Posted on 01/15/2010 2:50:48 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The Massachusetts Senate special election is shaping up as a referendum on the health-care debate in Washington. And its outcome may well determine whether Massachusetts seniors get to keep the Medicare benefits they currently enjoy.
Alone among the American people, Massachusetts voters will have the chance to register their formal views on the proposed health-care overhaul before Congress votes on its final version.
Few stand to be more personally affected by that verdict than Massachusetts seniors. This is particularly true for those enrolled in Medicare Advantage, the popular program that lets seniors receive their Medicare benefits through private insurers if they so choose.
According to projections by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Senate version of the proposed health-care overhaul (which the final version is largely expected to mirror) would cut Medicare benefits by more than $800 billion in its real first ten years (2014 to 2023). That’s $800 billion that would be taken from Medicare and used to pay for Obamacare. More than $200 billion of those cuts would be from Medicare Advantage.
Across Massachusetts, 175,000 seniors have chosen Medicare Advantage plans. That’s 17 percent of seniors statewide. If the health-care overhaul passes, those 175,000 seniors would see significant cuts to their benefits.
So how much would Massachusetts seniors stand to lose? No one can say exactly, as Medicare Advantage plans vary by company and region — and each plan would be affected somewhat differently.
CBO projections, however, do indicate what the average cuts would be. Medicare Advantage cuts would total $214 billion in the bill’s real first ten years. Currently, 10.3 million seniors nationwide are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
fyi
BO will lie like a rug when he goes to Mass on Sunday. Wish this article could be distributed as his followers leave the arena.
The ditz the rats have running for the dead whale’s seat is a very dangerous person.
He would probably catch fire if any holy water hit him.
fyi
Re: When I read your post, I thought — BO going to MASS? He’s not Catholic.
My thought also. Since when does a Muslim go to Mass???
He wants everyone to think he’s going to church....Therefore “He’s going to Mass. on Sunday”
Has anybody else heard of this particular piece of corrupt dealing?
This isn't a deal made to benefit a state (a la Ben Nelson's Nebraska), this is a deal made to benefit a series of individuals -- residents of particular counties (all of whom vote Democrat, coincidentally) -- favoring them over residents of adjacent counties.
Can any conservative public interest law firm say "Equal protection under the law"?
OK. (Rolls eyes.)
The deal for Nelson in Florida may be the biggest one,...it has been on a few threads....but not many!
What in the hell is the Big Oh doing campaigning for Croakley when the people of Haiti are rotting in the streets while anarchy rules down there. The libs are still bashing Bush over Katrina and our Glorious Ruler is off playing match maker...
Been thinking the same thing.....Keep track of how long it took them to get water out etc. and we’ll sock it to them Wednesday AM.
Shhh, he sinks everyone he campaigns for.
Let's see if Harry "Pimp" Reid will give MA seniors a break like he gave to seniors in FL.
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