What We're Learning about Obamacare isn't Good -- Especially for Seniors

[hvactec]

While I taught at the University of Virginia, I served for a while as associate dean. My dean at the time, Bill Shenkir, used a phrase that I thought was particularly helpful when we were contemplating major decisions: "Let's reduce the fog factor." By that he meant that we should always examine the ramifications of our decisions on our students' classroom experience since teaching them was our primary mission.

Obamacare is an example of a federal government program that would not have been enacted if the fog factor test had been applied. While Congress debated Obamacare, talk about death panels and rationing of healthcare services abounded, but the warnings came from Republicans who were in the minority in the House and the Senate. Their objections were dismissed out of hand. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid rounded up Democrat votes and shoved Obamacare down our throats with the blessing of President Obama. The jury is still out on the legality of Obamacare, but while we wait for the courts to rule on the constitutional issues involved, the Obama administration is rapidly implementing the program. By the time the courts finally reach a decision, our healthcare system won't resemble what we had prior to March 2010 when Nancy Pelosi used her oversized gavel to pound Obamacare through the House over strenuous objections from most Americans.

Our senior citizens are most at risk under Obamacare -- especially those over 70. Rationing of services and death panels (only they're called "ethics panels" under Obamacare instead of death panels for obvious reasons) are now the rule, not the exception.

Read more: Blog: What We're Learning about Obamacare isn't Good -- Especially for Seniors

 

[Greenbeard]

If your source of, ah, "knowledge" is a blog transcript of a random caller to a rightwing radio show, you're doing it wrong. Paranoid ramblings from the far right aren't exactly rare.

In reality, seniors have been enjoying a pretty good news about Medicare over the last two years. For instance, savings and new benefits:

Data show that 2.65 million people with Medicare have saved more than $1.5 billion on their prescriptions – averaging about $569 per person.

And, as of the end of November, more than 24.2 million people with Medicare have taken advantage of at least one free preventive benefit – including the new Annual Wellness Visit – made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

Building on savings in 2011, Medicare also recently announced that the Part B deductible will be $22 lower in 2012 and average Medicare Advantage premiums are projected to drop four percent in 2012. Part B premiums, which cover outpatient services including doctor visits, are estimated to increase by only $3.50 per month for most beneficiaries in 2012, and some will see a decrease. These changes will be more than offset by the average Social Security cost of living increase ($43 per month for retired workers).

And despite the reductions in overspending on Medicare Advantage plans by the government under the ACA, they're still going strong:

Despite predictions that last year’s health law would doom Medicare’s private insurance plans, it’s not happening – at least not yet. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans continues to grow at a brisk pace, rising to 8.4 million beneficiaries by April 2011, about a 6 percent increase from April 2010, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Enrollment in health maintenance organizations (HMOs), which account for about two-thirds of total Medicare Advantage enrollment this year, increased by 9 percent, from about 5.2 million beneficiaries to about 5.6 million.

Providers have been doing their part to get the ball rolling on improving care to reign in costs, with much more to come. And growth in Medicare spending has fallen sharply as of late. For instance:

On the other hand, growth rates in Medicare claim costs hit yet another low, rising at an annual rate of +1.97% as measured by the S&P Healthcare Economic Medicare Index. The S&P Healthcare Economic Hospital Medicare Index also posted a record low annual rate of +0.71% in the year ending September 2011. This is a staggering 7.59 percentage points lower than the highest annual growth rate of +8.30% recorded for this index just two years ago in August 2009.

Lower costs and better coverage for seniors, lower spending on Medicare managed care plans by the government (without hurting enrollment or taking away the choice seniors have of enrolling in those private insurance plans), and carrots that are helping providers to implement the reforms necessary to improve the quality of care they're offering and lower the expense of offering it, thereby slowing Medicare cost growth.

Medicare reform is looking pretty good so far.

 

[starcraftzzz]

Also under Obamacare Seniors will now get free preventative health care, less medical errors (due to computerized records), better quality health care (due tot he IMBD board and comparative effectiveness research) also seniors will pay less for inpatients in health hospitals, and increasing funding for seniors to visit their primary care doctors,

 

[Political Junky]

Under "Obamacare" seniors get a free physical yearly, and reduced copay on prescriptions ... sounds good to me.

 

[Katzndogz]

Anytime medical care is subject to a cost benefit analysis the sick and old are going to die without care.