Obama Budget Squeezes Medicare—and Wealthier Seniors

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The only health care plan that I think would be suitable for the US is the German plan which uses private insurance companies that are regulated by the government. Premiums are paid by employeers and citizens with those who fall under certain income levels subsidised by the government. Rates and pay outs are fixed by the government and insurance committee to maintain uniformity. Everyone is required to be in the system except certain high income people can opt out. The German government lets very few opt out. About 90% are insured this way. This system seems to work quite well and isn't funded totaly by taxes. Unlike the British system where individuals cannot carry aditional insurance, Germans can if they want to pay the insurance company a higher premium for added benifits. The poor British are religated to the lowest common denominater. Even the Canadians come to the US and pay for services they have to wait forever for in Canada.

chet of ID 11:22AM March 02, 2009

I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW BAD ARE THE SENIORS GOING TO BE HIT WITH THIS MEDICARE BILL? I AM STARTING TO GET SCARED.

barb of WV 9:48AM March 02, 2009

We in the USA, have the worse features of the National Health Care and none of the benefits. We pay an enormous fee, either through taxes and our own funds or our employers and taxes yo fund a plan that rations and limits our access to .healthcare. This plan then decides if we should have treatment A or treatment B. We have spent all of our money on this plan and we can not try the alternative, if we disagree with the plan's decision. I know physicians and most agree that they are limited in their decision in our behalf. I guess the lawyer advocates are our only recourse. The problem is that the plans hold the MDs responsible and you are not sueing the guilty party. Malpractice should be filed to charge the plan, the really guilty party.

Amy Rosenberg of PA 9:23AM February 28, 2009

WHY CANT EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT OBAMA IS DOING IS ALL PART OF HIS MASTER PLAN OF CHANGE TO MARXISM. EVERYONE FOLLOWS LIKE SHEEP GOING TO THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE.THEY DONT EVEN SAY BAA

ARLENE CHIARA of NY 11:10AM February 27, 2009

February 27,2009 Many countries, with capitalistic mentalities would clap and sing (not as in the rivers clapping or the lakes singing in one of the chapters of Psalms..but in "who said life is precious"..let's pretend they're all miserable when they run out of coverage from their Aetna et al Insurance carrier, or from those who encourage them to be guinea pigs via clinical trials..and that it's "KEVORIKIAN TIME"(assisted suicide, ethuthanasia,etc)..time to reassess when they lost that "quality of life" which is so very obvious in the teens and collegiates as they sling and swing....or in our consumerate young adult who is trying to have the right possessions to be accepted..or our Dave Barry "turns 40 group and older groups" as they wonder what so ever should they do with the rest of their life beside rest and recuperations and helping the youngers raise their youngsters...It must be a challenge to think of all life as being precious...down to a "leaf" that falls naturally from the tree..but yes, we invest heavily in pets, be they mamal(dogs,cats,parrots,etc) or fish(betta etc)...One day we just might find the answers to what constitutes "Quality Of Life".

abj of PA 8:09AM February 27, 2009

AARP actually sponsors their own Medicare Advantage plan in cooperation with the health care giant United Health Care. AARP also sells Medigap plans. The Medicare Advantage plans that do not charge a premium are called Private Fee for Service plans and can be a risky choice. They do not have any contracted networks of providers which means doctors, hospitals or clinics may decide at any time to no longer accept tehir members. This is something that happens with disturbing regularity. Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplemental insurance policies have one thing in common, they are run by large corporations and their first obligation is to their stock holders not their policy holders. It is a shame that healthcare in the U.S. has become all about making the almighty dollar.

A Tartella of WA 11:42PM February 26, 2009

To all of you folks who voted for the Democrats, the cutting of the Advantage plan should be no surprise to you. I heard Hillary and Obama talking about those "nasty" private advantage plans during the primaries. When asked by a reporter in a news conference how he would pay for his universal health plan, Obama replied he would be taking a look at the waste in the Medicare Advantage plans. This guy is sticking the knife to seniors who don't have the voice to fight back. Did you know that AARP has also opposed the Advantage plans and has actively lobbied against them? That is one reason I can't support AARP. They are the enemy. The Advantage plan, Senior Dimensions in Nevada, has been a very good plan and has covered most of my medical needs. I pay co-payments for services and prescription drugs, but this administration is bringing all that to a close. Thanks Obama!!! This will mean at least a $250 bill for my husband and me. We are not even close to being rich; we live in an RV. Thanks again to Harry Reid and the rest of the Dumbocrats. Wake up. They are the enemy.

Carolyn Boneck of NV 8:01PM February 26, 2009

In the interest of providing healthcare services to many people who are currently uninsured, it is reasonable to consider the tremendous amount of end-of-life costs incurred by people who are miserable, while slowly dying for months, and even years.
Why not assist those who are suffering with a peaceful death when they so choose? Doing this would not only be humane--but would be kind, as well--and would allow a multitude of healthcare resources (medical and nursing staff, hospital and nursing home beds, therapists, pharmaceuticals--and the expense that these represent)to be available for others who may then have the prospect of a healthier and more productive future here on earth.

Sandy Wolff of CA 7:54PM February 26, 2009

Medicare Advantage is the one good part of medicare. People who have it aren't treated as an underclass like the rest of the medicare patients, they can get the same services as other insured people at a price they can afford, especially now that all of their savings have disappeared. If you want to talk about affordable health care for the elderly, then keep medicare advantage. The cost of insurange to supplement medicare is prohibitive for all but the wealthy retired people. What happened to helping the middle class.

Joyce Krupey of MN 7:34PM February 26, 2009

When I became eligible for Medicare, I received all the info and read through everything. Having worked for an employer over 20 years that paid all of my healthcare, dental, vision and Rx coverage I was literally thrown into the 'real world.' According to the info the Medicare Advantage Plan looked real real good at least on paper it did. Before committing to any Medicare coverage, I happen to be in my doctor's office and as I sat there I noticed a sign WE DO NOT ACCEPTED MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS and it listed every insurance company. I asked to see the lady that handles their insurance claims and explained I was in the process of contacting Medicare and she told me to stay away from the Advantage Plan. I got home and called another doctor's office and nope they didn't accept the Advantage Plan, I called the hospital and no way they didn't accept the Advantage Plan. I was very fortunate to see the notice in my doc's office when I did. I have the original Medicare and a secondary medigap policy and this has served me well. I just have to pay my deductible on Part B. Anyone even thinking about moving to the NC/SC border area and if you have Medicare Advantage you better check out your medical care.

CarolinaWoman of SC 7:11PM February 26, 2009