Message to the writers of this ‘toon: Medicare was set up not as an ’assistance program’ (perish the thought that some without resources might still receive health care), but as an insurance program. Employees and employers paid a portion of the employee’s wages into an account that was supposed to be maintained in the same way that an individual pays monthly insurance payments.
.
But now that the Affordable Care Act has removed funds that were paid into Medicare to expand the actual assistance program (which is called ‘MedicAID’, sweethearts and darlings), and is also using the MedicARE funds to subsidize insurance costs for those earning too much to be eligible for MedicAID, the Actuary for Health and Human Services has reported that strict caps had to be put on how much a doctor or hospital would be paid for services rendered to someone using Medicare as their primary insurance.
My understanding is that the cuts were to the Medicare Advantage programs, which are in the hands of private insurance programs rather than to traditional Medicare.
I’m now signed up for Medicare, to begin December 1st. For the life of me I don’t understand why it has to be so confusing. Trying to make an intelligent choice with so many variables regarding one’s health in the future, How do you know if you’re making the right choices?
I remember life without Medicare, school lunch programs, and other government aid programs. In rural Arkansas 1940s and 1950s. A friend’s brother. Crippled with polio, without medical care, he could only lie on the bed and suffer. With a large family the dad did farm labor. When we were in elementary school we got permission to pick up trash out of the rooms after lunch. We looked for fruit, partially eaten sandwiches and any food. To feed his brothers and sisters and several other kids who had no food.Faith based programs don’t work and never did. Funny how the preacher’s kids always had plenty of food. Ever know anyone who starved to death? Ever know anyone who’s baby died in it’s Mother’s arms late at night while dad is frantically driving from hospital to hospital trying to find a doctor who will treat it? No insurance, no money. Poor hardworking Americans unfortunant to not have resources. I have known these people.Social Security and Medicare enacted under Democratic administrations. Opposed then and now by Republicans.
Spain has a very good state run medical service, one of the best in Europe, shame the US of A won´t admit that other countries can do things they cannot.
I didn’t see Argy’s political rant. Obviously somebody else (like you, or another person) could turn it political. And maybe he could, too, but what he said in the two posts above were informational (correct or not I don’t know), not political per se. Yours was clearly political, because you were assuming what he said was political since it possibly doesn’t fit your version of political reality. But the effect it has on your politics doesn’t make it political.
This has nothing to do with politics. I am Medicare eligible but still employed, so I am able to stay in a group insurance program. I found this out by doing research. You could do the same, but you prefer to interpret information as politics and attack the messenger. If things don’t change, you will find out about this yourself, but it will probably be too late to change it. Programs have a way of becoming frozen into place the longer they remain unchanged.
If you find the information I provide is annoying to you, you can simply scroll past anything I post. I intend to scroll past anything you post from now on.
Argythree about 8 years ago
Message to the writers of this ‘toon: Medicare was set up not as an ’assistance program’ (perish the thought that some without resources might still receive health care), but as an insurance program. Employees and employers paid a portion of the employee’s wages into an account that was supposed to be maintained in the same way that an individual pays monthly insurance payments.
.
But now that the Affordable Care Act has removed funds that were paid into Medicare to expand the actual assistance program (which is called ‘MedicAID’, sweethearts and darlings), and is also using the MedicARE funds to subsidize insurance costs for those earning too much to be eligible for MedicAID, the Actuary for Health and Human Services has reported that strict caps had to be put on how much a doctor or hospital would be paid for services rendered to someone using Medicare as their primary insurance.
JimT8 about 8 years ago
My understanding is that the cuts were to the Medicare Advantage programs, which are in the hands of private insurance programs rather than to traditional Medicare.
Egrayjames about 8 years ago
I’m now signed up for Medicare, to begin December 1st. For the life of me I don’t understand why it has to be so confusing. Trying to make an intelligent choice with so many variables regarding one’s health in the future, How do you know if you’re making the right choices?
Old Texan75 about 8 years ago
I remember life without Medicare, school lunch programs, and other government aid programs. In rural Arkansas 1940s and 1950s. A friend’s brother. Crippled with polio, without medical care, he could only lie on the bed and suffer. With a large family the dad did farm labor. When we were in elementary school we got permission to pick up trash out of the rooms after lunch. We looked for fruit, partially eaten sandwiches and any food. To feed his brothers and sisters and several other kids who had no food.Faith based programs don’t work and never did. Funny how the preacher’s kids always had plenty of food. Ever know anyone who starved to death? Ever know anyone who’s baby died in it’s Mother’s arms late at night while dad is frantically driving from hospital to hospital trying to find a doctor who will treat it? No insurance, no money. Poor hardworking Americans unfortunant to not have resources. I have known these people.Social Security and Medicare enacted under Democratic administrations. Opposed then and now by Republicans.
Republicans
Prey about 8 years ago
Spain has a very good state run medical service, one of the best in Europe, shame the US of A won´t admit that other countries can do things they cannot.
Norman L Jones about 8 years ago
Doc’s desk is beginning to look like Cosmo’s desk and he has a much larger area to fill.
comixbomix about 8 years ago
It sounded like a painkiller, but it’s just a cane pillar…
pekenpug about 8 years ago
There is also private health care available in Europe.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 8 years ago
Medicane—-don’t they do it that way in Singapore?
1953Baby about 8 years ago
@Old Texan: thanks for the reality check. So few people remember "the good ol’ days: as they really were.
1953Baby about 8 years ago
Learning to walk with one of those things is as dangerous as . . .walking. . .for me, anyway. . .
Calvin about 8 years ago
Impressive comments today. A lot better than just bickering and finger pointing ( with two exceptions ).
Carol Scott about 8 years ago
You took the words right out of my mouth!!
Carol Scott about 8 years ago
Hey, y’all it’s a cartoon!!!
JastMe about 8 years ago
I didn’t see Argy’s political rant. Obviously somebody else (like you, or another person) could turn it political. And maybe he could, too, but what he said in the two posts above were informational (correct or not I don’t know), not political per se. Yours was clearly political, because you were assuming what he said was political since it possibly doesn’t fit your version of political reality. But the effect it has on your politics doesn’t make it political.
Argythree about 8 years ago
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This has nothing to do with politics. I am Medicare eligible but still employed, so I am able to stay in a group insurance program. I found this out by doing research. You could do the same, but you prefer to interpret information as politics and attack the messenger. If things don’t change, you will find out about this yourself, but it will probably be too late to change it. Programs have a way of becoming frozen into place the longer they remain unchanged.
Argythree about 8 years ago
If you find the information I provide is annoying to you, you can simply scroll past anything I post. I intend to scroll past anything you post from now on.