Christians are Good
It isn't like America's seniors haven't worked hard for what little benefits the government affords. Yet the Democrats are robbing their medical insurance to pay for Obama's schemes. I wonder why?
Now for the truth: The ACA INCREASED Medicare spending, expanded benefits and coverage; and has saved seniors BILLIONS of dollars.
"The ACA expanded Medicare benefits, resulting in more savings for seniors. Medicare beneficiaries will save, on average, about $5,000 over the next 10 years due to lower drug costs, free preventive services and reductions in the growth of health spending. Since passage of the ACA, more than 7.9 million people with Medicare saved over $9.9 billion on prescription drugs." Source: National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare - - http://www.ncpssm.org/PublicPolicy/Medicare/Documents/ArticleID/216/How-the-Affordable-Care-Act-Helps-Seniors
More from the Committee:
Medicare beneficiaries are eligible to receive many preventive services with no out-of-pocket costs. These include flu shots, tobacco cessation counseling, as well as no-cost screenings for cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Seniors can also get an annual wellness visit so they can talk to their doctor about any health concerns. Because of the ACA, over 37 million seniors have received at least one of these preventive services with no out-of-pocket costs in 2013.
Lower Medicare Part B Premiums
ACA reforms are making Medicare more efficient and reducing overall health care costs, which has helped keep Part B premiums from rising. In 2014, the Medicare Part B premium is $104.90 and the Part B annual deductible is $147, the same as in 2013. The 2013 Part B monthly premium – $104.90 – was lower than previously projected by the Medicare trustees.
Lower-Cost Prescription Drugs
The ACA reduces prescription drug prices for seniors and closes the coverage gap, known as the “donut hole.” Medicare beneficiaries who fall into the coverage gap, known as the "donut hole," automatically receive a discount on prescription drugs. Each year, beneficiaries pay a reduced cost for brand name and generic drugs in the coverage gap. The law closes the coverage gap in 2020.
In 2014, Medicare beneficiaries in the donut hole receive a 52.5 percent discount on brand-name drugs and a 28 percent discount on generic drugs. Seniors who reach the donut hole will save, on average, about $1,265 per beneficiary. Nearly four million people with Medicare who were in the donut hole in 2010 received a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate from Medicare to help pay for prescription drug costs.
Improvements for Medicare Advantage Plan Members
Private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are getting stronger and less expensive. Since the passage of the ACA, the average MA premium has declined by approximately 10 percent and enrollment has increased by 33 percent (about 15 million beneficiaries).
Starting in 2014, the ACA provides additional protections for MA plan members by limiting the amount these plans spend on administrative costs, insurance company profits and items other than health care to 15 percent of their Medicare payments.
MA plans also can no longer charge enrollees more than traditional Medicare for chemotherapy administration, skilled nursing home care and other specialized services.
Medicare Fraud, Waste and Abuse
The ACA includes new resources and tools to protect taxpayer dollars by preventing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid by building on the efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department. Over the past five years, the government recovered over $19.2 billion from individuals and companies seeking fraudulent payments. There are also tougher penalties for people who steal from Medicare and more law enforcement to identify criminals abusing the law and beneficiaries.
Medicare Delivery System and Payment Reforms
The ACA establishes the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test new ways of delivering care that are intended to improve quality while reducing the rate of growth in Medicare spending. Examples include programs to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions by coordinating care and services for patients when they leave the hospital. Other provisions provide for the development of Accountable Care Organizations, bundled payments and medical homes – all intended to provider higher-quality, coordinated care for beneficiaries.
And then, there is this from The Washington Post: "Romney accused Obama of taking $716 billion from Medicare. This $700
billion figure comes from the difference over 10 years (2013-2022)
between anticipated Medicare spending (what is known as “the baseline”)
and the changes that the law makes to reduce spending. The savings
mostly are wrung from health-care providers, not Medicare beneficiaries —
who, as a result of the health-care law, ended up with new benefits for
preventive care and prescription drugs.
"While it is correct that
anticipated savings from Medicare were used to help offset some of the
anticipated costs of expanding health care for all Americans, it does
not affect the Medicare trust fund. In fact, the Obama health-care law
also raised Medicare payroll taxes by $318 billion over the new 10-year
time frame, further strengthening the program’s financial condition." - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/10/03/fact-check-the-700b-medicare-cut/
