FACT CHECK: Democrats are distorting the fundamentals of Republican plan to reshape Medicare

The new chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., led the charge this week in an appearance on CBS’ ”Face the Nation.” The DNC and its Republican counterpart are the primary money-raisers in politics and often temples of exaggeration as they convert controversy into cash for the campaigns.

A look at Wasserman Schultz’s statements and how they compare with the facts:

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WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: “They would take the people who are younger than 55 years old today and tell them: ‘You know what, you’re on your own. Go and find private health insurance in the health care insurance market; we’re going to throw you to the wolves and allow insurance companies to deny you coverage and drop you for pre-existing conditions. We’re going to give you X amount of dollars, and you figure it out.’”

THE FACTS: First, the Ryan plan explicitly forbids insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone who qualifies for Medicare, including those who have pre-existing illnesses. Second, it does not merely send money to the elderly and leave them to their own devices in arranging for medical care.

The plan calls for Medicare to stay the same for people 55 and older. But starting in 2022, new beneficiaries would get their health insurance from competing private insurers instead of from the government. The government would offer subsidies to pay for the coverage and set standards that insurers must follow. One condition, says the plan, is that participating insurers “agree to offer insurance to all Medicare beneficiaries, to avoid cherry-picking and ensure that Medicare’s sickest and highest-cost beneficiaries receive coverage.”

Full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/fact-check-democrats-are-distorting-the-fundamentals-of-republican-plan-to-reshape-medicare/2011/06/02/AGeHW0GH_story.html

DWS' FTN appearance: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x587402

premium payment on the insured. The government would pay the remaining 32% to the insurer. It's a direct pay voucher from the government for a portion of the total premium. Dana ; )

still too much left to the vagaries of the private insurance market. where does it say that they will have to participate?

ellen fl

:shrug:

Are the Republicans actually planning on MAKING them do anything they don't want to do. Ryancare, curiously, seems to do almost the exact same things as Obamacare- only for the elderly. So, how are the Republicans o.k. with Ryancare (and for that matter, Romneycare) and not with Obamacare since they all basically do the same thing? Are they going to mandate that the elderly purchase health insurance coverage too or are they going to decry it as tyranny and an affront a senior citizen's freedom and make it optional?
:wtf:

but show me where there is a cap to the premiums or where they can't make the out of pocket expenses so high a person won't be able to afford to use the "coverage" they're paying for.

This sounds a lot like the mandate scam in the Insurance Profit Protection Act and is quite clearly just another way to shovel public dollars into private companies.

The companies will certainly deny coverage for claims and trump up other reasons for cancellation rather than paying out; that is the standard business model of private insurance. The claims of 'checks' on their behavior would dissolve under lobbying and the actual letter of regulation implementing the law, should this abominable plan to kill millions of old folks through inattention and medical neglect, while stuffing more cash into the pockets of the wealthy few, ever come to pass in the United States.

expectations every quarter. Companies must improve their
earnings and profits every quarter. The RATINGS AGENCIES
are Johnny on the spot and if the companies do not meet
expectations, they can be rated downward. This is anathema
for both the Company and Wall ST. Often the only way to
increase earning is to raise premiums. As a result the
consumer gets the hit.

The 55 to 40 year old will be exposed to constantly increased
costs and no government protection.

Secondly this is the age at which "Chronic Illnesses", COPD,
Deabetes, Heart problems, High blood Pressure, Kidney Problems
begin to show up in a person's life. It will be much harder
for them to get good insurance coverage at a cost they can afford.

But, the media will only invite the republicans to the debate, No Democrats need apply.

Why post this article on the DU?

It is a megacorporation with a dog in this fight and so its "fact checking" is beyond suspect.

so it doesn't mean a fucking thing to say insurers are not allowed to deny coverage. OF course they can deny coverage ... if you can't fucking afford it. the CBO estimates the out-of-pocket costs to the insured would MORE THAN DOUBLE. to the average family this means they will be without insurance.



http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3453

"Moreover, CBO estimates that the total health care costs attributable to Medicare beneficiaries would be considerably higher under the private insurance plans they would purchase under the Ryan plan than under a continuation of traditional Medicare, because private plans have higher administrative expenses and higher payment rates for providers. Since the Ryan proposal would reduce the federal government's contribution for beneficiaries' health care costs even as it caused total costs to increase, beneficiaries' out-of-pocket spending would rise dramatically.

In 2022, the first year the voucher would apply, CBO estimates that total health care expenditures for a typical 65-year-old would be almost 40 percent higher with private coverage under the Ryan plan than they would be with a continuation of traditional Medicare. (See graph.) CBO also finds that this beneficiary's annual out-of-pocket costs would more than double — from $6,150 to $12,500. In later years, as the value of the voucher eroded, the increase in out-of-pocket costs would be even greater. "


does the Ryan so-called plan include anything for the increased costs to the Governemnt (the taxpayers) for the increased payments to hospitals and doctors for caring for those who don't have insurance and can't pay(Disproportionate share payments)? These costs would skyrocket as the number of people who couldn't afford insurance would explode in the next 10 years to 20 years.

what the hell happened?

Can't afford to be accused of having a liberal bias

When he became Inquisitor-General hunting President Clinton, the Post's publisher signed on in loyal gratitude, and the paper has never looked back....