Posted on 08/12/2009 8:22:09 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Democrats have a senior citizen problem.
Frustrated older Americans are packing the town halls on health care. They are incredibly passionate about their Medicare benefits. Polls show senior citizens largely disapprove of health care reform ideas so far.
And of course, they vote — in larger numbers than any other demographic.
But so far, Democrats have focused much of their health care sales pitch on middle-class Americans and the uninsured — a slight that has been noticed by senior citizens, who hold great influence with members of Congress.
At his Tuesday town hall event in New Hampshire, President Barack Obama made a point to reach out to seniors, noting the low support in polls for his health care proposals.
“We are not talking about cutting Medicare benefits,” Obama said, trying to assuage the audience.
But Obama is talking about finding hundreds of billions in savings from Medicare — cuts supporters say will trim fat from the program — including slashing $156 billion in subsidies to Medicare Advantage, a privately administered Medicare program.
“Seniors are one of the most attentive and engaged constituencies, especially on health care issues, and we’ve seen that in the Medicare Advantage programs,” said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans.
A July 31 Gallup Poll found that just 20 percent of Americans aged 65 and older believe health care reform would improve their own situation, noticeably lower than the 27 percent of 18- to 49-year olds and 26 percent of 50-to-64-year-olds who say the same.
The senior citizen problem could pose a serious problem for the 2010 election cycle.
Older Americans turn out in much higher numbers than other age groups during midterm elections.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
“We are not talking about cutting Medicare benefits,” Obama said”
LIAR!
All medicare coverage of procedures will be cut to a blanket rate determined by the government.
bin Hussein al Kenyata, "We are not talking about Death Panels. Why, former Colorado governor Lamm has agreed to sit on it. Rommel Emanuel's brother Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, author of The Ends of Human Life has been tapped for White House position of End of Life Commissar."
yitbos
I think it was Rush today mentioning the far more liberal seniors men seek medical assistance for minor things than Conservative’s more macho seniors, who don’t want to go to a physician and far more reluctant to be dragged there by wives???
Democrats want elderly people on the streets eating dog food!
Today's seniors worked hard for the money...a$$hole. Many of us have lived as though we wouldn't see one thin dime from social security...a$$hole. Many of us knew early on that SS, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. was not sustainable...a$$hole.
Outstanding reply, barb!
IF I live another six years I will apply for Social Security and get about $1500 a month, maybe a little more.
IF I make it to 65, I get Medicare, unless Obama puts me on the Permanently Disabled and Not Worth the Cost American Citizen Sucker List.
Of course, IF I was allowed to keep all that money and invest it for the past 40 years, I would have an asset in the Millions of Dollars that I could enjoy right now.
You’re right...there was a record vote among youngsters. I don’t think they will turn our like they did during the last election.
I voted for Sarah, too, and will vote for her again, even if she’s not on the ballot. ;o)
God love you...you and I are close in age.
What kind of leukemia do you have?
Not that it matters, but what does matter is that you’ve paid into goverment health/retirement your entire life.
“Of course, IF I was allowed to keep all that money and invest it for the past 40 years, I would have an asset in the Millions of Dollars that I could enjoy right now.”
Think about that, John.
“Not that it matters...”
Lody...that didn’t come out right!
PLEASE accept my apologies. ;o)
I meant that it wasn’t the topic of debate.
Of course...it matters a great deal.
Unfortunately, most people get it in their 70’s and something else like old age usually kills them before the Leukemia does.
Prognosis is 10 to 15 years survivability unless a Bone Marrow Transplant works down the line. As of now, we just hope for long remissions between Chemo Treatments.
When the Dr. gave me the news, my first words to him were, you mean I'm getting ripped off by Social Security? That pisses me off more than the disease.
Must be what I get for not smoking, drinking or doing drugs.
After going through Chemo, I was in Remission for three years. Now I am back in Chemo, started back today as a matter of fact.
That's why I'm typing this right now, can't get to sleep and I have to be there at 9AM tomorrow for the second day of treatment. Better get back to bed and count Sheeple... One other thing. I had our Financial guy run the numbers. He said if the funds were invested in a solid Fund, he expected that I would have approximately 2,5 Million in the Bank at age 66, and my wife would have well over a Million.
He had to use historical information to fill the gap between age 50 and 66, but he used my salary at that time, without including increases for those last 16 years. Of course, the Market is crazy, so the final amount is a best guess.
Either way, I'm out a good $200,000 and my wife is out about $120,000. Nowadays, that money would be nice to have, even without a dime of compound interest.
Cheers!
Maureen Dowd calls townhall attendees
“OLD WHITE MALCONTENTS.”
August 12, 2009
Op-Ed Columnist
Toilet-Paper Barricades
By MAUREEN DOWD
WASHINGTON
“...Instead of a multicultural tableau of beaming young idealists on screen, we see ugly scenes of mostly older and white malcontents, disrupting forums where others have come to actually learn something. Instead of hope, we get swastikas, death threats and T-shirts proclaiming “Proud Member of the Mob.””
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/opinion/12dowd.html?hpw
Obama’s answer will be to put senior citizens in retraints.
Medicare Nonpayment, Hospital Falls, and Unintended Consequences
Sharon K. Inouye, M.D., M.P.H., Cynthia J. Brown, M.D., and Mary E. Tinetti, M.D.
“Of greatest concern is that the heightened focus on fall prevention will probably have unintended consequences. If hospitals are scrutinized for the occurrence of falls, the natural tendency will be to focus on such events even at the expense of competing (and perhaps more important) outcomes. Unintended consequences are likely to include a decrease in mobility and a resurgence in the use of physical restraints in a misguided effort to prevent fall-related injuries. Physical restraints have long been used because they are believed to prevent falls. Studies have shown, however, that not only do they not reduce the risk of falls or related injuries, but they are associated with increased rates of complications, including immobility, functional loss, delirium, agitation, pressure sores (which are themselves one of the nonreimbursible hospital-acquired conditions), asphyxiation, and death.2 Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that restraints may actually increase the risk of falling or sustaining an injury from a fall.3
Manufacturers are taking advantage of the increased interest in fall prevention by marketing new devices. Chairs that are difficult to get out of, enclosed beds, and a wide array of bed alarms — even sock alarms — are meant to circumvent guidelines against the use of traditional restraints. But as devices intended to inhibit free movement, they should be subjected to the same regulations that apply to any other restraints.”
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/23/2390
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