medicare -- privitazation???

[DesertFlower]

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Sunday, October 14, 2007
Medicare 2008 premium hike low, but doctor pay remains unresolved ...



It is outrageous that all Medicare patients are helping subsidize overpayments to private insurance companies while only one in five Medicare patients participates in a private Medicare plan," said American Medical Association Board of Trustees Chair Edward L. Langston, MD. "Medicare patients' premiums are rising, yet the government is cutting payments to the doctors who care for them, which will make it harder for seniors to see the doctor.

"Many people have the mistaken notion that such a low Medicare premium increase is good news for seniors, but they forget that it's been rising five times faster than their Social Security checks," said Shannon Benton, executive director of the Senior Citizens League. "Medical expenses alone are leaving seniors to fend for themselves with all other rising costs."

"Increases in Medicare premiums are the result of overpayments to the insurance companies that are trying to privatize Medicare," said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D, Mich.). "These increases do not go unnoticed by seniors."

AMNews: Oct. 22/29, 2007. Medicare 2008 premium hike low, but doctor pay remains unresolved ... American Medical News


here's a short video. BTW. this information came from AARP.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zq1tgigO6_k

[Deja Q]

1. sounds like welfare.

If taxpayer money goes to government, why should the government use the money to line the pockets of HMO executives, who very likely won't be called to show proof of their efficacy?

After all:

1. Government can't seem to look after itself.
2. Some government officials like to say government ought to be ran like a business.
3. Businesses can't be bothered to look after themselves either.

Quite a recursive conundrum.

Who wants to marry a nerd with a big calculator? :7

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. So corporations can be trusted with the public welfare? Uh... on what planet?

I don't get to vote for CEOs. Leave me my govt. I get to decide who sits there. Corporations should be overseen. Govt. is for us to decide and to make our lives better. Can't stand it when right wingers start with the crap about how govt. is wasteful, while corporations are picking my pockets daily, destroying my environment, stealing resources and much more. Time for strong govt. Not this sh*t created by wingnuts.

[DesertFlower]

2. this was the cover letter. i should have posted this part first.

Medicare premiums have more than doubled since 2000.

Medicare doctors are facing cuts and may begin turning away patients.

Private insurance companies are receiving excessive payments from the government totaling billions of dollars – and taxpayers and people enrolled in Medicare are footing the bill.

If you’re outraged by these facts, you’re not alone. We need to let people know that these problems can’t be ignored any longer. If you agree, please forward this email to your family and friends. Or join in the conversation in chat rooms and websites like these:

http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2007/10/medicare-2008-premium-hike-low-but.html

http://www.capitolconnect.com/takeaction%5Faarp/

[msongs]

3. hmo's are rationed care, and too much money goes to overhead, not patient care nt