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.
Your assumption is that you're entitled to it. Sure. You paid into it. Fifteen years though - you're getting more out of it than you paid into the corrupt ponzi scheme. That's the nature of the con game. It's Lies, D*mn lies, and statistics.
It's a tax, and nothing more. That social contract was broken back in the 60s.
Me? I've been paying into it since I was 17 - and know for a fact that it won't be there when I am even close to retirement.
You’re straining ...
Thank God you're here to save him!
He's only been on the air 25 years!
What took you so long?
You are the one that we have been waiting for!
And he got caught stealing... just like most people on this thread accuse me of doing. :-)
Then please campaign to have it cancelled... I don't mind.
You got it wrong. You misstated what Rush said, why he said it, and what his point was. You got the facts wrong, the details wrong, and the interpretation wrong. Major fail.
Ha, It costs me more than that a month.
Check the ownership - or control - of United Healthcare.
LOL. Where do you think the HI portion of the payroll taxes go?
If so, I give it 7/10.
I understand where you’re coming from, Macoozie, but most Freepers probably opposed the crazy social programs you’re complaining about. Maybe some were suckered in by the bond issues that keep your property taxes high. Real conservatives opposed FDR’s social security scheme and LBJ’s Medicare scheme until they were well-entrenched in the US welfare state. It wasn’t until GWB that some conservatives got suckered into supporting the expansion of the welfare state with Medicare Part D. I don’t really remember how popular it was at FR, but I think it wasn’t all that popular.
But, ultimately, you’re right: if one receives a check or in-kind benefits from government without a contractual right to such payment, it is a welfare benefit. The law is very clear that FICA withholdings are taxes and, as such, do not create contractual obligations to beneficiaries. Congress has the authority to repeal these programs at any time. It’s really hard to understand why otherwise sensible people would deny this.
In some states Blue Cross offered a Medicare Advantage Plan... may no longer be true. I am not saying Rush used the word 'leech', only that he has occasionally painted a picture of Medicare recipients receiving a free benefit [at the cost of others] - a term which I HAVE heard him use. It may be at the cost of others, but it is not 'free'. If anyone thinks the country would be better off without Medicare, I can see that.
My personal estimate ~2-3 years
~2015, not past 2020
Too many “Baby Boomers”
Not Enough Gen X
Economy Stalled
Political Will nonexistent, except as it makes it worse
You have no idea how much I cost Medicare a month or a year... enough said about that.
Medicare is the nation’s health insurance program for persons age 65 and older and certain disabled persons. Medicare consists of four distinct parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance, or HI); Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance, or SM I); Part C (Medicare Advantage, or MA); and Part D (the outpatient prescription drug benefit). The Part A program is financed primarily through payroll taxes levied on current workers and their employers; these are credited to the HI trust fund.
You are in a way over your head... go out for a walk.
You complain about paying 1200 a year????? I pay over $12,000 a year for my family of four, and that’s before making a $2500 deductible before my insurer pays DIME ONE on a claim.
Then there’s the medications that they DO NOT COVER that I also pay for out of pocket that don’t count against my deductible.
Yes, you are a whining little mooches in my eyes, you should stfu and stop bitching, leech.
Well, you must cost or pay something, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this thread. I'm not asking you to provide that information, but it's rather odd that you would use your failure to provide it as a stick to beat up someone else.
Then dedicate your life to ending socialism.
Very few folk seem able to read my post... still, please campaign to end Medicare... I DO NOT mind. ...oh, and have them stop charging me for it then.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.