If you're on Medicare, probably makes sense to get what procedures you need done now. I know that sounds alarmist. But these are the people who administer Medicare getting the axe.
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Guess this will be the First Felon's work around. Promises not to mess with Medicare but diminishes the Medicare workforce. Promises made, Promises kept? Uh, no.
We had this debate 40 years ago, care can be rationed by price, quality of service, and wait times. That's it. Disorganized organizations have longer queues.
No mystery.
I am my husband's caregiver. He's on Medicare and has neurologic disease. I worry about whether his vital medications will be available. I'm being extra careful to put the refills in as soon as I can within insurance rules.
My 19 year old said last night, "So, how many things can I get vaccinated for all at once?" I need to find a copy of recommended vaccines for teens and young adults to see if she's behind on anything besides flu & covid. 😕
I know I have 4 things I need to catch up on, starting them tomorrow morning.
You should know better than to assume Trump will actually succeed in cutting Medicare. This is a third-rail issue for the GOP: I know it's the subject of myriad fantasies, but it isn't happening in the reality-based world.
I know how it works. I also know you're misrepresenting what the primary source (the Bloomberg article) says: "Those laid off Saturday included employees that evaluate the safety of medical devices and conduct oversight of Affordable Care Act exchanges."
Nothing, which is my point: last weekend the NYT reported that Trump had "ended" USAID, solely via illegal fiat. That changed within days, and a judge ordered Trump to restore USAID's funding.
No clue why you think this would be any different, but medical devices remain unrelated to checks.
My point is that you're assuming – fallaciously – that this is a fait accompli, like The Times did with USAID, and that Medicare is somehow "doomed." Having a legal background, you of all people should know just how far beyond the scope this is of even the most extremist views of executive power.
True. All Worm Brain Bob has to do to eliminate medical, procedures/coverage etc is order CMS to set the RVU amount for them to near/absolute zero dollars. CMS runs the Medicare Resource-Based Relative Value System, which private insurers use as a benchmark.
Yes, I'm sure Elon's team of very unstable nongeniuses knew instantly, via osmosis, how to reprogram the entire Treasury's 70 years' worth of legacy systems within a matter of hours.
It's just as simple as hacking the NORAD mainframe, which takes a teenage hacker on TV all of 20 seconds.
It doesn’t help that Medicare already pays so poorly, that even many low-paying State Medicaid systems already March or exceed Medicare. And the private “Medicare Advantage” plans make a profit by reducing/denying payments that are already inadequate.
The point isn't that the Republicans will legislate an outright end to Medicare - it's that the Trump administration can, whether on purpose or by accident or both, "break" Medicare by delaying reimbursements, failing to process sign-ups, canceling hospital contracts, etc.
I also get that Medicare is still a third rail issue, and if Trump thinks he can "sneak" in cuts no one will notice – AARP will immediately – he's as delusional as ever.
We all know what Trump wants. "Breaking Medicare" would do nothing but inflict yet another unforced error.
And yes, we've been here before. Remember when Louis DeJoy was appointed postmaster general? The interwebs went into overdrive about how it was all part of some master plot to seize control of the election outcome via stolen mail.
One of the specifics of the "overdrive" was a giant automated mail sorter in Detroit, heavily Democratic city, ordered to be taken out of service and taken apart. Slowing down the mail just when ballots were being mailed in.
This is bullshit. No one alleged a "master plot to seize control of the election outcome via stolen mail." People were understandably and rightly concerned abt needless retrenchment in the midst of a pandemic election relying on mail. No patience with yr kind of bullshit right now.
What I remember is that people were warning that Trump might attempt to steal the election...and people like you pooh pooed it. Then...Trump tried to steal the election...to the point of naming fake electors, the administration debating having the military seize ballots, & an attack on the Capitol.
If Medicare gets cut but hospitals are still required to give emergency care, expect your private insurance rates to go parabolic.
Last time government or self pay payors became a larger part of the payor mix (Covid), institutional healthcare forced private insurance to raise rates to compensate.
*everyone* needs to emphasize that this will hurt republican red state voters much harder than the Democrats they want to punish. (Of course it will hurt them too).
Every major US employer (e.g. GM, Exxon, etc.) boots their retirees and surviving spouses off corporate plans to Medicare when they turn 65. I don’t think Trump will pick a Medicare fight with the private sector but I admit he might be that nuts.
You think they’re putting that much thought into the consequences of their actions. I don’t. They’re just trying to push as much of Project 2025 that they can as quickly as they can
The navigators program was cut. People who guide low income people through the ACA application process. But the next step is auditing blue state enrollment, look for anyone who may have understated income when applying. Ideal pretext for auditing poor people, demanding evidence they don’t have.
D'ON'T FORGET. Zillions of middle-class people benefit from Medicaid taking care of demented Mom or Granny when they need a nursing home. Medicaid is not just for poor people. Don't forget it.
Jesus I hope not. I knew back in 83 when Reagan and O’Neil made their grand bargain that social security might not be available when it was time for me to retire so I planned for that. But my healthcare plan starting in 7 months is Medicare. It’s too late for an alternative.
I turn 65 in September
Get any vaccines you’re eligible for; renew your passport if it expires in the next year; maximize security settings on all of your financial accounts.
Every thing is a serious issue - you just have to look at this in totality - we have let loose sharks to prey on every common American - this is going to make us poor, less educated, science will not be used to protect us- but we will used to work, get mangled with disability and left dead!
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No mystery.
I know I have 4 things I need to catch up on, starting them tomorrow morning.
I honestly think they're trying to cause a nationwide revolt to impose martial law.
You should know better than to assume Trump will actually succeed in cutting Medicare. This is a third-rail issue for the GOP: I know it's the subject of myriad fantasies, but it isn't happening in the reality-based world.
Suggesting otherwise is irresponsible.
This has what to do with checks, exactly?
No clue why you think this would be any different, but medical devices remain unrelated to checks.
https://www.ama-assn.org/about/rvs-update-committee-ruc/rbrvs-overview
It's just as simple as hacking the NORAD mainframe, which takes a teenage hacker on TV all of 20 seconds.
I also get that Medicare is still a third rail issue, and if Trump thinks he can "sneak" in cuts no one will notice – AARP will immediately – he's as delusional as ever.
We all know what Trump wants. "Breaking Medicare" would do nothing but inflict yet another unforced error.
Didn't happen & was totally overblown.
Last time government or self pay payors became a larger part of the payor mix (Covid), institutional healthcare forced private insurance to raise rates to compensate.
I've been getting my surgeries and other medical care done now rather than later since his first reign.
I turn 65 in September