14 replies to this topic

[chriskuo]

LLS sent us an email with #ProtectCancerPatients.

 

They have asked us to write our congressperson to vote against it.  In our case, our congresswomen is already a strong no.

 

If you have a Republican congressperson, your email may make a difference.

[Buzzm1]

The GOP healthcare plan is basically a $600 billion tax cut for rich Americans https://t.co/uFPpkssRBd ...

 

Note that FY2017 federal revenues through February are running a mere $8 billion dollars ahead of last years anemic $18 billion dollar gain in revenues:

 

CBO: Fiscal Year federal tax revenues (billions)
FY2016 3,267 (18) deficit $587 billion
FY2015 3,249 (228) deficit $439 billion
FY2014 3,021 (246)
FY2013 2,775 (325)
FY2012 2,450 ...

CBO: Federal corporate tax revenues through February and for Fiscal Year (billions)
FY2017 $087 $290 est.
FY2016 $089 $300 (9.18% of total federal revenues)
FY2015 $102 $344 (10.59% of total federal revenues) ...

CBO Monthly Reports Running Totals (in billions)

FY2017...Oct...Nov...Dec....Jan....Feb
Receipts..221...421...740..1,084..1,256
IndIT.................212...351......551.....610
SoIns................166....254....362......451
CorpT................002....075....083......087
Other................040....061.....089......107
Outlays...266...601....948...1,243..1,604
Deficit....044....179....207......159.....348

FY2016...Oct...Nov...Dec....Jan....Feb.....Mar.....Apr....May.....Jun
Receipts..211...416...766....1,079..1,248..1,478..1,917..2,137....2,470
IndIT.................203...352.....533.....598....676...944..1,036....1,171
SoIns................162....241.....343.....428....523...638....739......850
CorpT................008....085....091.....089....122....157.....162......224
Other.................043...088.....112.....134.....157....178....200.......225.
Outlays...347...617.....981...1,240..1,601..1,935..2,268..2,545..2,867
Deficit....136....201.....216.....160.....353.....457.....352.....408.....397

[tadly]

The CBO estimates that 29 million now covered by Obamacare will become uninsured. The new legislation claims to save $600 billion compared to what we currently have over the next ten years. But do the simple math, this amounts to only $200 for each of the 29 million per year. Yes some tax cuts for the wealthy with such a cruel outcome.

[Buzzm1]

Trumpcare's $880 billion cut to Medicaid is an attack on seniors 

 

Trumpcare is officially known as the American Health Care Act, but that's a lie. It isn't a bill to provide health care, but exactly the opposite ― a bill to take health insurance away from tens of millions of Americans, especially those who are older, poorer, and sicker, in order to pay for massive tax giveaways for the wealthy and corporations. The bill cuts $880 billion from Medicaid, and cuts taxes primarily for rich people by about the same amount.

 

When people think of Medicaid, they don't usually think "seniors." But in fact, about six million seniors receiving Medicare are also enrolled in Medicaid ― and that number doesn't include people in their fifties and early sixties, who will be increasingly likely to rely on Medicaid if Trumpcare passes and makes their premiums for private health insurance rise by 750 percent.

 

Medicaid is particularly important to seniors who require long term care and their families. That will be most of us one day: 70 percent of Americans ages 65 and older will eventually require long-term care services and supports, which include nursing facilities, home health aides, personal care, and family caregiving. Medicaid covers sixty percent of nursing home residents and forty percent of long term care services and supports.

 

Without Medicaid, millions of seniors and their families will not be able to afford long-term care. The median yearly cost for home health help is $46,000 per year, and for a nursing home it's $92,000! In comparison, the average yearly Social Security benefit is only $14,776. Taking Medicaid benefits away from seniors forces their families (especially women) to provide at-home care even if they don't have the time or skills to do so adequately. Those seniors who don't have family members or friends who can take on care responsibilities are condemned to a lonely death.

 

Social Security Works has released a factsheet detailing the importance of Medicaid to seniors, through protections such as:

 

Read more: http://www.huffingto...ushpmg00000004 

[tiredblood]

Those seniors who don't have family members or friends who can take on care responsibilities are condemned to a lonely death.

You should rephrase that statement.

[gerry]

Hi tired blood, curious as to why you don't like that statement. Is the level of Social Care fairly high in the States? I know my mum would have struggled here in Australia to stay out of a nursing home if she hadn't had myself and my brother to look after her. Everything to do with her care, except for hospitals had to have some sort of financial contribution to it, even if they were small amounts.

[Pin]

It might be the "condemned to a lonely death" part, which is not necessarily true?

[Marnie]

LLS sent us an email with #ProtectCancerPatients.

 

They have asked us to write our congressperson to vote against it.  In our case, our congresswomen is already a strong no.

 

If you have a Republican congressperson, your email may make a difference.

My Republican congressman sent me a form letter in response to the e-mail I sent him.  I doubt that he bothered to look at my e-mail.

[chriskuo]

What did he say in the form letter?  That he is fine with Trump voters losing their Medicaid or exchange subsidies?

[hannibellemo]

My Republican congressman sent me a form letter in response to the e-mail I sent him.  I doubt that he bothered to look at my e-mail.

You're lucky, I never even hear from mine. Of course, Steve King is ranked 435th in terms of effectiveness. How he keeps being re-elected is beyond me! He does want to know if I am a Ms., Mrs., Mr. or other. (I may have made up the part about the "other".) 

 

This morning I was struck by the ridiculous priorities in this country when a stolen used NFL jersey is valued at $500,000 and at the amount of effort and money used to track it down.

[mscl]

This morning I was struck by the ridiculous priorities in this country when a stolen used NFL jersey is valued at $500,000 and at the amount of effort and money used to track it down.[/quote]


Shaking my head

[Buzzm1]

House GOP Health Plan Would Accelerate Depletion of Medicare Trust Fund by Four Years

 

The House bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would move up the Medicare's Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund's depletion from 2028 to 2024 (see graph). Repealing a payroll tax on high earners would advance the depletion date by three years, as we previously reported. Additional Medicare payments to hospitals that serve many uninsured payments would advance it one more year, we now estimate.

 

The ACA imposed an additional payroll tax of 0.9 percent on earnings above $200,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a couple, bringing the total payroll tax to 3.8 percent on earnings above those levels. Repealing the payroll tax add-on would reduce federal revenues by $117 billion over the 2017-2026 period, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. This would undermine Medicare's financing while providing a windfall to high earners.

 

Read more: http://www.cbpp.org/...d-by-four-years

 

The Status of Medicare http://www.forumsforjustice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3970&p=4336#post4336

 

1.45% of the 7.65% Payroll Tax, paid by both, employer and employee, is credited to Medicare. Effective 2013, the Affordable Care Act added an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages over $200,000 ($250,000 if married).
Following is the latest financial summary, from the annual Trust Fund Statement, for each of these accounts.

Hospital (HI), Supplemental Medical Ins. (SMI) 
..............................HI..............SMI... (trillions)
Assets (2014).....$0.1973.....$0.0691
Income (2015)....$0.2754.....$0.3699
Outgo (2015)......$0.2789.....$0.3688
Net Increase......-$0.0035.....$0.0003
Assets (2015).....$0.1938......$0.0695

HI/SMI
2028 HI trust fund depleted http://on.wsj.com/28MGL5G

[Buzzm1]

The House GOP health care bill raids the Medicare Trust Fund, cuts $880 BILLION from Medicaid and takes health care away from 24 million people. Please call Congress ad tell them to vote no. 1-866-828-4162

[chriskuo]

ACHA failed

 

All of us CML survivors can drink to that

 

We have our cancer benefits for another year

 

Now Congress can turn its attention to cancer drug costs

[tadly]

One commentator put it that like in poker Trump and the Republicans had a very weak hand and were playing a big bluff on the other political players and the rest of us. Frightening how it looked like they might win with nothing but greed. Sigh of relief for another year.