Side Effects: Seniors Will Lose Big Under Obamacare

[Geee]

Heritage Foundation:


Side Effects: Seniors Will Lose Big Under Obamacare
Posted May 24th, 2010 at 1:00pm in Health Care 0 Print This Post

Passage of Obamacare will have negative consequences for practically all Americans. However, it is the nation’s senior citizens who will get the short end of the stick after enactment of the President’s health care agenda. In a recent paper, Heritage health policy expert Robert Moffit, Ph.D., lays out the specific provisions of Obamacare that will hurt seniors:

Less Choice. Obamacare will reduce payments to Medicare Advantage, likely decreasing benefits and causing approximately half of current participants to drop out. These seniors will have little choice but to go back to traditional Medicare, and buy a supplemental policy to cover Medicare’s big gaps in coverage.
Reduced Access to Care. Writes Moffit, “With the retirement of 77 million baby boomers beginning in 2011, the Medicare program will have to absorb an unprecedented demand for medical services. For the next generation of senior citizens, finding a doctor will be more difficult and waiting times for doctor appointments are likely to be longer. The American Association of Medical Colleges projects a shortage of 124,000 doctors by 2025.” Obamacare does nothing to reverse this worrisome trend, instead making it worse.
Medicare Payment Cuts. Moffit explains that “creating a real problem for seniors, the CMS Actuary estimates that roughly 15 percent of Medicare Part A providers—the part of the Medicare program that pays hospital costs—would become unprofitable within 10 years” due to reductions in hospital payment updates under the new law.
Higher Taxes. “The higher taxes on drugs (effective in 2011) and medical devices (effective in 2013) will affect seniors especially, as they are more heavily dependent on those very products.” Moreover, federal premium taxes will apply to Medicare Advantage, as well as federal retirees’ health plans.
Moffit’s research outlines how Obamacare fails to address the pressing need for systemic reform of the Medicare program while also hindering the entitlement’s ability to adequately meet the needs of those it serves. To read more, click here.

[Casino67]

Gee, you mean it isn't really what we bargained for? Neither is Obama what the left bargained for. Just as Pelosi said, pass it and let's see what is in it. We are going to find out about Urkel, Our Dear Leader, was all about after he loses in '12. We will probably be amazed by what comes out about him after he is gone. We may even find out he has a friend, somewhere. And he isn't through, we still have Cap n Tax to look forward to. And does anyone have any idea what is in the finance restructuring bill(s)?

[SrWoodchuck]

We may even find out he has a friend, somewhere.

Casino67!

 

Do you mean a tape-worm? Syphylis bug? Soros? Same sex significant other?

[Casino67]

Please don't make me pick one.

[SrWoodchuck]

.....'kay, I didn't want to demean tape-worms, syphylis bugs & same sex significant others, by the way.

[Pepper]

We may even find out he has a friend, somewhere.

Casino67!

 

Do you mean a tape-worm? Syphylis bug? Soros? Same sex significant other?

 

It's a good thing I'm getting younger each day. At least that's what my girl friends say.

 

Have some more wine, honey.