My local newspaper printed my letter to the editor about my experience with the Oregon's new Obamacare website versus Medicare:
During the recent open enrollment for Oregon's Obamacare at healthcare.gov I compared what it costs for a Corvallis early retiree at age 64 versus a 65 years old Medicare recipient with President Bush's Part D drug coverage.
I found 69 Obamacare plans offered in Corvallis Zip code 97330 that ranged in price from $420 to $938 per month.
Most Medicare recipients in Corvallis pay monthly premiums of only $104.90 per month plus approximately $30 per month for Part D drug coverage, however, Medicare prominently discloses that the government pays most of the actual costs equal to $826.60 for Medicare Part A and B plus approximately $63.40 per month for Part D drug coverage, as calculated using Bush's delayed cost method also used by Obamacare.
Shockingly, this adds up to annually over $10,000 per Medicare recipient without including the additional dollars spent on co-payments, deductibles and other uncovered medical costs.
Younger Republicans are furthering their agenda, of cutting Social Security and Medicare to lower taxes, by stoking resentment in young voters with the above facts and the propaganda that the Baby Boom Generation will bankrupt the system and leave them nothing.
If Democrats fail to convince voters that capitalism and free market competition will not control medical costs, then eventually only the wealthy will be able to afford medical care.
(Quoted from Thomas Kraemer, "Letter: Soon, only the wealthy will be able to afford insurance," Gazette-Times, Dec. 8, 2014)
See the following links:
- Joshua Green, "Giving Obamacare A lift in Colorado," BusinessWeek, Jan. 17-23, 2014, p. 27-28
- David Weigel, "Obamacare's YouTube Challenge." BusinessWeek, Nov. 24-30, 2014, p. 30-31, bloomberg.com posted online Nov. 11, 2014 as "Citizen Journalism" Meet the Mild-Mannered Investment Adviser Who's Humiliating the Administration Over Obamacare. A "nobody" named Rich Weinstein keeps digging up damaging clips about the ACA. "
- David Weigel, "Closing Arguments Double-Dipping, Dog Whistles, and Obamacare: The Last Senate Debate of 2014," bloomberg.com posted Dec 1, 2014
- "Medicare 2014 & 2015 costs at a glance," medicare.gov accessed Nov. 29. 2014 as directed by book, "Medicare & You 2015," received in U.S. Mail Sept. 26,2014, p. 31-32
- Social Security Administration, "Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income Beneficiaries 2014," SSA Publication No. 05-10536 Jan. 2014, p. 4, socialsecurity.gov accessed Nov. 29, 2014(PDF)
- LaVenia J. LaVelle, Press Officer, "Press Release: Social Security Announces 1.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2015," socialsecurity.gov October 22, 2014 accessed Bov. 29, 2014
- NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: Attached is a fact sheet showing the effect of the various automatic adjustments.
- "Fact Sheet, 2015 Social Security Changes oCost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)," socialsecurity.gov accessed Nov. 29, 2014
- www.healthcare.gov (secure page)
- healthcare.gov (simple link)
- 68 Health Plans AGE 64
- "Who can get Social Security survivors benefits and how do I apply?" faq.ssa.gov accessed Nov. 29, 2014
- Social Security Administration, "Survivors Benefits," SSA Publication No. 05-10084 July 2013 socialsecurity.gov
- "Survivors Benefits," socialsecurity.gov accessed Nov. 29, 2014
- "Survivors Planner: How Much Would Your Benefit Be?" socialsecurity.gov accessed Nov. 29, 2014
- Calculators Survivors
- Spouses, Children, Survivors
- When can my spouse get Social Security benefits on my record?
- Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your Spouse If you are full retirement age, you can apply for retirement benefits and then request to have payments suspended.
- Survivors Planner: Planning For Your Survivors
- Survivors Planner: Survivors Benefits for Your Widow or Widower
- Survivors Planner: How Much Would Your Survivors Receive?
- Calculators
- Sean Cavanaugh Deputy Administrator &anp; Director, Center for Medicare, "All Medicare Advantage Organizations and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Sponsors," July 31, 2014 cms.gov accessed Dec. 1, 2014
