House Releases 4 Trillion Budget, turning Medicare into Voucher System

[debbiedowner]

BREAKING: House Releases $4 Trillion Budget, Turns Medicare Into Voucher System, Huge Cuts

Republicans in the House released their budget plan on Tuesday, and it calls for tremendous cuts to food stamps and other social safety net programs, as well as turning Medicare into a voucher-like program, which would be a complete overhaul of the program.

Republican leaders say the $4 trillion budget plan will move the government from a $472 billion deficit in 2018 to a $9 billion budget surplus by 2027, but that’s assuming a 2.6% rate of economic growth, much larger than even the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s estimates which peg growth at 1.9%.

In order to get these numbers, they’re proposing slashing $500 billion from Medicare, $1.5 trillion from Medicaid, and enormous cuts to federal employee pensions, food stamps and tax credits for the working poor.

If Medicare is turned into a voucher system, which Republicans have been trying to do for some time now, it will essentially force seniors to pay out-of-pocket for their own healthcare. While vouchers would pay for some of the costs, it would get rid of the single-payer system retirees have relied on to cover the majority of their healthcare costs.

Right now it’s unclear how much those vouchers or “premium support” as Speaker Ryan puts it, will be. That means if you receive a voucher and it’s not enough to cover the costs of private insurance, tough luck

The Republican budget also calls for $622 billion in defense spending as well as another $511 billion in nondefense discretionary spending in 2018.

Since the budget isn’t finalized yet, it’s still possible for different levels of spending to be passed but conservatives say they want even deep cuts while moderates say it goes too far.

The budget plan also proposes to overhaul the U.S. tax code and is essential for Republicans to avoid a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

Share this article:

 

[ZZ PUPPS]

Just another lie from the fake news left.

 

[TNHarley]

I hate it for the people but i like they are rolling back unconstitutional programs.

 

[rightwinger]

Just another lie from the fake news left.

Paul Ryan is fake news?

 

[Siete]

so much for Trump erasing the debt with his magical negotiation powers ...

43 was going to use his political capital to privatize SS too ... how'd that work out ?

 

[rightwinger]

It looks like the same Paul Ryan budget that has been floated for five years
Ryan never gets tired of being defeated

Ending Medicare as we know it is a non-starter. None of his colleagues will face their angry voters over Medicare

As usual, Republicans hide their debt in overly optimistic economic projections......and then, ten years from now, an economic miracle will occur and this budget will balance itself

 

[Steve_McGarrett]

so much for Trump erasing the debt with his magical negotiation powers ...

43 was going to use his political capital to privatize SS too ... how'd that work out ?

43 and 44 couldn't get things done. Trump is as he's making America great again.

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Just another lie from the fake news left.

What's the lie?

 

[Freewill]

It looks like the same Paul Ryan budget that has been floated for five years
Ryan never gets tired of being defeated

Ending Medicare as we know it is a non-starter. None of his colleagues will face their angry voters over Medicare

As usual, Republicans hide their debt in overly optimistic economic projections......an then, ten years from now, an economic miracle will occur and this budget will balance itself

I am not sure what is worse, the Republican hiding debt or Democrats not caring about the debt.

That's why I am a registered Independent.

 

[jon_berzerk]

looks like in that budget

they will be putting in an Additional 10,000 ICE Agents to work in sanctuary cities

--LOL

bout time

--LOL

 

[g5000]

The parrots on each side are going to parrot what they are told to parrot.

Here's an idea. Read the fricking bill for yourself: https://budget.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/7-18-17-225-FY2018_Budget_Resolution_xml.pdf

Or you can try this: https://budget.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Building-a-Better-America-PDF-1.pdf

Our budget does not force anyone to change their current plan, but rather maintains traditional Medicare while giving seniors more freedom and choices to best meet their needs.

If you like your insurance, you can keep it...

 

[g5000]

From the "Building A Better America" blueprint thingy:

Fully Supporting a Patient-Centered Program that Enhances Quality and Choice in Medicare. Under this program, traditional Medicare – which would always remain an option available to future beneficiaries – and private plans providing the same level of health coverage would compete for seniors’ business, just as Medicare Advantage does today. By adopting the competitive structure of Part D, the program would also deliver savings for seniors in the form of lower monthly premium costs. Today, only Medicare Advantage offers seniors the opportunity to choose from a selection of comprehensive coverage plans. Not surprisingly, Medicare Advantage enrollment has tripled in the past decade and currently serves more than 19 million seniors. Medicare Advantage also shows higher satisfaction rates than traditional Medicare. In fact, since 2010, Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown by 71 percent.

The Medicare improvements envisioned in this budget resolution would adopt the popular simplified coverage structure of Medicare Advantage, and allow seniors greater plan choices while reducing costs. It would resemble the private insurance market, in which the majority of Americans select a single health care plan to cover all their medical needs.

The Congressional Budget Office determined that a Medicare program following this model would result in savings for both beneficiaries and the program. Moreover, health plans that participate in this new option would not be able to deny coverage to any Medicare recipient. A patient-centered Medicare program would also adopt these protections to guarantee better health, improved value, and increased choice for America’s seniors, and allow all those in traditional, fee-for-service Medicare the same opportunity as new retirees to remain there or transition into the improved program beginning in 2024.

 

[g5000]

I read the Medicare part of the budget. All the dollar amounts are left blank! So I read the policy statement.

As usual, they took the coward's way out.

They identified the problem:

the number of workers supporting each beneficiary continues to fall; in 1965, the ratio was 4.5 workers per beneficiary, and by 2030, the ratio will be only 2.4 workers per beneficiary;

Something I have pointed out for years.

However, they did not do the SCREAMINGLY OBVIOUS thing, which is raise the eligibility age.

We are living DECADES longer than our ancestors, we should be WORKING longer.

Common fricking sense.

Spineless cowards. Every one of them.

 

[Siete]

all that major legislation Trump passed is having a UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE effect right now.


es

 

[g5000]

Here's something from the blueprint on which I think we can all agree:

Means Test Premiums for High-Income Seniors. Under current law, high-income beneficiaries are responsible for a greater share of the premium costs for Medicare’s Part B and Part D programs, or the optional coverage for physician services and prescription drug coverage respectively. Medicare Advantage enrollees receiving coverage for these benefits similarly assume a share of the costs. Parts B and D must account for all additional program costs net of beneficiary premiums from general revenues because these components of the Medicare program do not have a dedicated income source like the 2.9-percent payroll tax that funds most of the Part A benefits. Consistent with several bipartisan proposals, including former-President Obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget, this resolution assumes additional means testing of premiums in Medicare Parts B and D for high-income seniors, including full responsibility of premium costs for individuals with an annual income exceeding $1 million.

 

[Defiant1]

Medicare needs to be abolished.

It's another ponzi scheme.

If a person can't afford insurance when if they retire then they have to keep working.

 

[Siete]

Medicare needs to be abolished.

It's another ponzi scheme.

If a person can't afford insurance when if they retire then they have to keep working.

hey dope.. a ponzi scheme can never be fixed

 

[g5000]

In order to preserve the program and retain limited resources for the neediest populations, Building a Better America begins with the reforms included in the “American Health Care Act.” The AHCA institutes a per capita cap system that puts Medicaid on a budget for the first time since its inception, converting it from an open-ended entitlement program to a manageable safety net. The per capita design protects resources for those in need by designating funds based on population category: children and pregnant women, the blind and disabled, the elderly, and able-bodied adults. This ensures that states and the federal government can provide care based on a per-person payment structure, which accounts for the variation in spending amongst the different categories of patients. As such, a per capita cap targets funds to the most vulnerable. Its purpose is to catch those Americans who fall, without trapping those who can climb out of poverty.

The “American Health Care Act” also promotes state flexibility. For example, states could opt for a block grant, rather than the per capita allotment. This would promote innovation on the state level, and encourage states to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. AHCA also enables each state to set the benefits it believes are essential for its unique population; this would better narrow the scope of funding to meet the needs of individuals.

Building a Better America includes the AHCA reforms to put Medicaid on a budget, and calls for the following additional reforms to make it work for patients:

• Apply Work Requirements to Medicaid. The budget proposes to advance a work requirement for certain adults enrolled in Medicaid who are able to work. This proposal suggests that an able-bodied, working-age, non-pregnant adult without dependents could qualify for Medicaid only if he or she were actively seeking employment or participating in an education, training, or community service program. These requirements would help target resources toward the most vulnerable populations, while at the same time making Medicaid available for those on the precipice of poverty who are transitioning into economic stability.

• Enhance State Flexibility. The budget promotes state flexibility through the AHCA block grant option, in addition to further legislative options beyond structural reform. The budget encourages states to institute changes to improve program management. For example, states could set reasonable cost-sharing standards for able-bodied adults, address inappropriate use of emergency facilities, or strengthen eligibility processing to reduce wait times.

• Improve Reporting to Reduce Risk. The Government Accountability Office has listed Medicaid as high-risk since 2003. The budget proposes to follow GAO’s recommendations for reducing improper payments, growing expenditures, and poor access to quality care. The most significant aspect of this effort is the enhancement of reporting by states on annual Medicaid data, along with greater coordination between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state auditors.

 

[g5000]

BREAKING: House Releases $4 Trillion Budget, Turns Medicare Into Voucher System, Huge Cuts

Straight out of the gate, your link lies. They imply the GOP plan forces everyone in Medicare into a voucher system.

 

[g5000]

There is one program which actually gets an increase in spending.

Defense.