Posted on 08/26/2009 7:34:47 PM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
President Barack Obama was wise to vacation this week on Martha's Vineyard. Not because it's one of the few places in America where his health-care plan is still popular, but because by getting out of Washington he gave staff time to repair his vaunted message machine, which was starting to break down.
Two weeks ago, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod said in a now legendary "viral" email that, "It's a myth that health insurance reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits." This was sent out the day before Mr. Obama told a Montana town hall that he'd pay for health-care reform by "eliminating . . . about $177 billion over 10 years" for "what's called Medicare Advantage." And it was two days before Mr. Obama told a Colorado town hall he'd cover "two-thirds" of the "roughly $900 billion" of his plan's cost by "eliminating waste," again citing Medicare Advantage.
Who's right? As a former senior adviser, I can tell you who: the president. What's more, according to a White House fact sheet titled "Paying for Health Care Reform," Mr. Axelrod was misleading his readers. It notes the administration would cut $622 billion from Medicare and Medicaid, with a big chunk coming from Medicare Advantage, to pay for overhauling health care. Mr. Obama heralded these cuts as "common sense" in his June 13 radio address.
Medicare Advantage was enacted in 2003 to allow seniors to use Medicare funds to buy private insurance plans that fit their needs and their budgets. They get better care and better value for their money.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
bttt
I didn’t mention gasoline prick!
As far as gas, we haven’t seen fas as low as $2.50 for over 2 years and it’s over $3 now.
Food is up over 20% and so is natural gas on our bills.
The 2 thingsa that seinors need aren’t part of the cost of living apparently only things that nobody needs make up the list.
Woah!!! Outstanding!!!
No, you didn't (and be careful whom you are calling a prick!)You mentioned two items that (you claimed) were up 20% (they weren't) and failed to mention a critical item that actually was down over 30%. The Consumer Price Index is just that--an Index. Some things go up. Some go down. By mentioning only those that you claimed (again, incorrectly) went up, you opened the door for someone to correct you by indicating items that had actually gone down (like gasoline.)Here are some relevant charts I pulled from the database which calculates this stuff. You will note that, contrary to your claim, energy costs are not 20% higher. In fact, they are a good deal lower, as is gasoline, which I already mentioned. Additionally, most of the food items--chicken, beef, eggs, bread, vegetables, fruit are lower (in some cases much lower) then they were last year, contrary to your incorrect claim. I guess when you don't have the facts on your side, it's easier just to call someone a "prick." Maybe you should try posting on DemocratUnderground, where name calling passes for intellectualism.
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Series Id: APU000072621 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 61.275 | 61.190 | 61.390 | 62.149 | 62.952 | 65.068 | 66.553 | 67.078 | 66.210 | 65.706 | 64.995 | 65.497 | |
2009 | 66.148 | 66.200 | 65.885 | 65.618 | 65.446 | 66.268 | 65.890 |
Series Id: APU000072601 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 57.151 | 58.628 | 60.477 | 63.244 | 66.368 | 69.348 | 74.245 | 69.814 | 63.942 | 62.062 | 61.122 | 60.572 | |
2009 | 59.255 | 57.118 | 54.865 | 51.479 | 48.814 | 49.362 | 49.887 |
Series Id: APU000072611 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 128.011 | 131.301 | 135.891 | 142.727 | 150.492 | 157.626 | 169.907 | 159.225 | 144.793 | 139.487 | 137.232 | 135.442 | |
2009 | 131.977 | 126.739 | 121.194 | 112.297 | 105.288 | 106.350 | 107.516 |
Series Id: APU000072511 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 3.337 | 3.338 | 3.699 | 3.875 | 4.185 | 4.589 | 4.649 | 4.217 | 3.952 | 3.544 | 3.003 | 2.637 | |
2009 | 2.509 | 2.451 | 2.319 | 2.354 | 2.344 | 2.449 | 2.452 |
Series Id: APU00007471A |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 3.096 | 3.083 | 3.307 | 3.491 | 3.813 | 4.115 | 4.142 | 3.838 | 3.749 | 3.225 | 2.208 | 1.742 | |
2009 | 1.838 | 1.979 | 2.000 | 2.107 | 2.314 | 2.681 | 2.594 |
Series Id: APU000074714 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 3.047 | 3.033 | 3.258 | 3.441 | 3.764 | 4.065 | 4.090 | 3.786 | 3.698 | 3.173 | 2.151 | 1.689 | |
2009 | 1.787 | 1.928 | 1.949 | 2.056 | 2.265 | 2.631 | 2.543 |
Series Id: APU0000702111 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 1.281 | 1.321 | 1.350 | 1.373 | 1.370 | 1.373 | 1.384 | 1.381 | 1.379 | 1.393 | 1.377 | 1.415 | |
2009 | 1.381 | 1.404 | 1.410 | 1.395 | 1.413 | 1.385 | 1.391 |
Series Id: APU0000703111 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 2.725 | 2.791 | 2.832 | 2.829 | 2.798 | 2.835 | 2.785 | 2.964 | 2.981 | 2.956 | 2.987 | 2.999 | |
2009 | 2.961 | 3.019 | 2.976 | 2.994 | 2.876 | 2.873 | 2.800 |
Series Id: APU0000706111 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 1.163 | 1.159 | 1.168 | 1.176 | 1.194 | 1.181 | 1.191 | 1.223 | 1.214 | 1.205 | 1.304 | 1.305 | |
2009 | 1.292 | 1.290 | 1.301 | 1.296 | 1.304 | 1.282 | 1.261 |
Series Id: APU0000708111 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 2.175 | 2.168 | 2.203 | 2.069 | 1.930 | 1.920 | 2.011 | 1.854 | 1.978 | 1.858 | 1.838 | 1.834 | |
2009 | 1.850 | 1.795 | 1.693 | 1.774 | 1.501 | 1.529 | 1.495 |
Series Id: APU0000709112 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 3.871 | 3.869 | 3.781 | 3.799 | 3.760 | 3.773 | 3.961 | 3.886 | 3.773 | 3.656 | 3.734 | 3.681 | |
2009 | 3.575 | 3.319 | 3.116 | 3.084 | 3.068 | 3.009 | 2.992 |
Series Id: APU0000711111 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 1.161 | 1.176 | 1.209 | 1.205 | 1.254 | 1.362 | 1.452 | 1.580 | 1.584 | 1.417 | 1.259 | 1.179 | |
2009 | 1.233 | 1.191 | 1.195 | 1.202 | 1.147 | 1.183 | 1.193 |
Series Id: APU0000711311 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 0.905 | 0.887 | 0.898 | 0.931 | 1.008 | 1.136 | 1.291 | 1.452 | 1.471 | 1.428 | 1.055 | 0.934 | |
2009 | 0.896 | 0.912 | 0.889 | 0.910 | 0.963 | 1.060 | 1.191 |
Series Id: APU0000711211 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 0.521 | 0.540 | 0.597 | 0.627 | 0.630 | 0.633 | 0.627 | 0.634 | 0.631 | 0.629 | 0.626 | 0.617 | |
2009 | 0.629 | 0.641 | 0.634 | 0.629 | 0.622 | 0.617 | 0.616 |
Series Id: APU0000712311 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
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2008 | 2.032 | 1.735 | 1.835 | 1.773 | 1.675 | 1.814 | 1.713 | 1.694 | 1.591 | 1.611 | 1.722 | 1.734 | |
2009 | 1.661 | 1.556 | 1.511 | 1.591 | 1.584 | 1.604 | 1.618 |
Series Id: APU0000713111 |
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Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | 2.544 | 2.529 | 2.543 | 2.559 | 2.534 | 2.528 | 2.503 | 2.522 | 2.544 | 2.509 | 2.580 | 2.558 | |
2009 | 2.570 | 2.611 | 2.634 | 2.623 | 2.601 | 2.612 | 2.579 |
Your price charts are a total farce! Not one of them even comes close to what we have to pay.
Oh please let me keep Dr. Colburn and Jim Inhofe. We just moved from Denver to OKC and are leaving behind the Pat Schroeder clerk, Diane DeGette and the ever brilliant Mark Udall. Just one time, let me vote for a rightie who stands a chance at winning. Please, a little hershey chocolate on top???
bumpity uppity
I've been selling health insurance to older people since 1963. That's 3 years before there was even a federal Medicare Program. Your summation of Medicare Advantage was highly accurate and well presented. Others should bookmark this thread and especially your reply as a reference!!!
The only thing you may have left out is that the more remote a county is within a state, the less likely an insurer is to offer one of these plans, especially if it's an HMO instead of a PPO. (due mainly to lack of member doctor providers also approved by Medicare)
Thanks!
Well, not really. And coupled with "Zero based budgeting" each year, it would be a godsend!!!
I hope everybody BOOKMARKS this thread for reference. I know I certainly have... great comments, except one!!!
I think it already has. All I get is the box with the little RBG dots in it!!! The one about the Missouri Senator getting a gargantuan cheer when she said "you have every right to fire me," is gone, too!!!
Stop spammin the thread like that! It’s really rude after some of us have bookmarked This otherwise very informative thread!!! (Plus you’re way off subject!!!)
bkmrk
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