Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors
America’s senior citizens deserve access to quality health care and coverage that will not bankrupt them. Republicans believe that reforms to America’s health care system are necessary, but that reform should first do no harm, especially to our seniors.
That’s why Republicans are calling for a Seniors’ Health Care Bill Of Rights that will:
- PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM: President Obama and Congressional Democrats are promoting a government-run health care experiment that will cut over $500 billion from Medicare to be used to pay for their plan. Medicare should not be raided to pay for another entitlement.
- PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR DOCTORS: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment will give patients less power to control their own medical decisions, and create government boards that would decide what treatments would or wouldn’t be funded. Republicans believe in patient-centered reforms that put the priorities of seniors before government.
- PROHIBIT EFFORTS TO RATION HEALTH CARE BASED ON AGE: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment would set up a “comparative effectiveness research commission” where health care treatment decisions could be limited based on a patient’s age. Republicans believe that health care decisions are best left up to seniors and their doctors.
- PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment would have seniors meet with a doctor to discuss end-of-life care that could mean limiting treatment. Republicans believe that government should not interfere with end-of-life care discussions between a patient and a doctor.
- ENSURE SENIORS CAN KEEP THEIR CURRENT COVERAGE: As Democrats continue to propose steep cuts to Medicare in order to pay for their government-run health care experiment, these cuts threaten millions of seniors with being forced from their current Medicare Advantage plans. Republicans believe that seniors should not be targeted by a government-run health care bill and forced out of their current Medicare coverage.
- PROTECT VETERANS BY PRESERVING TRICARE AND OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: Democrats recently proposed raising veterans’ costs for the Tricare For Life program that many veterans rely on for treatment. Republicans oppose increasing the burden on our veterans and believe America should honor our promises to them.
Tags: Health Care |
I am waiting for the Republicans (I am one) as a group to start talking about THEIR plans rather than starting with what is wrong with the Democrats plans. Too much negativity without a good alternative. Once a good, simple Republican plan is described, THEN compare it to the Democrats plans. Quit talking about Obama since he doesn't even have a plan.
The Republican plan should start with how to significantly reduce the cost of healthcare for all, with some real facts to back it up. In my opinion it should start with eliminating employer sponsored health care, since this just reduces wages and makes it difficult to change jobs and transfer health insurance. Employers should not be in the healthcare business, other than to promote activities that keep their employees healthy (exercise, good eating, balanced work/home environment, etc).
Once I start seeing some Republican plans and less anti-Democrats and anti-Obama, then I will start getting excited about the party and it's future.
Dennis
As a Republican you and most of the writers in this blog don’t understand our own Constitution. The federal government was NEVER supposed to be involved in much besides having a military to protect us. Government can’t do ANYTHING right!–just look at how successful the Indian Reservations were before they got their own sovereignty–Naught!–now if they would give up the big gov socialistic teat, they could do much better.
There is already Medicare and Medicaid for most folks, and it should never be extended to illegals, or replaced by Obama’s governmental plan.
And, Obama is up to his ears involved in getting us to turn into socialists together with young “acorn” type “community organized” young peons forced to police the rest of us. They get a college loan, then they have to work for Obama’s organization to pay it back–and that will probably take ten years or more. It’s slavery–and in case you think any opposition to his “organization” is racist, know this: Obama is not black–he is less black than the 1/4 blood that qualifies a Native American for being on the res rolls, so you can be sure I’m not racist! I have defended blacks in many fields.
Dennis, as a Republican I can't agree with you more! All I hear is that HR 3200 is faulty, but I haven't heard how any one in the RNC proposes anything that benefits anyone but the bottom line of insurance companies…the more bullying I see on TV on this issue, the more ashamed I am to admit that I am Republican. To the RNC…I want YOUR specifics on reforming our healthcare system instead of "picking the white out of the chicken s**t" that I hear from the party over bills that haven't been completely finished yet. For example…how does the RNC propose to make sure illegals don't get into a public healthcare option? I hear on TV shouts of "You Lie!" but no propsal from the RNC of how this would happen. I read DeMint's Heathcare freedom proposal, but feel it leans very heavily toward Insurance Companies…What about the average citizen?
My questions to the readers on this blog…how many have seen the actual payments made by Medicare to the providers (Doctors and Hospitals). Most people on Medicare doul not see any bills. They simply visit their Doctor and pay the co-pay determined by their supplement to Medicare. Well, we have a plan that gives us the full picture…a bill that shows how much the Doctor or hospital charged Medicare and the supplement plan, and how much Medicare and the supplement plan literally paid. For the most part, the Doctors are paid between 75% and 90% of the billed amound…but the hospitals are paid approximately 20% of the billed amount (that is total between the Medicare payment and the supplement payment). If the health care reform bill were to pass, and all citizens were covered the same as Medicare, the hospitals would be out of business and then run by the Federal Government. If anyone wants that be my guest. The way the government has run the post office, and all other entitlements, the end result would be total bankruptcy, another words, the United States of America would no longer be a freedom reign country…we would be totally dependant on a county such as China. Good luck
How about rewriting the healthcare reform bill on the lines of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan which Pres. Obama, Senators, Congressmen, and the entire federal workforce enjoys.
"The Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan and Medicare both are large programs run by the federal government, but the similarity ends there.
"The FEHBP is not experiencing the severe financial problems faced by Medicare. It is run by a very small bureaucracy that, unlike Medicare's, does not try to set prices for doctors and hospitals. It offers choices of modern benefits and private plans to federal retirees (and active workers) that are unavailable in Medicare. It provides comprehensive information to enrollees. And it uses a completely different payment system that blends a formula with negotiations to achieve a remarkable level of cost control while constantly improving benefits and enjoying wide popularity."
The choice is obvious. Citizen should not have poorer health care choices than their representatives.
From reading the comments on this site, it is evident that most senior citizens do not understand how Medicare operates. They do not understand that Medicare regulates which procedures senior citizens get, and how much will be paid for those services and procedures. At the present time, Medicare pays doctors and hospitals only the lowest premium for tending to senior citizens. Furthermore, most advantage plans do not cover procedures that Medicare does not cover. These plans are a boon to insurance companies, who only add a few bucks to those things Medicare already funds. In fact, these advantage plans are regulated by the government, and are not permitted (by government) to offer certain services and procedures. How nice for the insurance companies.
So with the ensuing changes, Medicare procedures and services will be paid at a lower premium that now, and Advantage Plans will not be permitted to cover any thing Medicare does not cover. Go figure, insurance companies are laughing all the way to the bank about Medicare, and the possibility of another entitlement that works like Medicare. Get a grip seniors, there is nothing in Obamacare for you.
Most of the comments on this site are so anti-senior citizen that I have to wonder who is writing these. Cannot be senior citizens who have read H.B.3200. I would say to all of you to remember that countries are judged by how they treat their old and their young. If H.B. 3200 goes through (which is what everyone is predicting), America will be judged harshly, very harshly.
I think the GOP has hit the nail on the head with the Senior Citizens Bill of Rights. Seniors have a right to exist and utilize the healthcare plan to which they have paid for most of their adult lives. Furthermore, the government requires seniors to enroll in Medicare at age 65. Otherwise, I would never have looked at this program run by the government. Senior and doctors, alike know Medicare does not provide adequate payments.
See the Atlantic article September 09 by David Goldhill. Good ideas for everyone and for Republicans to promote for everyone including folks on Medicare, Medicaid and VA.
I see the left has been given orders to visit Republican websites — who writes their febrile scripts? And as for calling people nazis, and every other foul name, I believe that is the Dems you are talking about. Sheez, if the Democrats ever starting discussing issues instead of name-calling and dirt-throwing, wouldn't it be a great world? All you people for Obama-care: just wait until you need something like and heart pacer and the death panel smiles at you and says: now isn't that just silly?
wow, and to think I voted REP last election
GENE: AS A WWII VET, AND A SENIOR CIT. ON MEDICARE, I AM UPSET THAT A LOT OF THE MEDICARE MONEY IS BEING USED TO PAY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS FOR FREE HEALTH CARE. JUST AS SOCIAL SECURITY GOES THE SAME ROUTE. I PAID THE TOTAL REQUIREMENT FOR MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS DURING MY ENTIRE CAREER IN A COVERED OCCUPATION., AND HOW MUCH OF THAT IS GOING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ELGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT??? THESE THINGS ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS THAT ARE CAUSING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TO GO BROKE. IT IS SANCTIONED "MISUSE" .
Stop telling lies about how President Obama wants to raise TRICARE costs on us veterans, when actually Bush raised TRICARE.
You are misinformed. Congress has repeatedly defeated attempts by the Pentagon to raise the payments for Tricare including when President Bush was the President. If this current congress, controlled by the Democrats under Obama wishes to change that by raising the cost of Tricare to retired military then let’s oppose that. I assume that you are against raising the cost of Tricare to military veterans who actually did something for their country to earn it under assumptions that it would be there when they retired from their service to their country. I am acutely aware of Tricare having served for 30 years and being on Tricare actually paying the cost; how about you?
The six points are a start but nothing is mentioned about reforming health care. The RNC needs to address what they are gong to do to reduce cost. What about tort reform, insurance across state lines and other issues that the American people need answers to. We need an alternative to Obamacare and are waiting for the RNC to come up with something to counter his plan. Until such time it wll be hard to convince the people that are undecided to make a choice.
I have Medicare, and had to take it because my primary insurance said so. If I don't have Medicare I'll have to contact my secondary carrier and see if there is anything they can do about it (probably will have a premium increase, but that's okay). I have cancer that isn't curable, but I'll most likely last a long time with the care I've been receiving. Without it, I'll last for a time, but not as much as I would have otherwise hoped for. Let this last election be a lesson to everyone; you cannot trust a liberal or a democrat. Period!
I have been a registered Reublican for more than 50 years, Things have gone on in the past 18 months that have been nothing less than STUPID. John McCain was hung out to dry by the GOP when they didn't back him fully and hung the child from Alaska around his neck.
I live on less than $600 a month. There will be no increase in Social Security for the next two years.
THEREFORE: there should be a pay freeze for Congress, Any politician who fights this mandate WILL NOT BE REELECTED.
Nixon issued an executive order freezing wages and price controls to fight inflation. How about one prohibiting bonuses to top executives from firms we bailed out…such bonuses be paid to the Treasury as a way to pay off their obligations. Incidentally, the Department of the Treasury is on the White House Complex. Ask a gate guard. He'll glad to show them where it is….
Point: This should not be about partisan politics. It is too important to all of us.
Point: Every American citizen should have the benefit of health care. (Not specified in H. 3200.)
Point: Any government program, such as health care, should be overseen by congress. There is no provision in H. 3200 for any oversight.
Point: H. 3200 leaves almost all of the plan details and decision-making up to the Cabinet Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius (at present), and/or a Health Benefits Advisory Committee. (Way too much power.)
Point: If they're going to require me to have a National Health Care Identification Card, make sure there is a provision in the final bill that requires the government to confirm and prove that each applicant is a citizen of the United States of America. (No verification provision in existing bill.) IMHO, anyone found to be using someone else's identity or Social Security Number to apply for a national health program (or any social services for that matter) should be prosecuted in a CRIMINAL action then deported.
continuing my comments: This bill is so sketchy and ambiguous it's ridiculous. Details, details, details! We want all the details spelled out up front. We've trusted politicians (both Republicans and Democrats) too many times and come out on the short end of the stick because they "speak with forked tongue" most of the time.
If we're going to reform health care, let's do it right!
[...] RNC has crafted a Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors. Even the url implements the Republican weapon of choice: fear. It’s not [...]
am a disabled senior citizen and Medi-Care takes care of all my needs. I am praying that this reform bill is throw out. I am happy that I can choose my own Doctor's. I vote NO! NO! NO! on this reform bill. Let us senior citizens live in peace. Isn't that what growing old is all about. If Oboma wants to do something to help, how bout giving us our living expense raises for the next two years? I'm sure everyone will agree with that. B. L .Ward
For anyone still capable of thinking for themselves, let me just point out the fraud of one of the positions of this supposed 'Bill of Rights'. The Comparative Effectiveness Research commission has one task, and one task only: to help shed light on new expensive drugs and treatments that are no more effective than vastly cheaper generic drugs and treatments. The reason the GOP opposes this should be blatantly obvious: thier corporate clients in the pharmaceutical biz want to keep putting out 'me too' drugs that are no better than existing ones, but cost a LOT more… and that's the reaon they are marketed to patients. This program would SAVE money… and it has NOTHING to do with the bogus claim about rationing… that's just another scare tactic.
Use your heads and think for yourself… it should be pretty obvious who the GOP is representing, in this crisis… and it sure isn't the patients.
Here is the problem – we don't have an infinite supply of anything and we are acting like we do.
To make matters worse, the RNC and DNC don't really care about us, they only care about their next election and their paritision BS.
So, when people start to talk about rationing, it's already happening. The extremes are that people who have no insurance are dying because people that have access to a next day MRI for something minor can get it.
We need to get real and stop wasting money. Let's look at Tri-care. Why does anyone need Tri-care? It is a waste of money. Three times the infrastructure for one person. How does that make sense.
Here's where it should start…
First, everyone alive needs to pay for health insurance every months they are alive. It's not much different that driving a car. You can't (legally) drive a car without having car insurance. If you get sick and you didn't have health insurance we have two choices – you die or you get treated. Do you think we are going to let people die? It isn't going to happen. Thus, every person alive needs to pay for health insurance every month.
Next, no insurance company should be able to deny coverage due to preexisting conditions. Pre-existing conditon exlcusion exist to protect insurance companies from poeople who only buy insurance when they get sick. That isn't fair to them.
Next, we need to do away with different pricing *and* make prices visible. Every one should get the same price on a procedure – just like walking into BestBuy.
Next, there should only be 5 (pick your number) of plans available and all forms become electronic.
If every insurer can only offer the same plan, then you *can* comparison shop and things are portable.
If you eliminate the plethora of plans and make it all electronics, all the back office staff goes away and you save a lot of money just there for things that add no value to health care.
my $0.02
What they are about Source http://www.cprights.org
In March 2009, Richard L. Scott launched Conservatives for Patients’ Rights (CPR), an advocacy group dedicated to the free market principles of choice, competition, accountability and personal responsibility in health care.
Modeling the organization after his own efforts in the industry, the goal of CPR was simply to prevent further government encroachment on the rights of patients. Seeded with $5 million from Scott, the group produced a thirty minute documentary entitled Faces of Government-Run Health Care, which told the frustrating and tragic stories of Canadian and British patients who have languished under Canada’s Medicare and the UK’s National Health Service. To date, the group has aired numerous ads on national television and radio to help educate Americans about the direction of legislation in Congress.
Okay sounds good! Here is a good old boy who feels so strongly that the health care reform bill will kill you if it were to pass, he put up FIVE MILLION DOLLARS of his own hard earned cash to found this group in order to fight the passage of the bill. Since he's a businessman he must be right. RIGHT?
Why is Congress voting on this in the first place? Shouldn't the American taxpayer be the ones that should be doing the voting? After all we are the ones that will be paying for our insurance either way it goes. So why can't we be the ones that have the say so in what way our money is going to be spent ? I don't know why our opposing officals of this bill haven't bought this up. We are suppose to be living in a country that is a democracy not communist. We need to stand up for our rights. If we let this get by they will soon be trying to tell us what and when we can eat or when to go to bed or what we can say. SAVE OUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE. Tell the government we are not taking any more of their dictatorship.
[...] the ready, and it is in that spirit that we tackle the Republican National Committee’s new "Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors." RNC Chairman Michael Steele and others in his party have been touting the document all week; [...]
The government does two things very well,spend and wast. Our socalled representatives will tell you how many billions they put into this,that and an othere program.They never tell you the end results.
In reading this bill of rights for seniors, along with preserving veteran, 'n family tricare, something comes to mind that is very important to me, and many disabled I have tried my best to fight for. A mission that started after permanent disabilities took me off the page, and out of luck when trying to live an independent life, dependent on a federally controlled bureaucracy controlled by individuals who wrote the rules, and regulations, behind closed doors. While I understand much of what is in this bill of rights will have a positive affect on the disabled, your not telling them that with the wording, and don't expect any of their democrat controlled advocates to explain it to them. Use your heads, and with what this democrat healthcare fiasco has revealed, take the bull by the horns and reveal their complete theft of America's passion to provide opportunity to those who have provided much, and to those we know do not have a chance.
Government cannot run any type of business–they are all going broke–Fannie May, Freddie Mac, Medicare, Social Security, FDIC, Amtrak and on & on. Anyone believe that the Government printing presses can continue to print money for which there are no goods and services without affecting the value of the dollar. Also political catering to the unions by giving billions of dollars(by the way–taxpayers money) to the car companies that still went bankrupt anyway–same outcome as if they would have declared Chapt 11. in the first place !!! I cannot understand why the American public cannot see through through all of this, to say nothing of the terrible burden it is subjecting our children & grandchildren to!
"Government cannot run any type of business–they are all going broke–Fannie May, Freddie Mac, Medicare, Social Security, FDIC, Amtrak and on & on." But has I have found out, since suffering the results of permanent disabilities, those of the government business are prospering well according to rules, and regulations, that anybody given freedom to write their own rules of employment would have. It's a stacked deck that uses the personal turmoil of individuals before a passionate, and giving people, then takes that gift, and divides it up proportionally across the nation without the ability of checks, and balances. It becomes a free for all between the states with every group of power within the states budgeting for their fair share. Each group needing to increase the numbers, of which they were designed to be relevent, or their existance, purpose, would not be needed. They cannot run their business without us, and its business is to keep the Americans who acted to create it, in the blind.
Wow, you ignorant people.
Those who support this outrageous new effort by the Republican Party to spread discord,
you are naive and detrimental towards the future of this country. Obama has to spend time to address
lies spread by the GOP just because 30% of this country are idiots. Listen to the President speak!
For all the liberals on this list that blindly believe Pelosi, Reid and Obama. Here's what the real facts are; Who do you know or have heard of that run to England or Canada for healthcare they cannot get here?
You are in denial, this healthcare bill is about offering free medical care to illegal aliens which comprise 15 million of the alledged 47 million that do not have healthcare. Subtract them that leaves 32 million, now subtract from that the number of young people who don't want insurance because they don't feel they need it. Subtract the extremely wealthy who can afford healthcare without insurance. Why compromise the 275 million who are happy with what they have now to satisfy the needs of less then 20 million. Just logically it doesn't make sense unless… Healthcare control is the actual motive, if I control your banks, your wages, your healthcare, I CONTROL YOU!
Obama urged us to judge him by the people he went to for advice and those whose company he keeps. I am doing that in reference to the healthcare bill. Rham and Ezekiel Emanuel. developed a theory called QALY or Quality Adjusted Life Year. This is a way to decide benefits based on what you can contribute to society or productivity you have. Ezek developed a bell curve with infants and seniors on the low end of both sides. 15-40 years of age having the most value, infants, toddlers up to 3 years of age worthless because they are not yet human enough to conceptualize tomorrow and seniors not able to be productive. Then look at Peter Singer, close pal to Obama, he assigns a numerical value to us based on age.
I believe Obama's wish to be judged by his peers and these guys have a lot of imput.
Take away the Senators and Congressman's government health-care and the retirement benefits that they receive, and you will see how fast changes will be made to health-care and the social security system.
Are American Citizens that are "Disabled" also included with the "Senior's Bill of Rights", since they too are on Medicare?
VOTE DEMOCRAT,
DO NOT vote out the incumbent Democrats
DO NOT vote out any Republican that crosses over to vote with the Democrats.
REMEMBER- VOTE DEMOCRAT
If our people that we elected to run our country will not take their health plan for themselves why is it good for us.They can not agree on anything all you hear is the bickering of the parties there should be no parties just people working together to make our country great and to make sure it stays that way
Hey, what about this concept. Our American Government keeps bringing up the subject of CUTTING WASTES in WASTEFUL ORGANIZATIONS within itself. Well , what about this idea: instead of taking funds out of Social Security & Medicare, why not start to cut funds & waste in MEDICAID & WELFARE & stop giving TAX BREAKS to people who have kids? Just a thought……
I`d rather go to the cinema.
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signature: zelnorm 2mg
I am a SENIOR (EMPHASIS ON SENIOR). WWII VET;AND MEDICARE RECIPIENT. I ALSO HAVE A PRIVATELY PAID SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICAL INS. PLAN (MEDIGAP). i THINK THE "GOP" (I'M INDEPENTANT) HAVE A GOOD REASON TO FIGHT THIS PROPOSED DEMOCRATIC(FAVORED) HEALTH CARE REFORM PROPOSAL BILL. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANY MORE CUTS TO "MEDICARE". AND CERTAINLY! NOT CUT $500 BILLION FROM "MEDICARE.
I HAVE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH ALL DOCTORS; WHEN I REVIEW MY MEDIAL SUMMARY STATEMENTS;AND SEE WHAT "MEDICARE ALLOWS ;AS OPPOSED TO DOCTORS CHARGES–SOME FAIR — AND SOME — SEEMINGLY, OUTRAGES. MY FEELINGS –BOTTOM-LINE; ARE THAT THIS DISPARITY,COMES ABOUT,FROM "MEDICARE" BEING STRAPPED WITH "FUNDING" TO BEGIN WITH. I'M AFRAID THAT THE PRESENTLY PROPOSED "HEALTH-CARE-REFORM BILL: WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR MEDICAL INS. CO'S. TO HAVE A FIELD-DAY WITH EXPENSIVE PREMIUM – PLANS. AND PERHAPS THE "GOP" FEAR OF "OPEN HEALTH-CARE " TO ILLEGAL -MIGRANTS' TO THIS COUTRY; IS WELL FOUNDED.
DUH!!!__ Have you even read this bill? Holy crap, no matter so many nations think were freakin stupid. ____Congressional Research Agency Confirms Illegal Aliens Will Get Health Benefits Under House Bill__Last Tuesday, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), which is the non-partisan "research arm" of the United States Congress, issued a report that concludes that illegal aliens will be able to receive benefits under the House health care bill (H.R. 3200) through two major loopholes. (See CRS Report and FAIR Press Release, August 26, 2009).____According to its own website, CRS is a legislative branch agency that provides Congress with "policy and legal analysis" that is authoritative, objective and accurate. (CRS website). The latest CRS report validates what FAIR has been saying for the past month and a half — that illegal aliens will be able to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits under the House health care bill. (See FAIR's Legislative Updates, July 20, 2009
DUH!!! IS RIGHT. But guess what they already do. That's right, they us the ER as their Health care plan. It would be better to have a plan, that everyone could afford and pay for UP FRONT so they could seek treatment during normal business hours like us genereous tax-payers. WHT NOT MANDATE THAT EVERONE IN THIS COUNTRY regardless of status MUST PURCHASE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE
I like your don'ts. Now tell us what your plan for health care reform is. It seems that you are very good at knocking the Demo plan without giving us your plan. If you don't have a solution you have no right to complain
Once again, the RNC has used the cover of "protecting the rights" of Americans to instill fear into seniors by implying this supposed Obama "experiment" proposes to do any of the things the RNC is going to protect us against!
My husbands insurance company stands between him and his doctor already! His doctor perscribes a medication for him that they don't want to pay for. Every month we have to call and go through a hassle because the insurance company doesn't want to pay for his perscription. Thank God we are healthy enought to jump through this hoop every month but what if something happened to one of us….would the insurance company call itself and argue that the doctor knows what he needs.
Get out of the pocket of big insurance, RNC. You are digging our graves with your lies.
Looks good on paper – but in reality it is not workable. Medicare is not a self supporting program today. As more people start using it, and as there are fewer workers to fund the program, it is going to go broke and / or become an increasing burden on the taxpayer.
Can a thinking person justify a hip replacement for an 85 year old individual that is suffering from dementia bordering on Alzheimer's, wholly funded by Medicare and the taxpayers? Can we justify putting this same person in a rehabilitation program for 6 months?
Can we justify engaging in medical treatments that we know will fail in a relatively short period of time with the cost being paid 100% by the taxpayer?
Is this not hypocritical of the Republicans, who are fully in favor of "personal responsibility," wanting to provide full treatment and coverage at taxpayer's expense to people who have willingly and freely jeopardized their own health by being obese, smoking or having other addictions? Don't these people have an obligation to society to be responsible for themselves and not live off the taxpayer?
It seems that the Republican party in its never-ending quest to find fault with Obama (of which there is plenty of) is not intent on creating an "entitlement society" and "entitlement classes" instead of approaching things logically. People have a right to basic health care, but the amounts and types of health care that is accessible to them must be tempered with logic and common sense. If people want to have Mercedes type health care, they should be willing to make sacrifices and pay for it, not the taxpayer. I have problems with the concept that seniors should not be forced to spend their life savings for health care just so that their heirs can have an inheritance. Why should the taxpayer be funding a program that can enrich others through inheritance?
Scrap everything and get back to the basics. People should receive the type and quality of health care that they pay for – not equal care for everyone.
We are our brothers keepers. What if as a result of prolonging the life of that 85 year old with the hip replacement bring about a cure or treatment for Alzheimer's, or other medical conditions. It might be in time to help you.
We like the idea of the seniors bill of rights. We just don't need more government telling the people of the U. S what to do. We are not as naive and gullible as those people in Washington would like to think we are.
We already have a Bill of Rights. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I find that I can pursue happiness a lot eaiser when I don't have to choose between buying food or buying medication.
Can some one point me to the GOP Health Care Plan? I found the talking points, now I'd like to see what the new proposals are that would be offer or at least some meaningufl amendments.
President Obama said unequivocably during his speech before the joint Senate and House that illegal immigrants would not receive healthcare in his plan. Now comes a great debate with many pushing for new healthcare reform to cover illegal immigrants – or to make illegal immigrants legal and then cover them!
Can anybody out there possibly think Obama hadn’t figured this out when he gave his speech to Congress? In fact, he had earlier called for Immigration Reform which included amnesty and just a few days after his speech reiterrated that call.
So for not being honest, Obama should apologize to Joe Wilson. And the American people should discount whatever Obama says from now on, knowing that it will be laced with misinformation.
Fox News judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano points out that it doesn't matter whether specific language barring immigrant coverage is included or not, a national healthcare bill will be extended to cover illegal immigrants as well as legal immigrants and current residents U.S. from other countries.
“We know this because in the state of California they recently enacted a proposition – that is, a vote in November that is not a law from the legislature but a vote by the people – that sought to bar all social services to illegal aliens,” Napolitano told Neal Cavuto on Fox’s Real World during its Sept. 10 airing. “And two federal courts threw it out. The Supreme Court decided not to hear it. So it is clear that it is the law of the land.”
Napolitano explained the two federal courts decided that the Constitution ensures that all classes of people must be treated equally. Since the healthcare reform will be universal coverage, all people in the U.S. will be covered even if the law tries to cut out one segment, and even if that segment is in the U.S. illegally.
That legal finding will hold sway over any federal legislation. For example, Cavuto pointed out that Sen. Max Baucus says new healthcare legislation he is currently working on will specifically exclude illegals.
“That would be found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,” Napolitano explained, “not on the basis of statuatory law but on the basis of the Constitution, which says to the Congress, if you provide benefits to one class, you have to provide benefits for everybody.”
Napolitano pointed out that President Obama is a constitutional lawyer and almost certainly would have to know this.
The Republican Party opposed Health Care for illegal aliens. But the Party seem to be divided on enforcing our immigration laws which includes deportation of all illegals. My Kansas Senator Brownback avoids any of my questions when it comes to enforcing all immigration laws.
What's the official policy of the RNC?
Some suggested reading, first from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19heal...
Second, a paper co-authored by Ezekiel Emmanuel, the Health Czar(PDF):
http://www.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/emanuel_la...
[...] The Republican Party platform doesn’t say that health care is a right, and they’ve published what they call a “Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors” which would protect at least [...]
[...] The Republican Party platform doesn’t say that health care is a right, and they’ve published what they call a “Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors” which would protect at least [...]
I read that he was to eager do a Eastenders cameo :O. Not sure how true this is, has anyone else heard it? There’s a bit of me that sort of hopes this is true lol.
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