One of the largest spending cuts Congress could rely on to pay for an overhaul of the nation's health care system comes from a Medicare program President Obama has called a "wasteful" subsidy for the health insurance industry.
Debate over Medicare Advantage, which has 10.2 million enrollees — about one-fifth of all Medicare participants — illustrates a broader struggle Congress and Obama face as they look for ways to pay for a $1 trillion overhaul of health care without raising taxes on the middle class or compromising care.
It has raised concerns among some seniors who might have to pay more for the program or enroll in regular Medicare instead.
A Gallup Poll found only 20% of Americans over 65 say an overhaul will improve their health care — the lowest showing of three age groups.
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Seniors defend Medicare plan Obama calls 'wasteful'
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Seniors Most Skeptical of Healthcare Reform
Debate over Medicare Advantage, which has 10.2 million enrollees — about one-fifth of all Medicare participants — illustrates a broader struggle Congress and Obama face as they look for ways to pay for a $1 trillion overhaul of health care without raising taxes on the middle class or compromising care.
It has raised concerns among some seniors who might have to pay more for the program or enroll in regular Medicare instead.
A Gallup Poll found only 20% of Americans over 65 say an overhaul will improve their health care — the lowest showing of three age groups.
Full Article and Source:
Seniors defend Medicare plan Obama calls 'wasteful'
More information:
Seniors Most Skeptical of Healthcare Reform
I believe there is a lot of Medicare fraud - perpetrated by unscrupulous doctors. If it were stopped, the country would save billions of dollars.
ReplyDeleteIt needs to be stopped.
For every good thing, there are those lined up to destroy it and we pay dearly for those with criminal minds.
ReplyDeleteMedicare fraud is big business.
Medicaid fraud is big business and we get the bill while others get rich - make sense to you?
Yes, Anon 2, it does make sense.
ReplyDeleteThere are many studies out now that indicate when middle aged people hit the magical 65, doctors order two or three times the amount of tests and prescribe more meds, etc.
The cost of this mindset to cash in on Medicare is passed on to us taxpayers.
Obama's right ---it needs to be cleaned up.
The whole system - and the politicians who allow it - rife with fraud, and there can't be a fix until they introduce natural health (real preventive medicine)
ReplyDeleteand shut down lobbying by BigPharma.