Alas, Obama’s desire to make cuts to Medicare, whether by raising the age of eligibility, which is too stupid to be a real plan, or by making more and more cuts to providers, is not based on costs and solvency. He wants to cut SocSec and Medicare BECAUSE HE has learned from his wealthy mentors and donors that SocSec and Medicare are bad for the One Percenters.
I think Obama is not a really analytical or deep thinker, and, at some point in his being mentored and brought along by the wealthy, he swallowed the thinking of the wealthy and will not be reconsidering. He has their ideology down pat and has acquired some wealth under their tutelage and doesn’t need to think beyond that.
Insert Upton Sinclair quote here.
Hence, he despised we who are “the little single payer supporters” and liberals in this nation. That’s actualy liberals, not NeoLibs who may have some socially liberal ideas, but have right wing economic thinking.
Also, stunningly wrong! Good grief, look at the times spans mentioned, less that 5 years and they’re wrong. How does that happen?
Cutting payments to providers is actually a fantastic idea. How much should a single asprin given to you in the hospital cost? The $10.00 they now charge? Or something less? How many millions should the CEO of United Health Care corporation bring home in his/her paycheck each year? $20 million? $1 milllion? Or something less? How much profit should the Blue Cross and Blue Shield corporation make every year? $100 million? $30 million? Or something less? The amount of profit that the health care free marketeer providers make is a direct cost to the consumer. That would be each of us. The eligibilty age should be lowered and not raised.
Methinks I smells a rat! Who are these trustees? These predictions span Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama. The median crisis date during the Republican years is 15 years out. The median crisis during the Democratic years is 8 years out. The closest projection under the Republicans is 11 years out, under the Democrats it came as low as 4 under Obama. Not just wrong, but politically manipulated!
Imhotep, I was thinking about the direct providers, such as doctors and physical therapists, nursing homes and home aides (if covered??) — they’re the ones who, unless they’re in specialties which can command top dollar, often without insurance, who are hard pressed currently, mostly by the insurance companies.
Even Medicare, in its own way, per my PT people, puts the screws to physical therapy places and workers. They have to fill out forms and reports continually and, per this person, repetitiously. Doctors, as well. Now, they do like not having to call an insurance company repeatedly about referrals, etc., coverage, yada yada, but, still, the paperwork is onerous.
This may be the impression that this particular facility or person has of Medicare, so I would greatly appreciate input from people in the field who have actual experience with the paperwork required by Medicare.
Don’t get me wrong: On my 65th birthday I got the best birthday present I’ve ever, ever, ever received (T/U, LBJ!!!). But I do know that small practices find the paperwork more difficult that large ones, and with the small reimbursements they get, it’s pretty understandable why some may not accept Medicare patients.
So far, I’ve only encountered two doctors or practices which were rec’d to me that don’t take Medicare, but my docs have told me they only suggest those who they thought were taking Medicare patients.
I did learn that if I need to have my herniated discs worked on, Medicare will not cover the less invasive microsurgery operations. So I guess that’s three docs who won’t take me as a patient, the third able to do some things, but not the at present unapproved new method of dealing with herniated discs.
Alas, Obama’s desire to make cuts to Medicare, whether by raising the age of eligibility, which is too stupid to be a real plan, or by making more and more cuts to providers, is not based on costs and solvency. He wants to cut SocSec and Medicare BECAUSE HE has learned from his wealthy mentors and donors that SocSec and Medicare are bad for the One Percenters.
I think Obama is not a really analytical or deep thinker, and, at some point in his being mentored and brought along by the wealthy, he swallowed the thinking of the wealthy and will not be reconsidering. He has their ideology down pat and has acquired some wealth under their tutelage and doesn’t need to think beyond that.
Insert Upton Sinclair quote here.
Hence, he despised we who are “the little single payer supporters” and liberals in this nation. That’s actualy liberals, not NeoLibs who may have some socially liberal ideas, but have right wing economic thinking.
Also, stunningly wrong! Good grief, look at the times spans mentioned, less that 5 years and they’re wrong. How does that happen?
Cutting payments to providers is actually a fantastic idea. How much should a single asprin given to you in the hospital cost? The $10.00 they now charge? Or something less? How many millions should the CEO of United Health Care corporation bring home in his/her paycheck each year? $20 million? $1 milllion? Or something less? How much profit should the Blue Cross and Blue Shield corporation make every year? $100 million? $30 million? Or something less? The amount of profit that the health care free marketeer providers make is a direct cost to the consumer. That would be each of us. The eligibilty age should be lowered and not raised.
Methinks I smells a rat! Who are these trustees? These predictions span Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama. The median crisis date during the Republican years is 15 years out. The median crisis during the Democratic years is 8 years out. The closest projection under the Republicans is 11 years out, under the Democrats it came as low as 4 under Obama. Not just wrong, but politically manipulated!
Imhotep, I was thinking about the direct providers, such as doctors and physical therapists, nursing homes and home aides (if covered??) — they’re the ones who, unless they’re in specialties which can command top dollar, often without insurance, who are hard pressed currently, mostly by the insurance companies.
Even Medicare, in its own way, per my PT people, puts the screws to physical therapy places and workers. They have to fill out forms and reports continually and, per this person, repetitiously. Doctors, as well. Now, they do like not having to call an insurance company repeatedly about referrals, etc., coverage, yada yada, but, still, the paperwork is onerous.
This may be the impression that this particular facility or person has of Medicare, so I would greatly appreciate input from people in the field who have actual experience with the paperwork required by Medicare.
Don’t get me wrong: On my 65th birthday I got the best birthday present I’ve ever, ever, ever received (T/U, LBJ!!!). But I do know that small practices find the paperwork more difficult that large ones, and with the small reimbursements they get, it’s pretty understandable why some may not accept Medicare patients.
So far, I’ve only encountered two doctors or practices which were rec’d to me that don’t take Medicare, but my docs have told me they only suggest those who they thought were taking Medicare patients.
I did learn that if I need to have my herniated discs worked on, Medicare will not cover the less invasive microsurgery operations. So I guess that’s three docs who won’t take me as a patient, the third able to do some things, but not the at present unapproved new method of dealing with herniated discs.