LAT: Medicare Hike Ruffles Retirees (may send seniors to polls)

[DeepModem Mom]

DISPATCH FROM SUN CITY, ARIZ.
Medicare Hike Ruffles Retirees
Some are alarmed by 17% premium increase, while others say it's necessary. It could send more seniors to the polls, analysts say.

By Maria L. La Ganga, Times Staff Writer


SUN CITY, Ariz. — Nedra Christensen, 74, leveled a baleful glance at what had to be the silliest question she'd heard in a long time, here in what is billed as the biggest and oldest master-planned retirement community in America.

Of course the 17% increase in Medicare premiums—the biggest in history —would hurt people like her, living month-to-month on a small fixed income, she said. And of course it's going to propel her to the voting booth in November; when she gets there, it won't be pretty for the president....

***

Announcement of the premium increase comes less than two months before voters go to the polls. In addition, nearly two-thirds of the battleground states, including Arizona, have a higher percentage of residents over 65 than the nation as a whole. And polls show that many Medicare recipients are already dissatisfied with controversial changes in the program enacted in December, which would add prescription drug coverage for some.

What this all means is that changes in Medicare — the primary insurance program for people 65 and older — could reverberate throughout the fall election, said political scientists who specialize in issues of aging....

***

America's seniors are famous for voting more regularly than their younger counterparts, with citizens between 65 and 74 voting in greater numbers than any other age group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In the 2000 presidential election, 72% of that age group voted, compared to 36% of citizens aged 18 to 24....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-medicare9sep09,1,683307.story?coll=la-home-nation

[rfkrocks]

1. Guess what-Here comes the first slice of shrub's second term

The boomers are next to be screwed-I have to LOL when I listen to all the repugs I know touting Shrub when I know he is going to stick it to them in the seceond term-How the hell do they think the country can just go along with massive debts to pay-American better wake-up from the dream because reality is on the doorstep-hope that 300 buck tax refund was nice because it didn't help you getting social security or health care-but thats ok repugs-the private market, yeah Enron, will take care of you when you are sick and old:eyes:

[The Zanti Regent]

2. Wait till seniors get another $35 added because of the Pill Bill

Remember they will start charging an EXTRA $35 for the Pill bill on top of the 17% increase!

What will they say when the Medicare premium goes over $100 a month.

ALSO

Thanks to Dimwit De Lay, the Medicare base premium is going to be higher for those with incomes above $75,000 a year, well, I guess they can afford double or triple the $100+ per month...

[doc03]

3. I haven't heard what the inflation adjustment will be yet with SS, my

guess is the Medicare increase may cancel it out. My mother's SS goes up a little evey year for example $18 and the Medicare premium also goes up say $10 with a net gain of only $8. This year they may actually lose money, the seniors won't be happy about that.