Bush agrees single payer health will save 1/3 of health costs!

[papau]

Bush Puts Higher Medicare Costs on More Seniors Moving to HMOs, PPOs


http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAKMGFW6QD.html
By Mark Sherman Associated Press Writer
Published: Feb 2, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration figures that more than 12 million seniors will be enrolled in managed care plans under Medicare within five years, a threefold increase that is driving higher cost estimates for the new Medicare law(1/3rd higher cost). <snip>

CBO projects that about 15 percent of Medicare participants will sign up for managed care plans. The administration said in the proposed budget released Monday that more than 30 percent of seniors will be in managed care by 2009. <snip>


"The bottom line is that, despite Republican rhetoric, the government actually pays more for each Medicare beneficiary who enrolls in an HMO or other private plan," Stark said.

COMMENT: OK - Will broadcast media note the lie by the GOP that is now a confessed lie -given the reason for the new budget's increase in estimated cost of the Medicare Drug benefit?

GOP prevents single payer health, saying "market forces" will keep costs down - and then assumes they are successful in getting more Seniors to sign up for "market forces" HMO/PPO plans - then says these plans will cost more than the Government run version of Medicare drug benefit - so by pushing folks into the "market forces" plan, we get higher costs.

We need market forces to keep costs down, and by the way, they will cost more if they are used to provide the drug benefit than the drug benefit would cost when it is run by the government!


AT WHAT POINT DOES THE MEDIA GET THE SPINE TO SAY THAT THE GOP ARE LIARS - indeed the media by not saying anything are in effect liars themselves.

[revcarol]

1. Dennis was right all along!!

But the media will ignore Republican lies, and stealing our national treasure for profit.

REPUBLICAN GREED MAKES ME SICK!!:puke:

[MMT]

2. "Dennis was right all along!!"

but we knew that.

Heck, the GAO's been saying that forever too.

[flaminbats]

3. Indeed the media by not saying anything are in effect liars themselves..

Every time I read your posts, I am always left wondering what your basic point is! I have read much of what you have posted on different subjects..but usually finish even more confused on whether you were being sarcastic, thoughtful, or just neutral regarding the subject matter.

In regard to the media, I suppose one could say they are liars because they no longer rely on the professional standards established by journalists in the past. But if it is spine you are worried about, the media routinely labels Democrats liars every day...even though they are not the party in power.

In regard to your main topic..:wtf: First of all, the CBO estimates are made by Congress..not by the White House ie OMB. Secondly, Medicare is not a singlepayer health-care system...rather it is just part of our larger multi-payer..private and public health-care mess! Single-payer means that everyone pays into a single insurer, and the single insurer covers all of the public's medical bills. Finally, there is not one mention of singlepayer health-care in your link.

The only thing even coming close to such a suggestion came from Democratic Congressman Pete Stark..hardly a spokesman for this administration!

[papau]

4. thanks for the heads-up - - and back to media liars re medicare

The CBO estimates are indeed meant to be unbiased - for all of Congress - unlike the OMB that must frame their work to please the e White House.

We disagree as to Medicare as a singlepayer health-care system...for those on Medicare it is a single payer system in the terms used in today's debate where payments are made to a single paper and the forms used and rules for claims come from a single source. Like most single payer systems, you are free to buy better coverage from an insurer (Medi-gap coverage) but you need not.

My statement that Bush conceeds the higher cost of non-single payer is indeed incorrect - CBO is not bush - but it is an "official" source.

As to single payer advocates, Dean to Hillary to indeed most Democratic Party folks advocate single payer - indeed in 93 beating back Hillary on single payer was one of the achievements of the insurance company lobbying that I followed/worked with. Bill thought he had a deal with the insurance companies - because we told him he had a deal - to avoid a war and to allow the legislation to win in Congress as long as he killed single payer cost savings and simplicity - and then we went out and did the Harry and Louise ads about the "complex proposal"!

:-) you've got to love it!..sigh ... (I am not on the health side of insurance or finance - and I was pissed - but the ability of the right to con Dems is really amazing)

[Mairead]

5. "Dean, Hillary, indeed most Dem Party folks advocate single payer"

That's not so. To 'advocate' means to say 'this is the right idea, this is what we must do'. Saying 'it would be best but it's not practical' is not 'advocat{ing}', it's paying dismissive lip service.

[papau]

6. Can one advocate and still compromise?

I agree DK is solid on the issues - more so than the others

but it is my opinion that the babystep Clinton approach after 94 was more effective than the failed rewrite of the health system (granted that even this effort was a compromise to keep ins co's from fighting it - which they then broke their promise and did fight it)

But Bush has destroyed so much - nothing is more important to me than getting Bush out.

[boobooday]

7. It only makes sense

I don't get it. How could it be a good thing for people to profit off of other people's illnesses? Or from denying care?

This is my number one issue. That's why I'm a Kucinich supporter!

Jeanette

http://www.wgoeshome.com