Comments for Hands Off Our Medicare http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org Preserve and Protect Medicare! Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:44:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on The Impact of Raising Social Security’s Retirement Age by reality check http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/the-impact-of-raising-social-securitys-retirement-age/#comment-822 reality check Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:44:44 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=187#comment-822 As SS is our single largest part of the budget and is expect to INCREASE as the baby boomers retire it is an area that must be addressed. Increasing the retirment age 2-5 years is a logical step that must take place for the solvency of the ss program and our country as a whole As SS is our single largest part of the budget and is expect to INCREASE as the baby boomers retire it is an area that must be addressed. Increasing the retirment age 2-5 years is a logical step that must take place for the solvency of the ss program and our country as a whole

]]> Comment on Is Obama About to Sell Out Social Security? The Political Fallout Would Be Devastating by Robert Archibald McDonald Sr. http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/is-obama-about-to-sell-out-social-security-the-political-fallout-would-be-devastating/#comment-805 Robert Archibald McDonald Sr. Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:17:12 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=249#comment-805 Isn't it true that they say Social Security is going broke. This I do not understandas I have been payingh into it since 1940 and have been drawing from it since 1988 and still paying into it. I also understand that our Congress and our President have included in the SS Fund illegals that have not paid s dime into the fund but stand to be able to draw from it. Also the SS monies have for years been drawn from the fund to pay for some of the pet projects of our Gongress personnel. Now isn't that where the monies have gone? Isn’t it true that they say Social Security is going broke. This I do not understandas I have been payingh into it since 1940 and have been drawing from it since 1988 and still paying into it. I also understand that our Congress and our President have included in the SS Fund illegals that have not paid s dime into the fund but stand to be able to draw from it. Also the SS monies have for years been drawn from the fund to pay for some of the pet projects of our Gongress personnel. Now isn’t that where the monies have gone?

]]> Comment on House Republicans Propose $4 Trillion in Cuts Over Decade by Cindy Brown http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/house-republicans-propose-4-trillion-in-cuts-over-decade/#comment-800 Cindy Brown Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:18:03 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=309#comment-800 What’s the real problem with Medicare? The people who never paid taxes and are able to purchase it. Hospital insurance (Part A) Most people age 65 or older who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States are eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A). You are eligible at age 65 if: • You receive or are eligible to receive Social Security benefits; or • You receive or are eligible to receive railroad retirement benefits; or • You or your spouse (living or deceased, including divorced spouses) worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid; or • You are the dependent parent of a fully insured deceased child. If you do not meet these requirements, you may be able to get Medicare hospital insurance by paying a monthly premium. Usually, you can sign up for this hospital insurance only during designated enrollment periods. Medical insurance (Part B) Anyone who is eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) can enroll in Medicare medical insurance (Part B) by paying a monthly premium. Some beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay a higher monthly Part B premium. For more information, ask for Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income Beneficiaries (Publication No. 05-10536) or visit www.socialsecurity.gov/mediinfo.htm. If you are not eligible for free hospital insurance, you can buy medical insurance, without having to buy hospital insurance, if you are age 65 or older and you are— • A U.S. citizen; or A lawfully admitted noncitizen who has lived in the United States for at least five years. Anyone who has Medicare hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B) or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) is eligible for prescription drug coverage (Part D). Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and you pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage. Medical insurance (Part B) 2011 premium= $115.40 (0-$170,000 yearly income) Medical insurance (Part A) 2011 premium= $450.00 (0-$170,000 yearly income) Medical insurance (Part D) 2011 premium= $55.00 avg. (0-$170,000 yearly income) For $650.00 per month you can get what the average worker paid medicare taxes involuntarily for 50 years. What’s the real problem with Medicare? The people who never paid taxes and are able to purchase it.

Hospital insurance (Part A)
Most people age 65 or older who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States are eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A). You are eligible at age 65 if:
• You receive or are eligible to receive Social Security benefits; or
• You receive or are eligible to receive railroad retirement benefits; or
• You or your spouse (living or deceased, including divorced spouses) worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid; or
• You are the dependent parent of a fully insured deceased child.
If you do not meet these requirements, you may be able to get Medicare hospital insurance by paying a monthly premium. Usually, you can sign up for this hospital insurance only during designated enrollment periods.

Medical insurance (Part B)
Anyone who is eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) can enroll in Medicare medical insurance (Part B) by paying a monthly premium. Some beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay a higher monthly Part B premium. For more information, ask for Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income Beneficiaries (Publication No. 05-10536) or visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/mediinfo.htm.
If you are not eligible for free hospital insurance, you can buy medical insurance, without having to buy hospital insurance, if you are age 65 or older and you are—
• A U.S. citizen; or
A lawfully admitted noncitizen who has lived in the United States for at least five years.

Anyone who has Medicare hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B) or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) is eligible for prescription drug coverage (Part D). Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and you pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage.

Medical insurance (Part B) 2011 premium= $115.40 (0-$170,000 yearly income)
Medical insurance (Part A) 2011 premium= $450.00 (0-$170,000 yearly income)

Medical insurance (Part D) 2011 premium= $55.00 avg. (0-$170,000 yearly income)

For $650.00 per month you can get what the average worker paid medicare taxes involuntarily for 50 years.

]]> Comment on Disband the Deficit Commission by Victoria Bell http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/disband-the-deficit-commission/#comment-799 Victoria Bell Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:44:07 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=166#comment-799 This message is to the Republican party...none of their websites will allow the general public to send email to the Majority of the House of Representatives. Shame on them. President Obama I hope that you will stand up for those who are so sick and disabled and can't fight for themselves. What about the little people This message is to the Republican party…none of their websites will allow the general public to send email to the Majority of the House of Representatives. Shame on them. President Obama I hope that you will stand up for those who are so sick and disabled and can’t fight for themselves. What about the little people

]]> Comment on WSJ/NBC Poll: Hands Off Medicare, Social Security by Kimberly Tyrcha http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/wsjnbc-poll-hands-off-medicare-social-security/#comment-731 Kimberly Tyrcha Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:30:04 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=302#comment-731 I am sick and tired of Social Security being referred to as an "entitlement!" People pay into it their entire working lives. It is their money. They have earned it, therefore, it is NOT an entitlement!!! Of course, as everyone knows, Social Security does NOT add ANYTHING to the deficit! It is also NOT in crisis! It currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus! All you have to do to ensure the long-term financial stability of Social Security is to raise (or eliminate)the cap on taxable income and/or a modest adjustment in the payroll tax rate. I don't understand why that is so difficult to do? I am sick and tired of Social Security being referred to as an “entitlement!” People pay into it their entire working lives. It is their money. They have earned it, therefore, it is NOT an entitlement!!!

Of course, as everyone knows, Social Security does NOT add ANYTHING to the deficit! It is also NOT in crisis! It currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus!

All you have to do to ensure the long-term financial stability of Social Security is to raise (or eliminate)the cap on taxable income and/or a modest adjustment in the payroll tax rate. I don’t understand why that is so difficult to do?

]]> Comment on The Impact of Raising Social Security’s Retirement Age by Stand Up Against Fear, Mr. President http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/the-impact-of-raising-social-securitys-retirement-age/#comment-676 Stand Up Against Fear, Mr. President Sat, 12 Mar 2011 07:07:03 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=187#comment-676 [...] it’s time for you to fight back against the fear-mongering propaganda campaign that’s been trying to whip up a phony crisis [...] [...] it’s time for you to fight back against the fear-mongering propaganda campaign that’s been trying to whip up a phony crisis [...]

]]> Comment on New York Medicaid Panel Backs Cuts by jim fouratt http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/new-york-medicaid-panel-backs-cuts/#comment-599 jim fouratt Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:32:32 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=295#comment-599 Where can I find a list of these 75 cuts written about but not listed anywhere that I can find. Where can I find a list of these 75 cuts written about but not listed anywhere that I can find.

]]> Comment on An analysis of proposed changes to Medicare before the Deficit Commission and a better alternative: Improved Medicare for all by Sumgai http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/an-analysis-of-proposed-changes-to-medicare-before-the-deficit-commission-and-a-better-alternative-improved-medicare-for-all/#comment-529 Sumgai Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:14:12 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=202#comment-529 "Congress could address both our health care crisis and our federal deficit woes by improving and expanding Medicare to all people in our nation." But they won't. Because politicians have a major "Boehner" for the center which keeps moving thanks to one side of the political spectrum being a self destructive uncompromising oligarchical obstruction machine that won't rest until the government is run by corporate America and all Americans get paid less than even the Chinese work force which is effectively slave labor. It's like backwards communism, in that it involves all the atrocities and the dog holding the leash instead. And this is where we're heading in part thanks to a fundamentally flawed Supreme Court whose credibility and nonpartisan nature are nothing more than products of an honor system and mischaracterization that they follow it with no agent of enforcement to keep them accountable. The fact that corporate money funds our elections rules out either the executive or legislative branch defying their corporate masters. The only reason America is a right leaning country is because all the wealth is concentrated to the few, the elite, the mostly conservative and only concerned with preserving their own wealth so that their heirs may take advantage of the golden spoon up their asses that they were born with, the one they didn't earn and the one the factory worker working 40+ hours a week is far more deserving of. The very idea that the rich famous can make money in this country simply by selling their presence is in itself symbolic of our incessant obsession with and prioritization of entertainment over the betterment of our country. The insufficient strength of labor unions will, now and forever, ensure that we remain a country detached from our own best interests and the government that was meant to serve them while slowly morphing into something that works against them. In the words of Bob the Builer: "Can we fix it? No, it's fucked!" “Congress could address both our health care crisis and our federal deficit woes by improving and expanding Medicare to all people in our nation.”

But they won’t. Because politicians have a major “Boehner” for the center which keeps moving thanks to one side of the political spectrum being a self destructive uncompromising oligarchical obstruction machine that won’t rest until the government is run by corporate America and all Americans get paid less than even the Chinese work force which is effectively slave labor. It’s like backwards communism, in that it involves all the atrocities and the dog holding the leash instead. And this is where we’re heading in part thanks to a fundamentally flawed Supreme Court whose credibility and nonpartisan nature are nothing more than products of an honor system and mischaracterization that they follow it with no agent of enforcement to keep them accountable. The fact that corporate money funds our elections rules out either the executive or legislative branch defying their corporate masters. The only reason America is a right leaning country is because all the wealth is concentrated to the few, the elite, the mostly conservative and only concerned with preserving their own wealth so that their heirs may take advantage of the golden spoon up their asses that they were born with, the one they didn’t earn and the one the factory worker working 40+ hours a week is far more deserving of. The very idea that the rich famous can make money in this country simply by selling their presence is in itself symbolic of our incessant obsession with and prioritization of entertainment over the betterment of our country. The insufficient strength of labor unions will, now and forever, ensure that we remain a country detached from our own best interests and the government that was meant to serve them while slowly morphing into something that works against them. In the words of Bob the Builer: “Can we fix it? No, it’s fucked!”

]]> Comment on A Misguided Deficit Commission by Anthony Bartleson http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/a-misguided-deficit-commission/#comment-339 Anthony Bartleson Fri, 31 Dec 2010 03:12:24 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=152#comment-339 Tonight Cheryl Atkinson on CBS said that Medicare and SS will collapse in 2017. When was it ok to just make shit up! What we need is an old fashion protest, egg throwing shit stomping riot! Tonight Cheryl Atkinson on CBS said that Medicare and SS will collapse in 2017. When was it ok to just make shit up! What we need is an old fashion protest, egg throwing shit stomping riot!

]]> Comment on Is Obama About to Sell Out Social Security? The Political Fallout Would Be Devastating by Carolyn Taylor http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/is-obama-about-to-sell-out-social-security-the-political-fallout-would-be-devastating/#comment-298 Carolyn Taylor Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:30:42 +0000 http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/?p=249#comment-298 Yes, we know that the educational system is failing us, that many eleventh-graders can't read adequately. But many older people were better educated, and still know how to read. We don't ALL get our news filtered through Glen Beck. Many of us are still able to reason. We know that Social Security is paid for through payroll taxes. Those receiving Social Security now, paid into the fund for many years. We also know the fund that guaranteed our benefits has been tapped into by the government for operating expenses, instead of being put into a "lock box" for retirees as Al Gore urged it to be. There are IOUs out there for the money borrowed from the fund. People can be informed, and will understand what has happened. Some the money the government is spending was NOT borrowed fom China: some was borrowed from us. If you go backwards on programs designed to take care the most vulnerable of us--and the many who rely on Social Security for dignity in their waning years--I guarantee you there will be a revolution that will astonish observers worldwide. You think our country got bad press shooting college students during the sixties? Try to imagine police in riot gear firing on gray-haired grannies and grandpas. Yes, we know that the educational system is failing us, that many eleventh-graders can’t read adequately. But many older people were better educated, and still know how to read. We don’t ALL get our news filtered through Glen Beck. Many of us are still able to reason. We know that Social Security is paid for through payroll taxes. Those receiving Social Security now, paid into the fund for many years. We also know the fund that guaranteed our benefits has been tapped into by the government for operating expenses, instead of being put into a “lock box” for retirees as Al Gore urged it to be. There are IOUs out there for the money borrowed from the fund. People can be informed, and will understand what has happened. Some the money the government is spending was NOT borrowed fom China: some was borrowed from us. If you go backwards on programs designed to take care the most vulnerable of us–and the many who rely on Social Security for dignity in their waning years–I guarantee you there will be a revolution that will astonish observers worldwide. You think our country got bad press shooting college students during the sixties? Try to imagine police in riot gear firing on gray-haired grannies and grandpas.

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