AARP loses members over health care stance

Gill said:

Yeah, and the government never gives handouts do they?

The insurance companies administer the Advantage program, which costs money. Would you like private insurance to pull completely out?

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Is Medicare a health insurance program for seniors or is it a handout to the private sector? If private insurance cannot compete in terms of cost with traditional Medicare, then yes they need to get out. Paying them 12% more only accelerates the future insolvency of the program.

Millions of seniors prefer the Advantage program over standard medicare.

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Of course they do, because its a taxpayer handout. Who doesn't like free money? They would not prefer it if the private insurance companies billed them for the cost difference instead of just passing it on to other taxpayers.

We have a social contract with seniors. In exchange for them working and paying FICA taxes for 40 quarters (only 10 years), they are eligible for Medicare Part A and B once they retire even though most of them will receive far more in benefits than they ever paid in. Subsidizing coverage through the private sector at a 12% greater cost to the taxpayer is not part of that deal. If they want their coverage provided through the private sector, then fine, they need to pay the difference.

When my premiums go up every year (and a lot more than their medicare premiums at that), when medical coverage for my family is a significant burden for my family, why should I as a working taxpayer pay the 12% increase in costs to subsidize the additional costs for them to get insurance through the private sector?

When my premiums go up every year (and a lot more than their medicare premiums at that), when medical coverage for my family is a significant burden for my family, why should I as a working taxpayer pay the 12% increase in costs to subsidize the additional costs for them to get insurance through the private sector?

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The same reason that I shouldn't be forced to pay for a 28 y.o. single guy making $50,000/year for his government health coverage that he doesn't buy on the open market because he'd rather go out partying every weekend.

Gill said:

The same reason that I shouldn't be forced to pay for a 28 y.o. single guys government health coverage that he doesn't buy on the open market because he'd rather go out partying every weekend.

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I agree with you. I am just pointing out the hypocrisy here in some seniors railing against socialism when they benefit more from it than any other demographic in America.

Gill said:

The same reason that I shouldn't be forced to pay for a 28 y.o. single guy making $50,000/year for his government health coverage that he doesn't buy on the open market because he'd rather go out partying every weekend.

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You'd pay more if said person is uninsured.

Without using the word socialism, since Social Security and Medicare are leftist ideas borrowed from democratic/socialist countries that everyone likes so much, tell me what the hell is wrong with covering the uninsured by revamping Medicare to make it more efficient. All the while leaving all the folks who love their overpriced monopolistic policies to make their own decision. Don't say cost. Cost wasn't an issue when Bush did $1 Trillion worth of tax cuts. Cost wasn't an issue when the government added entire departments to do things like elevate terror levels to orange. Cost wasn't an issue when hawks cried out for war. And especially it isn't an issue when half of the new plan will be paid for by reforming an inefficient program like Medicare and making it BETTER. And the other half is paid for by people who have enough money and more write-off options than me. If I made 10x more than I do currently (25k/yr) I would feel honored to help the uninsured. To pay back the country that enabled me to make 250k in the first place. So please, tell me what is so wrong with HELPING PEOPLE. Bush didn't even try. He ignored the health care problem. At least we see an effort again. An effort that is up for good debate, serious discussion, and what I hope would be serious consideration.

Is anyone still discussing AARP's stance? The bottom line to me is that AARP has aligned itself with SEIU, an organization bent on global domination. I just clipped this from their website:
These people conspired with ACORN, a criminal enterprise, to corrupt the Nevada and other state's presidential election processes. For their efforts a huge chunk of the "stimulus package" has found it's way into their pockets. Blatent corruption in my opinion! If AARP is associated with this then I am not associated with them, and I will speak out against it at every opportunity.

LowRevs said:

Is anyone still discussing AARP's stance? The bottom line to me is that AARP has aligned itself with SEIU, an organization bent on global domination. I just clipped this from their website:

Coming Together in Global Partnerships
SEIU is committed to ensuring that the benefits of globalization are shared with workers and their families--not just corporate elites. Increasingly, service sector corporations are becoming multinational employers, with branches and partnerships that employ workers around the globe.
SEIU's Global Organizing program works with partner unions and global union federations to organize these workers across borders.

​

These people conspired with ACORN, a criminal enterprise, to corrupt the Nevada and other state's presidential election processes. For their efforts a huge chunk of the "stimulus package" has found it's way into their pockets. Blatent corruption in my opinion! If AARP is associated with this then I am not associated with them, and I will speak out against it at every opportunity.

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Corrupt nevada and other state's elections? You had contractors getting paid for registrations who turned in faulty registrations to get paid money. ACORN is required by law to turn in all voter registrations even one's they've marked questionable it is the state that is required to sort through them and toss out the invalids. Do you have proof that acorn got a "huge chunk" of the stimulus package money?

celticlord said:

AARP loses members over health care stance - USATODAY.com


One of the largest voting blocs in the nation is doing a bit of early voting with their feet on GovernmentCare. They don't want it.

This country is making one message loud and clear--these health care "reform" efforts are not what the people want.

So why is the majority party ignoring the people who elected them?

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60,000 out of 40 million? What a blow! If this sort of thing happens on a monthly basis, the AARP's only got... 55 years to live!

PogueMoran said:

Corrupt nevada and other state's elections? You had contractors getting paid for registrations who turned in faulty registrations to get paid money. ACORN is required by law to turn in all voter registrations even one's they've marked questionable it is the state that is required to sort through them and toss out the invalids. Do you have proof that acorn got a "huge chunk" of the stimulus package money?

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Perhaps you missed this....

On Monday, Nevada officials charged Acorn, its regional director and its Las Vegas field director with submitting thousands of fraudulent voter registration forms last year. Larry Lomax, the registrar of voters in Las Vegas, says he believes 48% of Acorn's forms "are clearly fraudulent." On Thursday, prosecutors in Pittsburgh, Pa., also charged seven Acorn employees with filing hundreds of fraudulent voter registrations before last year's general election.

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Elsewhere, Washington state prosecutors fined Acorn $25,000 after several employees were convicted of voter registration fraud in 2007. The group signed a consent decree with King County (Seattle), requiring it to beef up its oversight or face criminal prosecution. In the 2008 election, Acorn's practices led to investigations, some ongoing, in 14 other states.

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More Acorn Voter Fraud Comes to Light - WSJ.com

Or this?

Obama’s Bill Hands ACORN $5.2 Billion Bailout

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 7:06 PM

By: David A. Patten




A rising chorus of GOP leaders are protesting that the blockbuster Democratic stimulus package would provide up to a whopping $5.2 billion for ACORN, the left-leaning nonprofit group under federal investigation for massive voter fraud.

Most of the money is secreted away under an item in the now $836 billion package titled “Neighborhood Stabilization Programs.”

Ordinarily, neighborhood stabilization funds are distributed to local governments. But revised language in the stimulus bill would make the funds available directly to non-profit entities such as ACORN, the low-income housing organization whose pro-Democrat voter-registration activities have been blasted by Republicans. ACORN is cited by some for tipping the scales in the Democrats' favor in November.

According to Fox news, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., could appear to be a “payoff” for community groups’ partisan political activities in the last election cycle.

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Newsmax.com - Obama’s Bill Hands ACORN $5.2 Billion Bailout

One would think you were a lib at heart, not a centrist... what planet have you been living on in the last year?

Crunch said:

Perhaps you missed this....





More Acorn Voter Fraud Comes to Light - WSJ.com

Or this?



Newsmax.com - Obama’s Bill Hands ACORN $5.2 Billion Bailout

One would think you were a lib at heart, not a centrist... what planet have you been living on in the last year?

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Lib at heart? I try dealing with the facts. Again I ask how exactly they corrupted the election? What you have mostly is people filing fraudulent voter registration forms to get paid. So how exactly can someone corrupt an election when it would take actual people going to the polls under those names and voting.

Also your article states according to GOP sources the bill could provide money to acorn. So again I ask you do you have proof that they actually got money from the stimulus bill?

I live on the planet earth in the united states of america which planet do you spend most of your time? It's obviously not here if you think newsmax is a reliable source. Why not quote the john birch society while you're at it?

SouthernDemocrat said:

I agree with you. I am just pointing out the hypocrisy here in some seniors railing against socialism when they benefit more from it than any other demographic in America.

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If Medicare is so great how come most people feel compelled to get supplements?

And by the way, were medicine socialized, only the rich would be able to get those same supplements....

PogueMoran said:

Lib at heart? I try dealing with the facts. Again I ask how exactly they corrupted the election? What you have mostly is people filing fraudulent voter registration forms to get paid. So how exactly can someone corrupt an election when it would take actual people going to the polls under those names and voting.

Also your article states according to GOP sources the bill could provide money to acorn. So again I ask you do you have proof that they actually got money from the stimulus bill?

I live on the planet earth in the united states of america which planet do you spend most of your time? It's obviously not here if you think newsmax is a reliable source. Why not quote the john birch society while you're at it?

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Did you read the articles?.... I thought not.

Dav said:

If Medicare is so great how come most people feel compelled to get supplements?

And by the way, were medicine socialized, only the rich would be able to get those same supplements....

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You are unfortunately arguing based on some misconceptions.

First off, Medicare is the very definition of a socialized program. Its a government insurance program for the elderly, financed through payroll taxes levied on Americans still in the work force.

Secondly, as to why seniors many times get Medicare supplements. If you are insured either through an individual policy or a group policy through your employer, then you of course have some gaps in coverage with your policy. For example, you almost certainly pay a copay when going to the doctor (usually around 30 dollars a visit), you have a deductible, you have a coinsurance of around 20% to 30%, and you have medical services that are simply not covered.

If you are young and in good health, you probably do not utilize medical services that often. At most you are probably getting an annual check up and visiting the doctor in the rare event you get sick with strep or something like that. So the gaps in coverage under your insurance policy, things like copays and coinsurance, are not a big financial burden for you in terms of out of pocket expenses. In the event they are, then generally you would just sign up for a flexible spending account through your employer and thus set aside a small portion pre-tax each pay period to pay for out of pocket expenses.

Medicare is just like your insurance that you have now, it has copays, coinsurance and so on. However, seniors utilize medical services far more than younger people do. So those copays and coinsurance are much more of a financial burden to them. Moreover, as they are retired, they do not have the option that workers have of setting up a flexible spending account. As a result, many of them opt to purchase a Medicare Supplement to cover the gaps in Medicare coverage for them and thus limit their out of pocket expenses as much as possible.

Seniors love their Medicare though. That's why these fear tactics that some on the right are engaging in now are so effective with them.

Survey: Medicare Beneficiaries Report Greater Satisfaction With Insurance, Better Access To Care Than Enrollees In Employer-Sponsored Plans

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More here: Survey: Medicare Beneficiaries Report Greater Satisfaction With Insurance, Better Access To Care Than Enrollees In Employer-Sponsored Plans - The Commonwealth Fund

Edify_Always_In_All_Ways said:

60,000 out of 40 million? What a blow! If this sort of thing happens on a monthly basis, the AARP's only got... 55 years to live!

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It took AARP over a month to acknowledge my request that they cancel my membership. I have not received a refund of unapplied dues yet. Could it be that they are flooded with requests for cancellation. Just a speculation but could be.

What makes you think they are telling the media everything. They have no obligation to do so. Since they are aligned with SEIU/ACORN they are in fact in support of the HR3200. They said they are not in support of any bill. That's a lie. They can obfuscate that there's no bill yet, but bottom line they had Obama on an on-line townhall, fed him softball questions he had obviously agreed to and allowed their forum to be flooded by administration agents (ACORN). Can I prove ACORN was there? Nope, but I was there and that's what happened in my opinion.

They may be representing labor or the communist party but they are certainly not representing senior citizens.

JimboJ said:

Here is a pretty good overview of the competition in US health insurance markets: Competition in Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Study of U.S. Markets, 2007 Update (PDF)

Seeing a market share of 50 to 90 percent in many markets seems pretty concentrated to me.

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The term in question here is "monopoly", not "concentration".