearly double again in the next seven years.
Fact: If we do nothing to fix health care, the share of your income spent on health care will nearly double in the next seven years.
Bottom Line: When one in three Americans say someone in their family skipped pills, postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to the cost; when countless bankruptcies are related to medical expenses; when the number of uninsured approaches 50 million; when government spending on health programs rises so rapidly that it jeopardizes other priorities; and when employers struggle to pay for the costs of health care, the fact is, we can't afford not to fix health care.
Fact: Health care reform will NOT give the government the power to make life-and-death decisions for anyone regardless of their age. Those decisions will be made by individuals, their doctor and their family.
Fact: No one, including the government or your insurance company, will be given power to make life-and-death decisions for you.
Bottom Line: Health care reform isn't about putting the government in charge of difficult end of life decisions. It's about giving individuals and families the option to talk with their doctors in advance about difficult choices every family faces when loved ones near the end of their lives.
My parents just ended AARP.
They don’t want their “care”.
Facts are stubborn things. Below is just a few of the highlights of this Bill:
Page 29 lines 4-16 - Your Health Care is RATIONED. lines 4-12 (A) ANNUAL LIMITATION.The cost-sharing incurred under the essential benefits package with respect to an individual (or family) for a year does not exceed the applicable level specified in subparagraph (B). (B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family.
Page 30 Section 123 - There will be a Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Page 42 - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your Health Care Benefits for you. You have no choice.
Page 268 Section 1141 - Government regulates rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
Page 272 Section. 1145 Treatment at certain CANCER HOSPITALS; rationing for cancer patients.
Page 425 Lines 4-12 - Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consults. Think Senior Citizens end of life.
Page 425 Lines 17-19 - Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 - Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.
Page 427 Lines 15-24 - Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The Government has a say in how your life ends.
Page 429 Lines 1-9 - An “Advanced Care Planning Consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
Page 429 Lines 10-12 - “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from Government!
Page 429 Lines 13-25 - The Government will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
Page 430 Lines 11-15 - The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
Page 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. ACORN Medical Services?
Page 472 Lines 14-17 Payment to community-based organizations; 1 monthly payment to a community-based organization like ACORN.
The greatest scare in this Health care bill is reading it, and that is no myth.
Never joined AARP. I never intend to.
Bump....
Nice job!
29 is WRONG...it is about a cap on costs for the plan..not benefits.
Read it again.
http://www.aarp.org/states/state_events_calendar.detail.8874.FL/ Lakeland Fl tomorrow Wed Aug 12 AARP town hall meeting
insure.
Page 29 lines 4-16 - Your Health Care is RATIONED. lines 4-12 (A) ANNUAL LIMITATION.The cost-sharing incurred under the essential benefits package with respect to an individual (or family) for a year does not exceed the applicable level specified in subparagraph (B). (B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family.
AARP = Another Attack on Retired People.
that section does not ration health care. It is not telling you that you only get 5000 in benefits for the year.
AARP is spending a fair amount money (or someone is) on this campaign. I was on the Recipezaar website and there was a big ad from AARP along the same lines as the posted blurb.
Can’t even figure out what to eat in peace anymore.
oh, they will increase that cap as times goes on..no doubt about it...
and I am sure there are things that ration health care in that bill...but page 29 is not one of them.
This is the biggest hoot I've seen yet. Not even Obama himself has been that brazen.
seniors get rationed big time, both with the health care (life years value) and death
Peter Singer (Princeton bioethics professor) says in NYT, Rationing health care means getting value for the billions spent by setting limits on which treatments should be paid from the public purse .The task of health care bureaucrats is then to get the best value for resources they have been allocated .If a teenager can be expected to live another 70 years, saving that life gains 70 life-years, whereas a person of 85 can be expected to live another 5 years, then saving the 85-year-old will gain of only 5 life-years. That suggests saving one teenager is equivalent to saving 14 85-year-olds.
At last I finally understand how “life years” are figured. The age is the denominator!
Its all about what is best for the collective. When one retires, one should die.
Page 429 Lines 10-12 - “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. (AN ORDER from Government!)
Page 429 Lines 13-25 - The Government will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
Page 430 Lines 11-15 - The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
AARP ALLIED WITH SEIU
NO, YOU CAN'T
Politicians and strategists praise Patrick Gaspard highly, although he stays away from the limelight.
"Patrick is the best political mind of his generation in New York and maybe the nation," says Kevin Sheekey, who as Michael Bloomberg's right-hand-man has frequently worked and battled with Gaspard.
"I wouldn't dispute that," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist and Gaspard's cohort on the campaign trail. When reminded that such a title could be bestowed on Axelrod himself, the strategist said he was "happy to cede that" to Gaspard.
The Washington Post, among others, has announced that a longtime labor operative of Barack Obama's, Patrick Gaspard, will be named Obama's White House political director.
Gaspard served as national political director for much of Obama's general election campaign and was named deputy director of personnel for the transition effort. Prior to his work with Obama, Gaspard was the lead political operative for the 1199 branch of the Service Employees International Union, a huge and hugely influential union representing health care workers in New York. He spent the 2004 general election as the national field director for America Coming Together.
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