Any recommended websites where they debunk HRC lies targeted at seniors?

[OneGrassRoot]

My mom is assailed daily by teabagger types scaring the crap out of her. I really think it's a losing battle -- nothing I say seems to sink in.

I went to AARP's site (even though the right-wingers now decry that group as not being a good advocate for seniors) and they don't even have a nice, neat list that I could find which debunks the lies being spewed.

She's been told they're cutting Social Security across the board effective very soon, Medicare benefits are being greatly cut back, and sundry other tidbits. Indeed, as others have written, the right-wingers are claiming Armageddon is upon us (if The Rapture is part of it, I'm placing first dibs on their stuff!).

Copying and pasting stuff from the bill itself is useless. I need simple, simple, simple, and preferably from a source that doesn't appear too partisan.

Thanks. :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Just heard this on the Bill Press radio show:

In 1959 - 35% of our senior citizens were living in poverty

In 1970 - 20%

today - 10%

Thanks to Medicare.

I think that drives the point home pretty well.

[tomber]

2. Medicare Advantage funding is being cut

It's a supplemental medicare plan that millions of seniors use. Without it they will have to live without the additional benefits of the MA coverage. The cut to MA will more than likely cause MA providing insurers to raise rates or cut coverage. If your mother uses MA she has a reason to be concerned.

[OKNancy]

3. subsidies to the private insurers who issue the Medicare Advantage

are being cut, but if they stay competitive, they will still have it. If not, seniors can transfer to another type of policy with better rates. Overall the bill is a plus for seniors.

[tomber]

4. better rates?

Is there a policy with better rates than one subsidized by the government? They do have other options here but all will be more expensive than what they had and may not provide the same level of additional coverage. Government subsidized programs generally are able to provide more and better services cheaper which is the purpose of it being subsidized.

[LibinMo]

5. I have Medicare Advantage & love it

We ran a small business before my husband's retirement in 2001. Even then the insurance premiums for our
12 employees were eating us alive. Eventually we had to close down. I had to go without health insurance for
2 years after that. It was the scariest time of my life. My husband, a cancer survivor, was on medicare by
then and it was a godsend.

My medicare advantage program charges no additional premium beyond the regular medicare premium. It includes prescription drug coverage & also a free YMCA membership. To replace these two things alone will cost at least another $60 month.

If I change to Regular Medicare + a Medicare Supplement plan (almost a necessity) that will be extra $100 month, minimum, plus
the premium for a prescription drug plan.

The way I understand it, my Medicare Advantage plan will stay the same through 2010. After that I will have some
decisions to make. Husband has MA too so we will get hit with a double whammy.

So it will hurt us financially. But you know, I don't care if it means that EVERYBODY in America can afford
health insurance. And can no longer lose their insurance over a serous illness.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I just found out my mom does have Medicare Advantage...

Hopefully in the various town halls meetings Obama makes after signing the bill, he'll start addressing these specific concerns and ways to deal with it. I'm just not knowledgeable enough about these things to speak intelligently and advise her, unfortunately.

Thanks for sharing your situation.

:hi:

[LibinMo]

8. The one thing that will REALLY anger me

Is if we are hit with some kind of penalty for joining a Medicare Supplement plan after being with Medicare Advantage
for several years. I believe that the older you are when you join a Med Sup, the higher the monthly premium.

If they do away completely with Medicare Adv this should not be allowed.

[lame54]

7. do you mean HCR because HRC is Hillary

[OneGrassRoot]

9. I do that EVERY SINGLE TIME....

Oh well....:rofl:

:hi: