Are Seniors Being Targeted?

Nobody seems to mention it. Why did Greenspan, and now Bernanke, keep interst rates so rediculously low? Our social security benefits certainly are not adequate to get by on. Think of it; $100,000 that we managed to accumulate in our lifetime normally would generate $400 a month income. That is now $40 or less leaving us no alternative except dipping into our capi tal. They claim, of course, that rates must be kept where they are indefinitely to encourage sales and business activity to reduce unemployment,etc. It seems counterproductive to cut our income by 90% and then think we can spend more to reach nirvana. I am starting to think they have an agenda.

By law the calculation for COLA for Social Security recipients is done in October each year, we should wait till the calculated is done "next" month.

If you, or your parents, are like me, & using a Medicare Sr Advantage insurance program, you need to pay very close attention to the proposed method of payment for Obama's healthcare plans as stated in his Wednesday night speech.

In WSJ, 09-10-09, “Democrats want to cut $177B out of Medicare by cutting out the 24% of Sr’s enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs because it’s run by private insurance companies”.

Obama said “these programs do nothing to improve senior’s care & only pad the pockets of insurance companies”. I know this is not true from my own excellent care with my Sr Advantage Plus services.

Obama told seniors to “not be afraid of scare stories about (how) your benefits will be cut”. But I am very...

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."

Mahatma Ghandi
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“I don’t think that we can make judgments based on people’s ’spirit.’ Uh, that would be, uh, a pretty subjective decision to be making....... you know what, maybe this isn’t going to help. Maybe you’re better off, uhh, not having the surgery, but, uhh, taking the painkiller.”

Barack Obama

Too many seniors do not pay any attention to politics, they believe our SS rights are cut in stone, no these funds are sand, and the sand is blowing away. When our government took the SS funds and gave us T bills in exchange, well my debtors do not accept T bills to pay my bills.
IF all Americans do not wake up, and rise up, and stand tall, and demand our rights, we will be left to die. Don Cordell as your President would protect you, and all Americans.
With at least now, some 30 million Americans are unemployed, that's income taxes and SS contributions they are not making. America is being destroyed by a plan that goes back to 1908, or actually before that, by the industrialists. As we have now watched our jobs leave the...

In knowing that they won't have their rent and spenddown increased, or food stamps cut because of a COLA. This the norm when many get the COLA - they lose 3X the amount of the COLA in other benefits; it's not a COLA for the recipient, it's a COLA for the state. It's the governments dirty little secret.

Sharon must be a nurse or a wise woman as I too have found that the Great Equalizer is Age. No matter who you are, you will lose it all when you become aged. Even those with plenty of money find the younger do not listen nor look them in the eye nor make allowance for their slower moving ways. Now as to private social security schemes, we already have that, all investment plans are a form of retirement income. That is what they are for, removing yourself from the job market. And to tell the truth, if the Stock Market was such a great place to make money, the Federal Government would be invested in it. And for a fact some states were heavily invested before the bottom dropped out and now are scrambling to cover their budgets. Nope, only...

Let's call Soc Sec and Medicare what they really are: Ponzi schemes that haven't gone the way of Bernie Madoff only because the fed govt has the ability to continually increase taxes on the working population. It's beyond ridiculous that my daughter, age 23, has been saddled with soc sec taxes that go to people who have far more money than her. Is there a better example of "taxation without representation." That fabled hero among repubs, Ronald Reagan, punted the issue back in 1983 along with George Mitchell, Rostenkowski, and Bob Dole when they "fixed" the problem by...raising taxes. Soc Sec and Medicare can't be "fixed." Ponzi schemes can't be made legal. Due to the recession/depression, this is the first year that not enough taxes...

I will be eligible for medicare in 5 years and I can tell you I would rather keep my health insurance....however, I won't be allowed to through my previous job. Although I would like to have my own insurance...just what company do you think will take me? I currently have no disease/ailment that I am aware of.. but truth is, I would be turned down.

I have news for you. You will someday be old. Age is no respector of persons. AND...think about this. Even at your age, you could have an accident whereby you are handicapped. What will your future be if you are not considered a viable taxpayer anymore? Rationing can happen to the young as well as the old.

The main issue of what has happened to Social Security and Medicare is that Big Government has robbed the kitty that was established so many years ago to support these programs in order to finance other programs, "balance the books" and cover up the robbery that has been going on far too long.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul does not work and eventually someone has to pay. Now it's the Seniors who will pay and pay dearly for the wasteful Porkulous spending policies of the fat cats of Washington.
We as individuals and families have to live within our financial means and why can't the government do the same?
The idiots now in power, especially "The One" are on a pathway that will only bring financial ruin to America.
They've...

The main issue of what has happened to Social Security and Medicare is that Big Government has robbed the kitty that was established so many years ago to support these programs in order to finance other programs, "balance the books" and cover up the robbery that has been going on far too long.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul does not work and eventually someone has to pay. Now it's the Seniors who will pay and pay dearly for the wasteful Porkulous spending policies of the fat cats of Washington.
We as individuals and families have to live within our financial means and why can't the government do the same?
The idiots now in power, especially "The One" are on a pathway that will only bring financial ruin to America.
They've...

will be next to be thrown "under the bus" (getting pretty crowded down there!), by the likes of Obama. Seniors are fighting back, but will they succeed? How long before the "young" will see them as a burden to their "future"? WE can all just get down on our knees and pray, that what Glenn Beck started will continue!
I certainly "hope" that WE can "change" the government into its original role: A GEOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE!

Socialism is socialism. There are no degrees of socialism. Either you favor the eradication of Social Security and Medicare, or you are a socialist, no better than President Obama.

MyOpine, you complain about Medicare, but would you give it up? Would you pay for your own healthcare?

Silence Is: what's immature and selfish, seeing things objectively, or declaring government subsidies right, and complaining about government mismanagement when one first entrusted the government to manage? Of course the government mismanaged, how intelligent would it be to expect otherwise?

Again, what is it about health care that makes people who otherwise consider themselves conservative to become Huey Long?

I did not ask YOU OR THE GOVERNMENT to meddle in my financial affiars?
I too am complaining about Medicare.
If you were not quite so PRESUMPTIVE you might have noticed that.
AND;
When you reach the proper age, if you are that lucky, YOU WILL GET MEDICARE STUFFED UP YOUR BUTT TOO!

If you stay in one place where you are known you can pay medical expenses out of your own pocket with little problem.

Try having a medical expense in some remote area where you are not known and see what a rigmarole of crap you go through without Insurance.

Like I mentioned before, YOU KNOW NOTHING AND ARROGANTLY PRESUME THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE!

qhoratius (formerly povidus)
After paying into SS for 40+ years and Medicare since it's inception, it is hardly welfare. If I could pay for seniors during my working life and save for my retirement I have no shame in now getting payback for my investment. Do not take your anger out on seniors who worked all their lives, supported families, paid taxes, defended this country. The shame is that Congress placed the money collected for SS into the general fund and spent it. The lack of stewardship with the SS money is why the fund will be bankrupt instead of invested in securities that would have continued to grow the fund. It is the government that has caused our financial problems and led to the loss of half of my savings. I hope when...

Along with no COLA for two years, Obama wants to pass the most punishing "Trickle Down Tax" in history.

The increase in fuel costs will increase manufacturing overhead, farming and transportation costs.
Along with this is a "Cap & Trade Tax".
(For examples I put profit @ 33%)
For every $1 fuel + Cap & Trade adds to the per unit cost, an extra $1.33 will be added to Wholesale cost.
The wholesaler will add his profit margin and that $1.33 becomes $1.77 + the unknown added transportation cost to the Retailer.
The Retailer adds his 33% + added transportation and the $1 Government gets costs you, the consumer $2.35 + Transportation.

The runaway inflation this causes would drive the COLA to an astronomical...

"I have never needed charity in my whole life and I don't expect relatives OR ANYONE ELSE to provide anything for me . . ." Except for taxpayers and the government.

I do pay for my and my family's medical care out with my own money--no employer plan, no government. I've never had any problems, nor have I ever been turned down.

Perhaps you are correct that I am not sensitive to the needs of those who do not want to pay their own way in life. But a significant portion of my income is taken to support them, so I feel I have the right to complain.

MSNBC doesn't explain these things to Liberals.

That there are different parts to "medicare", not necessarily related.

Part A is hospital, in theory paid for in advance through the mandatory 2.9% payroll tax. Last year the part A fund was about $15 billion short (in theory, covered by the "trust fund" which Algore is still looking for the lock box).

Part B/C is out patient/doctor care. It is voluntary paid by monthly premium once you are 65. The premium only covers about 25% of the cost, with tax payers picking up the rest, about $165 billion last year. A few years ago congress tried to "fix" the part B/C cost problem by reducing reimbursement to doctors, but then they decided to postpone the reductions year after year, since most doctors will refuse to see medicare...

I forgot to answer you ignorant presumption of my finances or that I am asking anyone to pay for my medical expenses.
My finances are quite adequate for my needs and continually provide reserves.
I have never needed charity in my whole life and I don't expect relatives OR ANYONE ELSE to provide anything for me and I don't need any advice from a bellicose, arrogant buffoon!

You seem kind of thick between the ears so I will try to put it a little more bluntly.

PRIOR to Medicare I had FULL MEDICAL COVERAGE through TWO separate Insurance Companies provided by previous employers.

NOW I am only covered by ONE because of Medicare and it costs me $40 extra per month.

I am in my 80s.
Now if you are suggesting I go without insurance and pay for health care out of my own pocket then I am suggesting you follow your own advice and see what it does to the level of health care you receive!
Some medical facilities will not admit you for even minor treatment without proof of insurance unless you can prove your ability to pay and fill out a bunch of forms, then you receive minimal...

you wrote "America must endure another three years of this one term charlatan-president and his Pelosi-Reed-Mikulski-Frank fashion of 'progressive-leadership'"

Allow me to remind eveeryone that a POTUS can accomplish ONLY what the Congress is willing to write that he can sign into law. That is what has BHO so POed. The current Congress is either unable or unwilling to write the medical reform fast enough, with the stipulations he wants, for BHO to sign into law.

Thankfully - & hopefully - people are waking up. 2010 elections is our last opportunity to stop (and maybe even reverse) Amwerica's slide into socialism. We MUST start now to work for election or re-election of those oppose Ovomit. Thw Honorable Joe Wilson is the...

If you cannot get the coverage you want out of a private carrier, why do you not pay with cash? Let me guess: you don't have enough money. Can't your children help? Let me guess: they don't have enough money. One works for forty years and does not have enough money to support them self when they choose not to work.

And why is this everyone's problem?

You should investigate and learn the facts prior to comment.

As soon as you reach the age for Medicare coverage, Insurance Companies demand you sign over your Medicare to the company or they will not provide "Primary" coverage.

Medicare is a CURSE to many Seniors.
It reduces my coverage to half of what I had and costs me $40 per month!

We have a "One Size Fits All" Government.
I am glad Government does not make shoes yet!

although I am not yet on medicare...my father is. He is 91 years young and in a nursing home in Indiana. While visiting him last month, I was told that the doctor had upped the dosage on his pain patch and medicare refused to pay for it anymore. They put him on another pain medication that caused all kinds of other problems. Plus...this is not the first time we had gone through this pain medication issue. The pain patch works better than anything for him. He does not have any terminal illness but he does have pain with one of his legs. I had to watch my father sit and cry with pain until they could get another doctors order to go back to the original prescription so it would be covered.
The doctor will order therapy for...