how worried are you about possible medicare cuts and do you think it will happen

M

martys

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I was reading from AARP and listening to CNN that if the 2018 budget passes congress there are provisions for major cuts (billions) and terrible changes to Medicare as we know it. So How worried are you about this and do you think it will happen. I am on Medicare
 

I wouldn't put much trust in Anything the government does in the future. As the National Debt continues to climb, and Washington thinks tax cuts will solve its problems, it becomes fairly obvious that there will be a movement to reduce spending for social/welfare programs. Medicare is on track to be out of funding within 4 or 5 years, and SS isn't that far behind.

Most of these politicians get their campaign financing, etc., from the wealthy and the corporations...so it is not surprising that they support programs which cater to these sources....meanwhile, they continue to brainwash the general public into thinking that they really care about the average person.

About the only "defense" we will have against going bankrupt over medical costs in the future will be to try to stay as fit and healthy as possible....or pray that our present system collapses to the point where the Only option is a SP-UHC system much like the rest of the developed world uses.
 
I agree with both above comments.

AARP partly relies on federal funds and are nervous they will be affected by budget adjustments. I'm sure they will be affected before medicare will. I've seen publications that showed how much AARP spends on lobbyists and, though legal, I think it's wrong, and it makes anything they say less credible.
 
I am on Medicare but don't believe their will be cuts. They may have a means test to get or keep certain benefits. High income individuals then would be affected but not the rank and file.
 
I'm worried for my brother especially. He's 82 and has polymyalgia rheumatica, which is very debilitating requiring frequent doctor visits he's pretty much confined to a recliner at home, and a wheel chair for going anywhere.

Also my wife who has to get monthly infusions for her rheumatoid arthritis, and as you know, those are very expensive.

So if something happens to medicare, I'm in big trouble.
 
just to let you know the senate just passed this evening the budget plan which includes a resolution that could cut 450 billion from medicare in 10 yeas to pay for tax cuts. There is a option to privatize it also. Does not mean they will do these cuts, but options are there and this could pass with 51 votes only because of reconciliation.
So I guess we will just have to wait and president keeps his promise not to cut medicare or medicade. I like the fact that I can now go to any doctor and get the medical care I need especially with specialists. There will be a lot of upset people if this happens.
 
martys said:
just to let you know the senate just passed this evening the budget plan which includes a resolution that could cut 450 billion from medicare in 10 yeas to pay for tax cuts. There is a option to privatize it also. Does not mean they will do these cuts, but options are there and this could pass with 51 votes only because of reconciliation.
So I guess we will just have to wait and president keeps his promise not to cut medicare or medicaide. I like the fact that I can now go to any doctor and get the medical care I need especially with specialists. There will be a lot of upset people if this happens.
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I was dismayed to see this news story this morning. If Medicare is cut substantially, many will die, IMHO, including my sister and a dear friend of mine. So many, probably most, of us, did not figure huge health costs into our retirement, because we had been told since we began working and paying payroll taxes, that Medicare would be there for us. Even those of us who have supplements or advantage plans will be hugely impacted because the cost of those plans will skyrocket, and, of course those plans do not cover anything that Medicare does not, even now.

And I cannot envision the suffering if Medicaid is drastically cut -- Medicaid covers medical care for millions of people, including the disabled, children born with serious health problems, and the very poor. It was Medicaid that enabled my dying niece to have medical care for her terminal cancer after she, at 39, lost her job and insurance because the cancer made it impossible for her to continue to work.
 
If you have a BCBS Advantage plan and they pull out, then you will fall into open enrollment. This means you can go and get a Medicare Supplement and not have to answer any health questions. Just make sure you do not get Plan F.
 
Cap'nSacto said:
I agree with both above comments.

AARP partly relies on federal funds and are nervous they will be affected by budget adjustments. I'm sure they will be affected before medicare will. I've seen publications that showed how much AARP spends on lobbyists and, though legal, I think it's wrong, and it makes anything they say less credible.
Click to expand...

AARP has a very clear conflict of interest as long as they're selling insurance plans. It's impossible for them to represent both their members and their own financial interests. They've taken a big hit in terms of being trustworthy as an organization because of this issue.
 
Medicare is in a serious budget deficit and needs one or a combination of solutions:
- restructured with fewer benefits and higher premiums
- raising taxable salary limits again - the SocSec payroll tax was raised this year to $127,200, which means any salary earned over that is exempted.
- Congressional approval for Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, a huge loophole which costs taxpayers millions every year.

The GOP has control of all three branches: judicial, executive, and legislative. There is a growing push to turn Medicaid into block grants. It might be worth remembering that 62% of residents in nursing homes depend solely upon Medicaid:
https://www.kff.org/infographic/medicaids-role-in-nursing-home-care/

One issue with block grants is that it is a fixed amount; an expensive new drug or procedure, or a sudden costly new disease - think Zika, for example - might not be covered as there's no flexibility until the next budget go-around. Each state would have to make the case to Congress that it deserves an increase (good luck with that, LOL).

From https://khn.org/news/block-grants-medicaid-faq/:
" Q: I don’t get my insurance through Medicaid. So why should I care?

" Medicaid is a major government program. In 2015, it accounted for 17 percent of the nation’s health care expenditures — money that comes from taxpayer dollars.
Plus, the 75 million people covered make up almost a quarter of the U.S. population. And almost two-thirds of people in nursing homes pay for their care using Medicaid — indeed, most of the program’s spending is on the elderly and disabled. If lawmakers are trying to save $1 trillion over a decade, it’s hard to see how that could happen without touching elderly benefits, noted Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
Even if you aren’t covered by Medicaid, you probably know someone who would be affected by block granting. "
 
Lethe200 said:
Medicare is in a serious budget deficit and needs one or a combination of solutions:
- restructured with fewer benefits and higher premiums
- raising taxable salary limits again - the SocSec payroll tax was raised this year to $127,200, which means any salary earned over that is exempted.
- Congressional approval for Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, a huge loophole which costs taxpayers millions every year.

The GOP has control of all three branches: judicial, executive, and legislative. There is a growing push to turn Medicaid into block grants. It might be worth remembering that 62% of residents in nursing homes depend solely upon Medicaid:
https://www.kff.org/infographic/medicaids-role-in-nursing-home-care/

One issue with block grants is that it is a fixed amount; an expensive new drug or procedure, or a sudden costly new disease - think Zika, for example - might not be covered as there's no flexibility until the next budget go-around. Each state would have to make the case to Congress that it deserves an increase (good luck with that, LOL).

From https://khn.org/news/block-grants-medicaid-faq/:
" Q: I don’t get my insurance through Medicaid. So why should I care?

" Medicaid is a major government program. In 2015, it accounted for 17 percent of the nation’s health care expenditures — money that comes from taxpayer dollars.
Plus, the 75 million people covered make up almost a quarter of the U.S. population. And almost two-thirds of people in nursing homes pay for their care using Medicaid — indeed, most of the program’s spending is on the elderly and disabled. If lawmakers are trying to save $1 trillion over a decade, it’s hard to see how that could happen without touching elderly benefits, noted Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
Even if you aren’t covered by Medicaid, you probably know someone who would be affected by block granting. "
Click to expand...
Good points... like it or not we can't ignore cost and who/how/when things get paid off.
 
Smiling Jane said:
According to the Center on Budget and Policy, Medicare is not in the kind of trouble that's being claimed. I loath the gummit playing politics with my health care.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/medicare-is-not-bankrupt
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, this paper from the CBPP points out that it is ACA which is responsible for the extending and stabilizing of Medicare finances.

The GOP right wing and President are determined to undermine ACA. The Federal court has just ruled against the states who sued to immediately reinstate the subsidies which Trump canceled. They lost Wednesday 10/25/2017. The second part of the lawsuit, against the Trump administration itself, does continue and will be decided in early 2018.

Since subsidies are at the heart of ACA, if the states lose the next round in the courts in 2018, ACA is effectively dead. Insurers will lose money for 2018 because they had to submit their plans for inclusion to each state well before Trump canceled the subsidies.

Both states and insurers were guessing in May 2017 what might happen; that's why a lot of premiums rose for 2018 and many insurers withdrew from various regions as a CYA move. Anthem, for example, only sells in 3 counties in CA for 2018, whereas in 2016 they sold in 27.

What the CBPP link shows is that Medicare is not bankrupt, but it is under increased financial stress if ACA is undermined (sicker, older people will cost Medicare more). It is true an increase in the Medicare payroll tax will help, but that's been true for years. I haven't seen much political will to actually DO it.

The political reality is that the two most active political forces are the Right Wing and the Libertarians. Neither is supportive of higher taxes, especially payroll taxes.

Personally, I have no skin in this game. I have full retiree health benefits and all Medicare does is double my monthly insurance cost. But my family and friends have or will depend on Medicare and Medicaid, and it's heart-breaking to see how frightened they are of a future that might have enormous medical or nursing home costs which they can't afford to pay.
 
Don M. said:
I wouldn't put much trust in Anything the government does in the future. As the National Debt continues to climb, and Washington thinks tax cuts will solve its problems, it becomes fairly obvious that there will be a movement to reduce spending for social/welfare programs. Medicare is on track to be out of funding within 4 or 5 years, and SS isn't that far behind.

Most of these politicians get their campaign financing, etc., from the wealthy and the corporations...so it is not surprising that they support programs which cater to these sources....meanwhile, they continue to brainwash the general public into thinking that they really care about the average person.

About the only "defense" we will have against going bankrupt over medical costs in the future will be to try to stay as fit and healthy as possible....or pray that our present system collapses to the point where the Only option is a SP-UHC system much like the rest of the developed world uses.
Click to expand...
You used the correct term Don when you said brainwashing. I just don't understand why certain people can't see what's really going on! I have been warning those I know who are on social programs for a long time to spend more wisely, save more money because there's a time coming down the pike when these programs won't be available to you. If any big cuts are made I feel very sorry for some of my online friends who are already struggling. Good advice about trying to stay as healthy as possible. There are those of us who think "they" may be trying to "thin the herd."
 
Don M. said:
I wouldn't put much trust in Anything the government does in the future. As the National Debt continues to climb, and Washington thinks tax cuts will solve its problems, it becomes fairly obvious that there will be a movement to reduce spending for social/welfare programs. Medicare is on track to be out of funding within 4 or 5 years, and SS isn't that far behind.

Most of these politicians get their campaign financing, etc., from the wealthy and the corporations...so it is not surprising that they support programs which cater to these sources....meanwhile, they continue to brainwash the general public into thinking that they really care about the average person.

About the only "defense" we will have against going bankrupt over medical costs in the future will be to try to stay as fit and healthy as possible....or pray that our present system collapses to the point where the Only option is a SP-UHC system much like the rest of the developed world uses.
Click to expand...

Agree totally.
 
chrisgjim said:
If you have a BCBS Advantage plan and they pull out, then you will fall into open enrollment. This means you can go and get a Medicare Supplement and not have to answer any health questions. Just make sure you do not get Plan F.
Click to expand...

I have Plan F. What's wrong with Plan F???
 
debbie in seattle said:
Oh, we are worried to death. My husband has Mesothelioma and so hope all this is a bad dream.
Click to expand...

It's still up in the air, but the recent tax cut included a provision where the feds can ("might") get out of direct reimbursement and instead, give block grants to states to handle Medicare. But, if the block grants are not enough, the states might be forced to cut some benes. No one is talking about ending the program. They are talking about how to save money, and the repubs would like to pretty much put the onus back on the states (no political argument here).
It all remains to be seen.
 

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