I Can No Longer Tolerate Rush Limbaugh Misrepresenting Medicare

self post | July 9, 2013 | Bob Ireland

[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.

[JCBreckenridge]

“More importantly, he paid for Medicare (as all of us on Medicare did) for all the decades he worked.”

So exempt us from paying into the program today, since what you paid in should cover you in your retirement. We both know that isn’t true.

[Bob Ireland]

***$1200 per year is cheap***

I did not say it is not cheap... people read stuff into this post that I did not say. Still, I know there are many who pay nothing for their health care, the rest I have no idea. If you like, go campaign for the cancellation of Medicare... I don't mind.

[kabar]

This graph shows that the average man and woman (average defined in the study as average income over their working lives and living to the average life expectancy) who start receiving benefits in 2010 get over 3 times more in benefits than they pay in to the system! Of importance, the study accounts for inflation by calculating all past taxes and future payments in 2010 dollars to provide an accurate comparison.

If the notion that Medicare recipients are simply "getting back what they paid in" is false then where is the money coming from? Simply, the excess received is being borrowed from younger generations and the cost is more than we can bear.

Medicare Part A has been running in the red since 2008.

[GraceG]

Maybe the issue with medicare is that it creates a false safety net people depend too much upon so they never have incentive to plan ahead when they are younger and working....

Then when it goes away or gets cut or services reduc ed it is all like, OMG how did this happen....

Everyone is wanting the rewards of being an Ant when they grow older into grasshoppers.... Instead they are living the grasshopper life when they are young because there is no demand for them to be an Ant.

[dhs12345]

Exactly.

Medicare covers the retired and elderly, Medicaid covers the poor. Those that remain are the working and/or young to middle aged uninsured.

A large portion of the later group might choose not to be covered even though the option is available to them. They might be young and “invincible” and figure they’ll just pay out of pocket since they are healthy. Really no crisis here with these folks because they choose to not be covered. The rest?

[Old North State]

Look, Rush Limbaugh is poorly educated and gets a lot of things wrong, but he articulates a point of view that is worth hearing. I wouldn’t take his advice on science but he is independent enough to call foul of the deceitful nature of the global warming cabal. He is ignorant about medicine but smart enough to see how it is being debased to serve political ends. He isn’t great but he is pretty good, and the two don’t have to be enemies.

[Mount Athos]

“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.”

So the “main theme” of your article is that you think the $1200 a year you pay medical insurance is very expensive?

If so, your entire argument is based on a misconception.

Realizing that might help you understand the responses you’re getting.

[SampleMan]

How many FReepers pay $1,200 a year for their medical insurance?

I know several people paying more than that per month for their coverage. If one considers an employers cost for healthcare to be a part of an employee's pay (as they should), then most everyone with healthcare is paying far in excess of $1200/year.

[autumnraine]

I pay 40 years into a plan, I am not a free loader. I am an investor.

[CMailBag]

Rep. Dan Rostenkowski Running from Seniors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TboXsOuMQGU

THIS is what Rush was talking about yesterday.

[RIghtwardHo]

Meh, Limbaugh’s been a fool for years. Haven’t listened to him in a VERY long time. Just another “news entertainment” clown.

[windsorknot]

Medicare is a financially untenable program run by an inept, corrupt government. For services rendered it is a stingy as you can get.

[Bob Ireland]

***My parents did not “leech” off of Medicare and paid for premiums***

Thank you for being able to read this post... apparently an unusual talent, eh?

[dhs12345]

And refund me the money that I (and my employer) have put into during my lifetime of work. Could be as much as a couple hundred grand.

Bottom line: it is a government run ponzi scheme.

[nickcarraway]

It’s not a question of whether you are a bad person, it’s a question of whether Medicare is a good program. By the way, you didn’t personally design Medicare did you?

[stonehouse01]

“..government doesn’t work..”

Amen Amen

Charity/alms no gov

[US Navy Vet]

“If boomers were as conservative as their parents”, The “Greatest Generation” wasn’t all that “conservative”.

[Bob Ireland]

***What did it cost the taxpayer?***

What did it cost me for years when I worked? Of course, that has nothing to do with this post.

[VRWCarea51]

So if have been on the system for 15 years you didn’t pay a DIME into the Medicare Perscription coverage portion!

Thanks for Playing along. Now if you would thank all your Freeper friends who some pay 10 times more for their own insurance AND pay yours thru the Medicare tax I am sure a few would appreciate it.