Why Would the AARP Support State-Sponsored Euthanasia?

[alienlovechild 75]

Well, if that's the way it is and government run health care is so bad, then why did not a single Republican support Congressman Weiner's (D, NY) proposal to abolish Medicare?

Old folks vote and they were bribed with Medicare. Medicare and Social Security can't be sustained in the future but neither can reformed due to political pressure. It's kind of like members of Congress who vote against defense spending unless a base or manufacturer is in their district. Same for farm subsidies.

Either way, they're making themselves quite irrelevant in this debate.

That usually happens when you don't control Congress.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Well, if that's the way it is and government run health care is so bad, then why did not a single Republican support Congressman Weiner's (D, NY) proposal to abolish Medicare?

Old folks vote and they were bribed with Medicare. Medicare and Social Security can't be sustained in the future but neither can reformed due to political pressure.

So now, there's an admission here that government programs like Social Security and Medicare can and do work, or Americans wouldn't like them so much. I'm glad someone from the Right finally admits that government programs can and do work. Phew.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, if that's the way it is and government run health care is so bad, then why did not a single Republican support Congressman Weiner's (D, NY) proposal to abolish Medicare?

Old folks vote and they were bribed with Medicare. Medicare and Social Security can't be sustained in the future but neither can reformed due to political pressure. It's kind of like members of Congress who vote against defense spending unless a base or manufacturer is in their district. Same for farm subsidies.

But according to the Republicans, Americans would be much better off without this socialist scam of government run health insurance. Are our seniors not Americans? Help me out here, man.

[alienlovechild 75]

Well, if that's the way it is and government run health care is so bad, then why did not a single Republican support Congressman Weiner's (D, NY) proposal to abolish Medicare?

Old folks vote and they were bribed with Medicare. Medicare and Social Security can't be sustained in the future but neither can reformed due to political pressure.

So now, there's an admission here that government programs like Social Security and Medicare can and do work, or Americans wouldn't like them so much. I'm glad someone from the Right finally admits that government programs can and do work. Phew.

Creating a class of citizens dependent on huge programs which drain the economy and steal from future generations isn't a measure of success. They can always tax more to fund these programs or rack up the deficit. Those programs won't recognizable long before global warming kills us off. Maybe that's part of the plan?

[alienlovechild 75]

But according to the Republicans, Americans would be much better off without this socialist scam of government run health insurance. Are our seniors not Americans? Help me out here, man.

If they weren't Americans, how could they vote? Are you claiming all Medicare recipients are illegal aliens? Does that help you out?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, if that's the way it is and government run health care is so bad, then why did not a single Republican support Congressman Weiner's (D, NY) proposal to abolish Medicare?

Old folks vote and they were bribed with Medicare. Medicare and Social Security can't be sustained in the future but neither can reformed due to political pressure.

So now, there's an admission here that government programs like Social Security and Medicare can and do work, or Americans wouldn't like them so much. I'm glad someone from the Right finally admits that government programs can and do work. Phew.

Creating a class of citizens dependent on huge programs which drain the economy and steal from future generations isn't a measure of success. They can always tax more to fund these programs or rack up the deficit. Those programs won't recognizable long before global warming kills us off. Maybe that's part of the plan?

Interesting detail n that part - Medicare contributions are 2.9% today. They were 2.9% in 1999 and were 2.9% in 1989. Rate increase over the last 20 years: a whopping 0%. Private insurance coverage premiums, on the other hand, have more than doubled over the last 10 years alone.

How's that for draining the economy and stealing not only from future but also from present generations?

But according to the Republicans, Americans would be much better off without this socialist scam of government run health insurance. Are our seniors not Americans? Help me out here, man.

If they weren't Americans, how could they vote? Are you claiming all Medicare recipients are illegal aliens? Does that help you out?

I'm not claimng that at all. I am trying to bridge the gap in the Republican's argument. Thought a fellow GOP'er could help me out on that end.

Edited August 8, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[alienlovechild 75]

Interesting detail n that part - Medicare contributions are 2.9% today. They were 2.0% in 1999 and were 2.9% in 1989. Rate increase over the last 20 years: a whopping 0%. Private insurance coverage premiums, on the other hand, have more than doubled over the last 10 years alone.

How's that for draining the economy and stealing not only from future but also from present generations?

You ignore the demographics involved as less people pay into Medicare and SS yet the baby boomers are starting to drain the system which explains why it is going broke.

If you really believe what you're saying. Feel free to send a portion of your salary every month and I'll pay for the medical needs when you hit 65. If I don't have money to cover costs, I'll take it from your kids. Good idea?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Single payer healthcare for all, paid for out of the general fund solves all the problems. Why is everyone so scared of the final solution?

[DIARD 1]

I really wouldn't mind paying for health care via insurance if the insurance did what it was meant to and I could understand what was covered, and get the things I want covered using an understandable, fair and predetermined set of rules and fees. That's not what is offered though and I don't like having to worry about not knowing if I could afford to pay if...that's the nightmare of this stupid system.

I agree with this 100%. My children are actually covered through their Dad's work. . But the rules and the double speak are ridiculous. My daughter was hospitalized 3 times last year so the deductible was met back in February. Ok so when she went to the hospital the 2nd time I get a bill for $704 for the Emergency room physician. I called and told them the deductible had been met and to rebill the insurance. I was told my insurance wasn't covering it. So I call the insurance.....the reason it isn't covered is because the doctor is OUT OF NETWORK. WHAT?!?! How can he be when it states right on Blue cross website that the hospital is a PREFERRED NETWORK PROVIDER??? This wasn't a doctor visit but an emergency in which my child was subsequently taken by ambulance to a special childrens hospital for 10 days. So I guess next time you are bleeding to death at the emergency room better make the doctor on call is IN NETWORK.

Anyone who doesn't think we need healthcare insurance reform hasn't had to really use the healthcare system much. IMO

[mendeleev 68]

I really wouldn't mind paying for health care via insurance if the insurance did what it was meant to and I could understand what was covered, and get the things I want covered using an understandable, fair and predetermined set of rules and fees. That's not what is offered though and I don't like having to worry about not knowing if I could afford to pay if...that's the nightmare of this stupid system.

I agree with this 100%. My children are actually covered through their Dad's work. . But the rules and the double speak are ridiculous. My daughter was hospitalized 3 times last year so the deductible was met back in February. Ok so when she went to the hospital the 2nd time I get a bill for $704 for the Emergency room physician. I called and told them the deductible had been met and to rebill the insurance. I was told my insurance wasn't covering it. So I call the insurance.....the reason it isn't covered is because the doctor is OUT OF NETWORK. WHAT?!?! How can he be when it states right on Blue cross website that the hospital is a PREFERRED NETWORK PROVIDER??? This wasn't a doctor visit but an emergency in which my child was subsequently taken by ambulance to a special childrens hospital for 10 days. So I guess next time you are bleeding to death at the emergency room better make the doctor on call is IN NETWORK.

Anyone who doesn't think we need healthcare insurance reform hasn't had to really use the healthcare system much. IMO

I remember, almost twenty years ago, when my daughter was hospitalized for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. My company bought quite good insurance. I paid a portion of the premium. Fair enough. When we first went to hospital, the insurance company got to choose which hospital she went to and which doctors she saw. She had pretty good medical care, and everything she got was covered according according to the language of my employers contract. But CIGNA, in the end, really didn't want to pay. Their lawyers agreed with my employer that they had to pay, but they didn't want to. They were new to our state (Illinois) and had had bad luck "with lots of sick babies" and CIGNA of Illinois wasn't going to make a profit that year. My employers (a S&P 20 company, fortunately not a small one that CIGNA might have been able to push around) posture was, this is our contract with you, are you going to honor it? We got calls at all hours of day and night for months from creditors asking us to help them get paid by our insurance company. The last call woke me up in the middle of the night a year (to the day) after she died.

Our medical system in this country is broken because of the scum insurance companies that profit from our misfortune or lack of it. I wholeheartedly support the President's initiative. No one has ever called my mom or anyone in my family about a Medicare claim!

Edited August 8, 2009 by novotul

[mendeleev 68]

I really wouldn't mind paying for health care via insurance if the insurance did what it was meant to and I could understand what was covered, and get the things I want covered using an understandable, fair and predetermined set of rules and fees. That's not what is offered though and I don't like having to worry about not knowing if I could afford to pay if...that's the nightmare of this stupid system.

I agree with this 100%. My children are actually covered through their Dad's work. . But the rules and the double speak are ridiculous. My daughter was hospitalized 3 times last year so the deductible was met back in February. Ok so when she went to the hospital the 2nd time I get a bill for $704 for the Emergency room physician. I called and told them the deductible had been met and to rebill the insurance. I was told my insurance wasn't covering it. So I call the insurance.....the reason it isn't covered is because the doctor is OUT OF NETWORK. WHAT?!?! How can he be when it states right on Blue cross website that the hospital is a PREFERRED NETWORK PROVIDER??? This wasn't a doctor visit but an emergency in which my child was subsequently taken by ambulance to a special childrens hospital for 10 days. So I guess next time you are bleeding to death at the emergency room better make the doctor on call is IN NETWORK.

Anyone who doesn't think we need healthcare insurance reform hasn't had to really use the healthcare system much. IMO

I remember, almost twenty years ago, when my daughter was hospitalized for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. My company bought quite good insurance. I paid a portion of the premium. Fair enough. When we first went to hospital, the insurance company got to choose which hospital she went to and which doctors she saw. She had pretty good medical care, and everything she got was covered according according to the language of my employers contract. But CIGNA, in the end, really didn't want to pay. Their lawyers agreed with my employer that they had to pay, but they didn't want to. They were new to our state (Illinois) and had had bad luck "with lots of sick babies" and CIGNA of Illinois wasn't going to make a profit that year. My employers (a S&P 20 company, fortunately not a small one that CIGNA might have been able to push around) posture was, this is our contract with you, are you going to honor it? We got calls at all hours of day and night for months from creditors asking us to help them get paid by our insurance company. The last call woke me up in the middle of the night a year (to the day) after she died.

Our medical system in this country is broken because of the scum insurance companies that profit from our misfortune or lack of it. I wholeheartedly support the President's initiative. No one has ever called my mom or anyone in my family about a Medicare claim!

Oh, and I'm waiting for the wing nuts to turn up and defend this manifestation of the free market at work.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Interesting detail n that part - Medicare contributions are 2.9% today. They were 2.0% in 1999 and were 2.9% in 1989. Rate increase over the last 20 years: a whopping 0%. Private insurance coverage premiums, on the other hand, have more than doubled over the last 10 years alone.

How's that for draining the economy and stealing not only from future but also from present generations?

You ignore the demographics involved as less people pay into Medicare and SS yet the baby boomers are starting to drain the system which explains why it is going broke.

If you really believe what you're saying. Feel free to send a portion of your salary every month and I'll pay for the medical needs when you hit 65. If I don't have money to cover costs, I'll take it from your kids. Good idea?

You don't even understand what I'm saying. Try and read again.

[mendeleev 68]

Interesting detail n that part - Medicare contributions are 2.9% today. They were 2.0% in 1999 and were 2.9% in 1989. Rate increase over the last 20 years: a whopping 0%. Private insurance coverage premiums, on the other hand, have more than doubled over the last 10 years alone.

How's that for draining the economy and stealing not only from future but also from present generations?

You ignore the demographics involved as less people pay into Medicare and SS yet the baby boomers are starting to drain the system which explains why it is going broke.

If you really believe what you're saying. Feel free to send a portion of your salary every month and I'll pay for the medical needs when you hit 65. If I don't have money to cover costs, I'll take it from your kids. Good idea?

You don't even understand what I'm saying. Try and read again.

Good luck, big dog, getting reading comprehension on your side.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

bump

[rebeccajo 14]

I really wouldn't mind paying for health care via insurance if the insurance did what it was meant to and I could understand what was covered, and get the things I want covered using an understandable, fair and predetermined set of rules and fees. That's not what is offered though and I don't like having to worry about not knowing if I could afford to pay if...that's the nightmare of this stupid system.

I agree with this 100%. My children are actually covered through their Dad's work. . But the rules and the double speak are ridiculous. My daughter was hospitalized 3 times last year so the deductible was met back in February. Ok so when she went to the hospital the 2nd time I get a bill for $704 for the Emergency room physician. I called and told them the deductible had been met and to rebill the insurance. I was told my insurance wasn't covering it. So I call the insurance.....the reason it isn't covered is because the doctor is OUT OF NETWORK. WHAT?!?! How can he be when it states right on Blue cross website that the hospital is a PREFERRED NETWORK PROVIDER??? This wasn't a doctor visit but an emergency in which my child was subsequently taken by ambulance to a special childrens hospital for 10 days. So I guess next time you are bleeding to death at the emergency room better make the doctor on call is IN NETWORK.

Anyone who doesn't think we need healthcare insurance reform hasn't had to really use the healthcare system much. IMO

Meeting the deductible does not mean that everything after that is paid 100%.

You also have to hit your out-of-pocket limit.