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.
Then please campaign to cancel the program... I don't mind. Just have them stop charging me when they stop the benefits.
Haven't had to pay for health insurance out in the market lately, have you? I pay twice that and I have a company that provides reasonably priced coverage.
Part b? What about Part a? Do you pay a dime for that?? I do! I pay 2.9% of my income to that welfare crap!
Sucks to be you, and me, by extension . . . because I'm being asked to carry "your" Ponzi "investment" forward.
Then please campaign to end the program... I do not mind.
And yet, they are still more conservative than boomers. Which, speaks volumes.
Really, anyone who has a serious illness/surgery/hospitalization gets back more benefits than they pay into ANY insurance plan
I'm also a Medicare recipient and wish I weren't. I had good coverage with Blue Shield for a reasonable cost but was forced to take Medicare because Blue Shield drops you at 65, so it's Medicare or nothing. Although I'm healthy with no chronic medical conditions, it would be foolish not to take the Medicare coverage, such as it is. However, because I have little choice in the matter, I certainly don't consider myself a 'leech'. The Medicare coverage isn't free and I have no say in the premiums.
If Rush uses that term and means it, he is badly misinformed, which I doubt. Of course when you make 40 million or so every year like Rush does - and I don't begrudge it to him - it's going to be hard to relate to someone who has to take the government medical insurance or have nothing. That may be the crux of the problem if Limbaugh actually refers to Medicare recipients as 'leeches'.
Given the premise of your first post is true, isn't that what Rush is doing?
You are UNEDUCATED!
“How many FReepers pay $1,200 a year for their medical insurance?”
Are you really that disconnected with reality? Even when employers pay for some of the medical insurance costs, many families pay that EACH MONTH.
Your Medicare Part B premiums only cover 25% of the actual costs. By law, the remaining 75% comes from General Revenues. This represents a subsidy by current taxpayers.
Uneducated and ignorant too! Oh my.
No, no I’m not.
You say, “we paid for it, we should get what we paid”.
So then, exempt everyone under 65 since what you paid into it should be sufficient for you to live off in your retirement.
35 posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2013 2:32:44 PM by Bob Ireland (The Democrat Party is a criminal enterprise)
I don't Care who you are, that there is FUNNY. The above comment comes from somone who never paid a dime in the perscription Coverage part of Medicare.
Bob, Care to compare what percentage of your income you had to hand over in SSI taxes during your lifetime? How about Dollar amounts. I guarentee you at 35 years old I had already paid in a Larger Percentage and 3-5 times what you paid. Thanks Bob. I think we all pretty much get your drift. Something like, BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I Want my FREE STUFF!
“I pay 40 years into a plan, I am not a free loader. I am an investor.”
Would you like to get rich? I discovered this fantastic Multi-Level Marketing program that you can’t lose money on.
Message me for details, we don’t let too many join so as to keep the profits high.
(sarcasm in good fun, no offense intended)
So exempt everyone under 65. Simple. :)
Out of MY paycheck comes SS and Medicare taxes.
I get nothing now nor will I get anything later for it.
People who did not earn my money take it.
I pay property taxes for garbage built years ago when YOU floated bonds because you didn’t want to pay for it.
I’m stuck paying for retired municipal employees who milked the system that YOU supported for years.
Our most-deserving uniformed military are awarded a bare pittance compared to what they have EARNED!
Whatever you pay now for your “insurance” is not enough. You are receiving welfare. Face it, accept it and ST*U about it, except to say thank you.
Sick to death of greedy geezers complaining. YOU ARE THE REASON for most of the current problems.
Go ahead and flame. You’ve been blowing hot gas for years.
Thank you for clarifying this about Part A and Part B. I did not wish to get too detailed, because I am not talking about what about 90% of the posters on this thread keep babbling about.
Veterans should not have to pay for healthcare - especially service-related disabilities. As for the rest of us: go ahead and cancel the whole thing - and stop charging me for it if you do that.
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