03.26.15

Budget Puts Obamacare In The Crosshairs

‘Best Chance Yet’ To Repeal ‘Terrible Piece Of Legislation’

 

Senate Budget ‘Essential’ Step To ‘Wipe Out’ Obamacare

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): “It’s a budget that would allow us to repeal and replace a program that hurts the middle class: Obamacare.” (“GOP Aims To Sink Obamacare With Reconciliation,” Politico, 3/18/15)

 

Republicans Honoring 2010 Promise: ‘We’re Not Giving Up’

“The Senate bill passed without a single GOP vote, after a 25-day floor debate marked by biting partisan rhetoric. As Democrats overcame divisions and closed ranks, accepting concessions to push the bill through, Republicans became fierce in opposition. Even Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) … responded ‘No,’ frowning when the Senate clerk called her name.” (“Senate Passes Health-Care Bill, Now Must Reconcile It With House,” The Washington Post, 12/25/09)

  • SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): ‘We’re not giving up’ “Americans know this, and they want to know that someone’s fighting for them in Washington, to make their voices heard. That’s what Republicans have been doing on this issue for the past year…And that’s what we’ll keep doing until those voices are heard.  We’re not giving up.” (Sen. Mitch McConnell, Floor Remarks, 3/24/10)

Republicans Voted Unanimously For S.Amdt.13: “To repeal the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.” (S.Amdt.13 to S.223, Roll Call Vote #9, Motion Rejected 47-51, R 47-0, D 0-50, I 0-1, 2/2/11)

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “We think [Obamacare’s] a terrible piece of legislation. We're certainly going to be voting on that…” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 1/4/15)

 

OBAMACARE REALITY

$308 Billion In Medicare Advantage Cuts

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CUTS:

  • CBO: “Our estimate of the interaction between the FFS provisions and payment rates for MA [Medicare Advantage] plans is $152 billion.” (CBO, E-Mail To Senate Staff, 7/24/12)
  • CBO: “The sum of those two effects is $308 billion.” (CBO, E-Mail To Senate Staff, 7/24/12)

Seniors ‘Shocked’ And ‘Feeling The Sting’

“…beneficiaries feeling the sting of federal funding cuts to Medicare Advantage plans that cover nearly 16 million senior citizens.” (“Impact Of Medicare Advantage Cuts On Seniors Sharply Disputed,” Kaiser Health News, 2/23/14)

Pennsylvania ‘Seniors are getting a shock by how much more they will have to pay ... for insurance coverage’ “Seniors are getting a shock by how much more they will have to pay Highmark Inc. for insurance coverage next year, learning in some cases that their monthly premium for Medicare coverage will more than double.” (“Highmark Hikes Seniors’ Rates Up To 110%,” Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 10/3/14)

  • PA Man on premium hike: ‘I was shocked’ “Charles Stull, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Mt. Lebanon, received a notice Tuesday informing him that the premium for the Freedom Blue PPO plan he and his wife buy will rise 25 percent next year to $733 a month, from $587 a month. ‘I was shocked,’ Stull said. ‘I'm thinking that I'm going to have to switch.’” (“Highmark Hikes Seniors’ Rates Up To 110%,” Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 10/3/14)

NY: For some ‘monthly premiums’ up ‘by an average of 45 percent.’ “MVP Health Care of Schenectady, for example, said last month it was dropping Medicare Advantage plans that serve 2,100 seniors in Western New York, and 19,800 seniors statewide, and raising the monthly premiums on its remaining plans by an average of 45 percent for 2015.” (“Area Seniors Will Pay More For 2015 Medicare Advantage Plans,” Buffalo News, 10/1/14)

HI: “Hawaii seniors covered by Medicare Advantage health insurance plans could face premium increases and see lower benefits under a government proposal to reduce Medicare spending, a new study shows. The study commissioned by America's Health Insurance Plans said if recently proposed cuts to the program take effect, local seniors could see cumulative premium increases and benefit reductions of between $100 and $120 per month on average. (“State Seniors Could Face Medicare Reductions,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 3/24/15)

CT: “In Connecticut, about 32,000 seniors were affected when UnitedHealthcare dropped 2,200 doctors from its network last fall…” (“UnitedHealthcare To Cut Doctors For Mass. Seniors,” Boston Globe, 6/7/14)

FL: “Proposed Medicare Advantage cuts could cost 1.5 million Florida beneficiaries $80 to $100 a month, an analysis says.” (“Medicare Advantage Cuts Could Cost Floridians Up To $100 Monthly,” Palm Beach Post, 3/20/15)

MA: “National insurance giant UnitedHealthcare plans to cut up to 700 Massachusetts doctors from its physician network for seniors enrolled in its private Medicare plan as a way to control costs, according to company officials.” (“UnitedHealthcare To Cut Doctors For Mass. Seniors,” Boston Globe, 6/7/14)

 

‘Nearly Half A Billion Dollars’ For ‘Exchanges That Are Now In Shambles’

“Nearly half a billion dollars in federal money has been spent developing four state Obamacare exchanges that are now in shambles – and the final price tag for salvaging them may go sharply higher. Each of the states – Massachusetts, Oregon, Nevada and Maryland – embraced Obamacare and each underperformed. All have come under scathing criticism and now face months of uncertainty as they either rush to rebuild their systems or transition to the federal exchange.” (“$474M For 4 Failed Obamacare Exchanges,” Politico, 5/11/14)

“Massachusetts... could require more than $120 million on top of the $170 million it has already has been awarded.” (“$474M For 4 Failed Obamacare Exchanges,” Politico, 5/11/14)

“…Oregon has already opted to give up on its website and use HealthCare.gov. The colossal failure of Cover Oregon – which so far has cost $248 million in federal money – has prompted a probe by the General Accountability Office.” (“$474M For 4 Failed Obamacare Exchanges,” Politico, 5/11/14)

“Maryland is a state that aspired to be another national model but ended up spending $118 million in federal funds on a fatally crippled exchange. It is in the process of trying to transition to the technology used by Connecticut’s system. It’s still unclear whether the move will meet federal approval. If not, Maryland would default to HealthCare.gov.” (“$474M For 4 Failed Obamacare Exchanges,” Politico, 5/11/14)

 

A Tax Shock For Millions of Americans

“According to H&R Block, as many as 3.4 million people who received subsidies for health insurance will have reduced tax refunds this year due to underestimating their income.” (“Will Obamacare Ruin Your Tax Refund?” USA Today, 2/1/15)

“Half of the households that received federal subsidies to help pay for their health insurance in 2014 will have to repay some money back to the government when they file their tax returns” (“Nasty Tax Surprise For Obamacare Customers,” CNBC, 3/24/15)

‘Janice Riddle got a nasty surprise when she filled out her tax return this year. … she has to pay back the entire subsidy, which is forcing her to dip into her savings’ “Janice Riddle got a nasty surprise when she filled out her tax return this year. The Los Angeles resident had applied for Obamacare in late 2013, when she was unemployed. She qualified for a hefty subsidy of $470 a month, leaving her with a monthly premium of $1 for the cheapest plan available. Riddle landed a job in early 2014 at a life insurance agency, but since her new employer didn't offer health benefits, she kept her Obamacare plan. However, she didn't update her income with the California exchange, which she acknowledges was her mistake. Now, she has to pay back the entire subsidy, which is forcing her to dip into her savings.” (“I Have To Pay Back My Obamacare Subsidy,” CNN Money, 2/13/15)

  • ‘I was blindsided… I'm in shock’ “‘I was blindsided that the subsidy has to be paid back,’ said Riddle, adding she didn't even use the coverage, which she had until she qualified for Medicare in October. ‘I'm in shock...but I have no choice. Do I want to argue with the IRS or the Obama administration?’” (“I Have To Pay Back My Obamacare Subsidy,” CNN Money, 2/13/15)

‘Erica Cherington… has to pay back $600 of her subsidy’ “Erica Cherington, 32, was ‘very happy’ to enroll in Obamacare last year so she could address some health issues. She only had to pay $89 a month for a Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, thanks to a $284 monthly subsidy. She let herself be automatically re-enrolled for 2015. During 2014, however, the Newark, N.J., resident landed a new job with a higher salary. Now, she has to pay back $600 of her subsidy.” (“I Have To Pay Back My Obamacare Subsidy,” CNN Money, 2/13/15)

 

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Related Issues: Obamacare, Budget