GOP Eyes New Medicare Drug Legislation
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George, I have one word for your arguement. HOGWASH! That's a load of BS.You want proof. Try this on for size. "In fact, in 1960 (five years before Medicare was enacted), Congress pass a law to provide federal funds to states to cover the medical needs of low-income seniors. The law was commonly known as the "Kerr-Mills program," named after sponsors Sen. Robert Kerr (D-OK) and Rep. Wilbur Mills (D-Ark). It was also referred to as the Medical Assitance for the Aged (MAA) program. The Kerr-Mills program was much more generous than Medicare because in many states it covered dental services, and PRESCRIPTION DRUGS."I'm so glad you keep buying into what these bureaucrats and politicos keep throwing at all of us. Lies, deception, etc.I would highly reccomend "Medicare's Mid-Life Crisis", by Sue Blevins. It can be purchased from the Cato Bookstore. www.cato.org
The GOP has set aside $400 billion for the next 10 years for this boondoggle.Medicare was inacted in 1965. Projected cost of the program in 1990 was estimated to be $9 billion.Actual cost was $66 billion. Just missed by a factor of 7 plus. But then a billion here a billion there, it's just money.Using the cost factor in Medicare for this boondoggle, it was safe to bet that this program would cost over a trillion dollars in 10 years. Imagine a federal budget with a projected annual price tag of nearly $5 trillion. But then again, it's just money, but boy oh boy, look at those votes we will be getting. Let's throw some shrimp on the barbi!!!!!
Any medical insurance that does not cover prescription drugs is not medical insurance. Treatment and costs have changed significantly since Medicare was created. It needs to be modernized in many ways. The Bipartisan plan put together by Rep. Thomas & Sen. Breaix would do that.
George: One need to describe what is meant by "modernize".This is flat out "socialized medicine", at it's worst. In fact, as Sue Blevins, author of "Medicare's Mid-Life Crisis", pointed out in an article published by the Sun-Journal on March 29th, Medicare is evidence of how a single-payer insurance system is nothing but a disaster. And this single-payer system will cover prescription drugs as well. This will surely help to bankrupt us much sooner than expected.
Medicare was created because older Americans were finding it nearly impossible to find affordable health care coverage. That has not changed. It is extremely unlikely that the private sector could profitely provide health insurance at affordable rates to the segment of our population that is the greatest user of the health care system. The Breaux/Thomas plan would give more choices to seniors in choosing coverage and attempts to use market choices to bring down costs, but it is based on the assumption that the private sector can not provide affordable coverage to seniors without significant subsidies.
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GOP Eyes New Medicare Drug Legislation
Mon Jun 2, 2:00 AM ET
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent WASHINGTON - President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress launch an intensive drive this week to enact Medicare prescription drug legislation, hoping that a GOP government can end years of partisan gridlock. On the eve of a debate likely to resonate in the 2004 elections, administration officials and lawmakers agree a formidable array of obstacles must be cleared before legislation can reach Bush's desk. They involve policy — whether to offer all Medicare beneficiaries the same drug benefit, for example. They also include ideology — how large a role the government should play — and political considerations — how aggressively to seek Democratic support, particularly in the Senate. But by their own words, Bush and GOP leaders put the issue high on the legislative agenda, and the president is expected to actively press for the measure when he returns from a European trip. "Medicare is a binding commitment of a caring society," the president said in his State of the Union message last winter. "....Leaders of both political parties have talked for years about strengthening Medicare. I urge the members of this new Congress to act this year." -----
This time, Republicans have set aside $400 billion over the next decade for the effort. In general, the emerging GOP legislation is expected to create a new system of private insurance to deliver drug coverage to millions of Medicare recipients, with the government underwriting part of the cost. Seniors would pay a combination of premiums, co-payments and deductibles at levels yet to be determined. Above a certain point — $2,000 in last year's House bill — the individual would pay all drug expenses. At a still higher level — $3,700 in the bill that passed the House last year — insurance would pick up the tab. Low-income beneficiaries would be subsidized heavily. -----
All seniors could receive some type of drug coverage, although the administration favors a more liberal benefit for those willing to move away from the traditional Medicare program. -----
Some Republicans on the panel want an equal benefit for all seniors, though. That could also be key to gaining solid Democratic support for the legislation, and Frist's influence will be pivotal on this point, according to aides in both parties. Another key issue is the method for providing coverage. Democrats generally prefer a government-run benefit. -----
Also complicating the House debate is an effort by a small group of lawmakers on the Commerce Committee to produce their own alternative. Several sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it would offer Medicare beneficiaries a drug card, similar to a credit card, that could be used to purchase prescription drugs. The card would cost $30 a year, and the government would give each senior who buys one a fixed amount of money to spend. That would range from unlimited funds for those at or below the poverty level, to $100 for those at $22,450 a year and higher. Full Story