Joe Lieberman and his Medicare Gift (Proposals in the pipeline to shift more costs to seniors)

[seafan]

Holy Joe strikes again. (HT to Digby)


Trudy Lieberman writes at the Columbia Journalism Review:

July 11, 2011


The press needs to untie the bow—and quickly

Leave it to Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman to speed along the process of making seniors on Medicare pay more for their care—the cost control method of choice at the moment, since it doesn’t disturb the profits of major stakeholders. After all, it was Lieberman who sealed the death warrant for the public option during the health reform debate. So the legislation he has proposed along with Senator Tom Coburn is consistent with his political MO. Lieberman’s proposal along with others like it may well slip into the bill, authorizing an increase in the debt ceiling with nary a word from the seniors who depend on the program. It would be grand if they knew what was afoot.

.....

The article identifies this proposal as "Medicare benefit simplification", although it is not geared to assisting consumers. What a surprise.... Instead, Lieberman's plan is crafted to save the government money by increasing the costs to consumers AND by creating a disincentive to use medical services.

Another plan by Lieberman is exposed in this article. He wants to decrease the amount of coverage provided by Medigap insurance policies. In a nutshell, Lieberman's bill states that Medigap insurance would only cover $3750, or 50%, of the $7500 out-of-pocket costs before insurance could enter in. An excise tax would be applied to the consumer if they already had an existing Medigap policy that would have covered this.



Nice, huh?


And apparently, we are still discovering just what is in that health insurance care reform bill from last year. Described in the article is the revelation that Congress slipped a provision into the health care "reform" law that will require seniors who purchase Plans C and F to pay more of their own costs for Part B coinsurance. I've not heard this reported anywhere, more than a year after this bill was signed into law.



Nice to have that little detail finally see the light of day.



From the conclusion of this eye-opening article:

Making people pay a lot more is precisely what Lieberman and other pols want. He cites studies showing that when people have to pay more for their care, they will use less of it, and claims his proposal will reduce the debt and “save more than $600 billion over 10 years.” In his press release he says: “We can only save Medicare if we change it. Our plan contains some strong medicine but that’s what it will take to keep Medicare alive.”

What will it take to keep seniors alive? That’s a good question for the press to explore. Half have annual incomes under $22,000, and the median income for older women on Social Security is only about $15,000. A recent RAND study, also missed by the press, found consumers with high-deductible insurance and lots of cost sharing did economize on going to the doctor even for preventive care covered by their policies.

“This has a perverse effect,” says Burns. “The older you are the more likely you’ll pay those high out-of-pocket expenses. They would hit women the hardest and shift more of them into Medicaid.” Given that states are having trouble paying for Medicaid and there’s talk of cutting the feds’ contribution through block grants, it’s fair to ask how will these women pay for their care. It’s also fair to ask how they will pay for it if proposed changes in Social Security’s cost-of-living formula now discussed as part of the deficit reduction package, become law. COLA changes are likely to result in smaller increases for many. Folks, this is really about the kitchen table connection.

Another reason why not holding Joe Lieberman accountable for his actions over the past two years has had disastrous consequences. But, he won't lose any sleep over any of this when he's into a comfortable and quite secure retirement, made possible by many years of selling out the people.



It is time for an occupation of the US and State Capitols by we the people.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Lieberman has been called "the senator from the Insurance Industry". n/t

[indepat]

2. What on earth could have Al Gore been thinking to select a running mate

seemingly possessing so many of the characteristics commonly attributed to that of a quisling? :shrug: :patriot:

[PoliticAverse]

3. Hey he almost ended up as McCain's running mate too... n/t

[roxiejules]

4. Nothing more ridiculous than thinking seniors sign up for

excessive tests. Many of them can hardly pay for medical care under the current system.