White House Proves GOP Wrong - Health Care Law Saved Medicare Money

[kpete]

The Obama administration announced Wednesday that the Medicare Advantage program, which allows seniors to receive health coverage through a private insurer, is enjoying lower costs and more customers as a result of the health care reform law.

Medicare Advantage enrollment has risen 10 percent over the last year while average premiums have fallen by 7 percent, said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. She also pointed out that similar improvements were seen the previous year.

The figures bolster President Obama’s defense of his signature achievement, and for Democrats it has the added bonus of refuting earlier Republican warnings that “Obamacare” would gravely undermine the choice provisions in Medicare.

“At the time the Affordable Care Act was passed, Republicans in Congress said the bill would virtually end the Medicare Advantage program,” declared senior White House staffer Nancy-Ann DeParle. “Those predictions turned out to be wrong. Medicare Advantage is stronger than ever — offering more seniors better benefits, higher quality care and lower costs.”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/did-health-care-reform-hurt-medicare-advantage-apparently-not.php?ref=fpa

[zipplewrath]

1. Of all the things wrong

This wasn't one of them. I was always surprised that the GOP tried to get away with this one. It was the one of the features that would be understood the quickest by the very folks that would care the most. I won't be surprised if participation goes up every year for 5 or so years. And it is saving the feds money in the process. By the time the GOP is in any position to modify Medicare again, you can bet they won't touch this one bit. Truth is, they may try to figure out how to expand it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. Disgusted by Democrats here and elsewhere who bought into the lie that "Obama

stripped $500 billion from Medicare!"

It was a lie prior to 2010! It's a BIG, FAT LIE NOW!!!!!!

Obama and the Democratic Party MUST do a better job educating people on the Affordable Care Act! Period!!

[CTyankee]

6. and joe scar was repeating that lie on MJ the other day with rep. debbie wasserman schultz

saying over and over again "that's a lie" and trying to respond but he just talked over her.

these bastards are getting nervous. They will be outed on their lies very soon. Then we will have won.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

14. Hear! Hear!

[nanabugg]

11. I wonder why there is no ad blitz on this in FL, AZ, PA...all attractive retirement states?

Who is running the show for Obama's campaign. They have missed many great opportunities. But I guess they don't want to make their move too soon. The American public usually remembers only the last thing they hear if they haven't set their mind in stone by the FIRST thing they hear.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

12. He probably won't kick it up in high gear until after the Repuke candidate is chosen.

Still, you're right!

Democrats--IN GENERAL--not just Obama need to educate the people! Where are his surrogates other than Axelrod tweeting?

[lunasun]

24. I dont think a great fact like this will get kicked anywhere except to the curb

Democrats--IN GENERAL--not just Obama cant seem to connect via social media or get the press to mantra anything good they have done.
Missed chances, missing the pulse .
IMHO

[nanabugg]

25. This was one thing that Bill Clinton very well. He got his message out in a way that educated the

voters. He did it often and well. Whoever is advising the President needs to get the show on the roadl Hit them hard right now to demoralize the GOPer during their most ridiculous campaign performances and then hit them again right before the elections.
But this stuff must be spread especially in those swing states and suffering red states. Why don't Dem superpacs do what tghe GOP superpacs do?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. Bill Clinton had an advantage that Obama does have. Bill had friends in the

Corporate Media who could go to back for him, not to mention quality surrogates, spokesmen, and very sharp Press Secretaries.

Obama, by stark contrast, is horrible at messaging, has hired very weak press secretaries, and has no friends in the M$M.

[Knight Hawk]

26. That is strange!

I am a senior living in Florida and have had Medicare Advantage for 3 years.I also have 42 years in the insurance industry.My Medicare Advantage plan went up at least 20% in Jan 2011.This year it stayed the the same.If you will research it you will find that 500 billion dollars was taken from the program.The reason why enrollement has increased is most likely, because of hard times, many seniors need the extra money in their SS check.The gov gives you a credit if you opt out of Medicare for Medicare Ad.Medicare advantage is a program for the the middle class and down.No one with a decent amount of money who studied the program would go into it.It is the opposite of Medicare.If you get sick on Medicare the medical industry makes money from the US gov to care for you.The sicker the better.In Medicare Ad the gov gives the insurance company a flat amount of money each year for each participant.So the trick is to spend as little money as possible on each insured.Poorer people are enticed to it by the credit they get on their SS check.I am luckily in excellent health so it works for me.It is a con game against the unwashed masses.

[redonhead]

36. redonhead

I guess we all have different experiences with Medicare Advantage. Mine has been exceptional. Outstanding hospital with all the latest technology, access to the best doctors in my area. Been with them for seven years and premium is 0..this year, been $10/$20 in different years. When my heart fell apart six years ago I was sent out of state to the best heart surgeon on the west coast, fixed me right up, gave me a 20 year warranty and sent me out the door. Can't get much better than that.
The recent overhauls have not lessened the care that I receive but has streamlined my facilities and doctors offices, it is really good.
Nuff said...thank you Obama.

[Hoyt]

40. I think your experience is like most. Coordinated, quality care is where it's at.

Glad you are better.

[RedCloud]

3. So much health care insurance money, so little truth.

QED

[Kingofalldems]

4. They will spin another lie about this one

[iandhr]

5. Republicans are full of ****?

SHOCKER

[hedgehog]

7. Not as much as Democrats who want to accuse Obama of

cutting entitlements every time he proposes a reform such as this.

Make sure government money actually goes to those who need it and not to sticky fingers in the middle; what an amazing concept!

[TBF]

8. Next step is to remove the age requirement from Medicare -

the system is in place and it works. Time for single payer.

[CAPHAVOC]

20. No doubt about it.

Medicare should be reformed and expanded to every citizen. Health Care is no longer an insurable risk. Insurance companies have no place in the current environment. Why the Democrats do not push for that is a wonder to me. Obamacare and Romneycare are not the answer. Health Care has become one of the few things the Government should Socialize. Along with the Military and Roads and bridges etc. The time has come.

[TBF]

21. Welcome to DU :)

nt

[lovuian]

22. that would be AWESOME!!!

I love that idea

[CAPHAVOC]

27. Original Medicare for all.

I think we should have the original medicare for all citizens paid by taxes. It only covered needed treatment for accidents and illness. It was affordable. There should not be a cut off point depending on income. All income should be taxed at the needed level. There was a 100 dollar deductible and then it paid 80% for Dr. Bills. You had to pay for your first day in the hospital and then you were covered 100% for 60 days. It worked. We would have to get the graft and fraud out. Back then there was not any because it was new.

[TBF]

30. Even that would be a way to start - especially for the folks under 65

you'd have to grandfather the retired folks or all kinds of issues would ensue.

As far as fraud, I'm not sure what to suggest. I'm guess I'm not as concerned about that because I think a lot of the screaming about fraud comes from republicans trying to pit working class folks against each other. Or cases where it's hard to see the injury. For instance, I happen to have arthritis but I'm not on disability because my medication works great and allows me to function pain-free. Others aren't so fortunate and have an incredible amount of pain and inflammation (which keeps you from moving - you'll have to trust me on this) - but you wouldn't necessarily see it. I can feel it when I'm swollen or stiff but if you looked at it without touching you wouldn't know it's inflammation. Doctors should be helpful in this regard though - they can tell from the blood work how bad the inflammation is. So, I guess tightening up some of the medical requirements if necessary would be a way to address this.

[CAPHAVOC]

32. Expand Medicare

Back then it did not cover RX. But they were not as expensive. But it did pay 80% of the tests. It did not cover Scooters and other such things. But if you had severe issues it was good to go. I think we are going to have to really go to a Triage system sooner or later. Health Care costs are so high with all the new technology. But nowdays health care is not insurable. It is impossible to underwrite and insurance companies should get out of the mix. The time has come for Socialized Medicine. It may not be a Caddy but it is a Ford. There are people in my classes that come from Socialized Medicine Countries and they say the quality is not as good but it is there if you need it. I think the Doc's would like it too if the pay was good. They hate the insurance companies. This warm winter is helping my arthritis.

[TBF]

33. Agree on all points

including the warm weather. We had an opportunity to move to Seattle last year and turned it down. A fabulous city, but I knew the constant dampness would be bad. When we had a drought last summer here in Texas it was so pleasant for me

BTW, I checked out your profile and wanted to wish you well with your career goals. I was a paralegal in another life (well the 90s - but it feels like a lifetime ago) and enjoyed it very much.

[CAPHAVOC]

39. We need all the help we can get.

Wrongful convictions are a blight on the Justice System.

[Robbins]

9. Romney

This proves he Is a big liar when he claims Obama cut 500 Million from Medicare.Of course he Is In favor of the ryan plan.

[Turbineguy]

10. Makes no difference to them

Truth is nothing. It's what they can make people believe that counts.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Who was it who said "Lies are half way 'round the globe while

truth is still putting on her sneakers"

[Bill USA]

16. mark Twain said: "A lie will fly around the world while the truth is pulling its boots on." ...

another great quote from MT!!

[FailureToCommunicate]

23. Thanks!

[Politicub]

15. That's awesome! Positive results speak louder than words n/t

[Bill USA]

17. This is great news. Dems should be repeating this and pointing out with derision how the GOP was

dead wrong ....AGAIN! They should be talking about this and LAUGHING AT the GOP!

The GOP: "The less they know, the harder they blow!"



... oh yeah, recommended!

[Recoverin_Republican]

18. A great slogan on the GOP which should be spread over the internet!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. Democrats should shout from the rooftops

[Historic NY]

28. The message from the WH or surrogates is very weak....people

scream its costing them money.

[DallasNE]

29. Care Needs To Be Taken In How This Is Framed

The government is not a for profit operation so the costs to the government may not be down that much because the savings are being passed on to the Medicare subscribers in lower premiums each month. Frame it as expanded coverage, higher quality care and lower premiums for seniors. Using the word "cost(s)" just muddies the water because there is no single cost which allows for cherry-picking the cost most favorable to a point of view making it a he said, he said situation where both are narrowly correct. Here the Whitehouse staffer has improperly framed the response.

[jpak]

34. K'ed R'ed and Bookmark'd

yup

[Iliyah]

35. oops, guess what

the misinformed gop voters will again vote against their own interest when voting gop, but thats exactly what the gop establishment is praying for.

[Cleita]

37. Whoop di do!

Medicare Advantage programs will undermine the system in the long run. Money needed for traditional Medicare is being siphoned off by those plans and frankly no doctors or clinics in my area will accept them leaving seniors to pay for their health care out of pocket instead. So Kathleen Sibelius needs to do her homework. I don't believe a word of this. Reality seems to be otherwise. I work for a doctor so I'm pretty close to the reality.

[Bandit]

38. Republicans wrong........Say it ain't so.....They believe they are always right...ALWAYS

and I can find no instance where they ever really were right....On anything what-so-ever...