Where do all these seniors think Medicare comes from?

Obviously this isn't true of all seniors, but so many of the Teabaggers and vocal opponents of health care reform are seniors or people close to Medicare eligibility who simultaneously rail against "socialism" and "government-run health care," but then yell "don't touch my Medicare!"

Just asking: if not the government, where do they think Medicare comes from?

Just a guess.

:)

:sarcasm:

They are hepped up on Fear....which is it's own scary kind of drug...It gets the adrenalin running but doesn't necessarily do anything for clear thinking.

I'm not afraid either...I'll be a warm body of support a town hall meeting next week. I'll be damned if I let a bunch of crazy adled brained coots screw this up for everybody.

How many of the protesters are taking advantage of cash for clunkers?

They don't want any government programs but they sure as hell will participate if there is a benefit for them.

"I'm old. Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme!"

... because Lisa and Bart use his name as a fake identity when sending in screenplays for Itchy and Scratchy. When they ask Grandpa why he didn't get suspicious about the random checks he was getting in the mail, he says "I just thought it was because the Democrats were back in power."

episodes where Abe gives Bart a sack of money for his birthday and someone, I think it is Marge, asks him where he got the money and he says: "The government. I don't want it! I didn't earn it! But if they miss one payment, I'm gonna raise hell!"

so they want their share. Unfortunately it is much more than their share and the rest of us won't get our share at all. Wonder if Nat'l health care will be run same way?

Congress, the Prez, and federal employees will be exempt. Why? As long as it isn't good enough for them, why is it good enough for me?

under this plan, federal employees will continue to receive their health insurance from the same insurance provider they now have. They will be on the same plan you will be on. That plan as it now looks will provide that, if you are already insured, you keep the insurance provider you have as long as it is available to you. It is only if you don't have insurance or if your insurance ends for some reason that your insurance plan will be different.

In addition, your insurer will be subject to some new important rules -- like no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and limitations on rejecting people due to pre-existing conditions.

If you are now insured, you, like your congressman, will keep the insurance provider you now have or, at your choice and according to whatever specific rules apply to you when you wish to change that provider, a new insurance provider of your choice.

The insurance legislation has not been adopted or signed by the president, so a lot could change. But that is my understanding of the legislation most likely to pass.

I don't think this can be cost effective unless the insurance companies are done away with, big pharm is dealt with and EVERYONE is on the same plan.

under the new plan. They have a separate employer, so they will continue to get their insurance through their employer. The exchange idea has been adopted from the federal plan that members of Congress enjoy. There may be some differences, but there will also be differences in choices in other employer paid plans.

entitled to a different plan just because he's a congressman. Once again, it will never work unless the insurance companies are done away with, drug prices are dealt with and ALL are on the same plan. Otherwise we will make a nightmare (a bigger one) out of what we have now.

to pay for the new government run health care program?

I thought I read that somewhere.

So no longer will they 'get theirs', instead some 'welfare slacker' will be getting it while gramps eats dog food in order to pay for his Rx drugs.

:eyes:

it was the Republicans who fought it tooth-and-nail.

Their St. "Ronnie Raygun" even came out with a record talking against the evils of MediCare and it's "socialized medicine".

They are both on Medicare, but they don't get it. The husband listens to Rushbo a lot so it doesn't take long before he is ready to pop a gasket. About health care in Canada I get the "well I have a cousin in Canada and he had to...." routine which he somehow thinks that it proves that Canadians do not like their Medicare. I tell he and his wife, "follow the money", who is profiting from our system. Of course insurance companies do not want change, they are making money hand over fist. Members of Congress who are against healthcare reform, follow the money.

Then on top of it all their youngest son has MS and it is very expensive to treat. I asked them what would happen if he lost his insurance (through his wife) and they have 2 little kids and they admit that he would be screwed. My goddaughter is like a granddaughter to them and she is 17 and suffers from schizophrenia and has been hospitalized in the psych ward 8 times already this year for a total of months and she has maxed out her mom's insurance--they won't pay any more for her mental health care this year. This couple on Medicare cannot or will not grasp this even with upfront and personal examples, but they have doubts and opposition all because they are--Republicans.

It's the conservative way.

fund transfer because they can no longer see "United States Government" on their monthly checks.

Their payment to Medicare each month

just like my Social Security check that magically appears in my bank every month

But Medicaid only comes from the Easter Bunny, so it's not as good.

Nothing comes from the Tooth Fairy, because dental coverage always gets left out of everything.

No amount of proof i could provide to this person.
Would have convinced them otherwise.

"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administers Medicare...

Since the beginning of the Medicare program, CMS has contracted with private companies to operate as intermediaries between the government and medical providers.<5> These contractors are commonly already in the insurance or health care area. Contracted processes include claims and payment processing, call center services, clinician enrollment, and fraud investigation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States).


Medicare would be cheaper if it were gov't run.

There is an apocryphal story about a person saying that he shouldn't have to pay taxes to pay for government services because the government should pay for it! That's a whole lot of stupid! :crazy:

Everyone who currently has any form of health coverage is afraid of rationing--afraid that he or she will be denied a certain medical procedure or be forced to wait in line for it. And it is true--rationing will occur, but rationing occurs in every health system. We can either ration by price (as the current system does), or we can ration by need.

A single-payer system will ensure that everyone will receive adequate health care instead of a few receiving stellar health care.

Inefficiency is not the primary factor that's driving up the price of health care. Rather, it is the fast pace of new technology. Americans pay more for medicine, medical supplies, and medical equipment than citizens of other developed countries because our government (+ pharmaceutical industries, etc.) has decided that we should finance the research and development that will ensure that new cutting-edge technology will be available in the future. But why should the person who cannot afford health care NOW be expected to finance improved health care for the future?

Under a single-payer system, all will have access to current technology. However, we might have to accept limits to the pace of future technology. Are we willing to do this?