Obamacare: Obama administration to hand out bonuses to “average” Medicare plans
When Barack Obama rammed the healthcare reform law through the Congress against the will of the American people he promised that cutting $145 billion in Medicare payments over the next decade on plans which did not meet the standards he set up would help to pay for this debacle.
But this is the beginning of the 2012 election cycle and seniors disapprove of the president’s handling of the healthcare issue so Barack Obama has lowered the standards required for Medicare Advantage programs to keep their funding. Under Barack Obama’s new standards Medicare Advantage plans which received only an “average” grade will not see a reduction in funding as promised–at least before the 2012 elections–but will actually see an increase in funding. This leaves us to wonder where this funding is ultimately going to come from.
This transparent (at least something this administration has done can now be called transparent) political attempt at placating seniors for political reasons has not gone unseen within the Republican party:
The shift “may represent a thinly veiled use of taxpayer dollars for political purposes,” wrote Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan. Camp chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare. Hatch is his counterpart as ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.
The Obama regime is denying that this sudden turn of events is politically motivated, but I cannot see any other justifiable reason behind this turnaround; Barack Obama cannot defend his healthcare reform law, so instead of trying to sell skeptical seniors on the plan he has decided to hand out “bonuses” to plans which ultimately would not qualify for the bonuses if we were not entering the election season. These bonuses will expire–conveniently–well after the 2012 elections are over.
If Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law was everything that we have been told it is, there would be no reason for this attempted political bribe of senior citizens. But much like the healthcare waivers which this regime is handing out at alarming rates, this watering down of the standards by which Medicare Advantage programs can keep their funding does more to show the American people the utter failings of this legislation.
America's Watchtower 
Here here! Great post.
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Thank you, thank you!
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That is the way he learned in Chicago. How else can he buy votes. I’m telling you, Steve, Obama is more and more like Chavez every day. It makes me sick!
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Coming from you this is a scary thought indeed!
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You called it, CoF, he is a classic Chicago politician; advised and guided by the same. That isn’t surprising to me. What is more troubling is the fact that so many progressives fail to see it — or worse — accept it.
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I think they see it but the accept it because they agree with what he is doing.
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this goes right along with the long lines, doctor mills, and the rest of the downgrading built into Obamacare.
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Sadly you are correct.
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Other than Beck, no one is talking about what the Progressives are and always have been. Unless you are one of “them” you are a useless organism. If you cannot be productive, you are a drain to the society and thus should be eliminated. I am getting to the point of not watching tv because all I see are Obama’s lies. Thanks for a great post and insight into this “wonder” we have going.
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I have already given up watching tv and I would recommend it to everyone.
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Welcome to the NEW America under Obama — A place where average is the *norm* and mediocrity is celebrated…
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Exactly, Obama’s dream is shared mediocrity.
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Hmm, payoff now, kill off later. That’s the ObamaCare way?
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It certainly seems that way to me.
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