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.
What did it cost the taxpayer?
Actually, on average, medicare recipients will receive a hugely greater amount of benefits compared to the Medicare taxes they've paid and the $1200 annual premium. Honestly considered, you have to see that Medicare is really just an old-age welfare benefit - a transfer payment.
Medicare Supplements are not govt sponsored - they cover the 20% Medicare does not cover and are paid by the Medicare recipient - usually about $150 - $200 month - to a private insurance company [like AARP (shudder)]
I bet you believe in a lockbox too...
I hope you take out >>> than whatever you put in so that the system collapses sooner.
There should be no Medicare. Government has no business providing medical coverage for any citizen. It is up to the citizen to see to their own and their familys health care.
You can reject Part B Medicare and just go with the the free Part A inpatient coverage. My wife and I are both veterans and get out medical care from the VA system. Unless I travel out of the coverage area of a VA facility, they provided me with outpatient coverage for just my co-pays for prescriptions. Medicare will send you a new card showing only Part A coverage. I need the $100 a month for income, more than I need duplicate outpatient coverage.
government doesn’t work
medicare and social security have 112 trillion $ in unfunded liabilities . they will go bankrupt.
you are saying that the private sector, and the free market and hard work can’t provide healhtcare but need government programs to do it. you are wrong. government is the cancer.
it is your belief that government is the solution that is the problem with this country as we are headed toward a communist state.
what do you think you are conservative? i thought conservatives were for a constitutionally limited gov? medicare is unconstitutional also.
I used to have affordable copay insurance, but Obama took that away. My company does not offer insurance options other than high deductible plans. I cannot afford a better private plan, and I cannot afford to be without insurance.
I am not eligible for Medicare.
With all due respect, Rush is right. Someone else is paying your way. Must be nice.
What he said was way back the gov’t wanted to charge 10 cents a month for medicare - why aren’t you yelling about how Obamalamadingdong is taking 700 billion out of medicare to pay for his Obamacare ....????? You didn’t listen.
Oh noes. He might call you ignorant. Whatever shall we do?
Seriously. When I was working I paid about exactly that much for the best insurance in the world, BlueCross, full service no questions asked. I consider that a bargain compared to restrictive Medicare, not to mention the $400/mo estimated by a Brit who was defending his NHS just after complaining he couldn’t get a simple endoscope for several months.
Maybe Rush said it while he was bashing Gays/sarc.
As I have already said, then cancel the program altogether and stop charging me for it... I can face it as a man!
Let me put it another way: are you grateful that I am helping subsidize your health insurance, when I have none at the moment?
Correct, and ya said it better than I ever could.
My insurance cost was $2500 a year last year. I cancelled it because I am now on my wife’s insurance. And mine was cheap compared to others. The company paid almost $10,000 for my insurance.
$1200 a year is cheap nowadays.
Medical, dental and "deductables" paid by Mrs llevrok and me in 2012 was $17,000 (premiums were 10K) We were hit with a 20% premium increase in 2013 (due to coverage for pre-exisiting conditions mandated by the boy emperor).
Pardon me if I call medicare people freeloaders, but in comparison, they are.
And so are the 45+% of income earners who pay ZERO income taxes.
And now that SOB Obama is giving a waiver to people who work for businesses of 50 or more until 2015? What do you think will happen to my premiums in 2014 as a result (as unemployed" retirees?).
Me bitter? Naw!
Well, I’ve got to go now and get about dying.
Andy always said, “You either get busy living or you get busy dying...”
I am not on Medicare. I am on private health insurance that I pay for through my employer. My plan runs just under $3,000 per year.
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