McCain Plans Cuts To Medicare and Medicaid to Offset Proposed Tax Credit

[jefferson_dem]

McCain Plans Federal Health Cuts
Medicare, Medicaid Spending Would Be Reduced to Offset Proposed Tax Credit
By LAURA MECKLER

John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs.
Associated Press

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speaks at a rally at Victory Landing Park in Newport News, Va.

The Republican presidential nominee has said little about the proposed cuts, but they are needed to keep his health-care plan "budget neutral," as he has promised. The McCain campaign hasn't given a specific figure for the cuts, but didn't dispute the analysts' estimate.

In the months since Sen. McCain introduced his health plan, statements made by his campaign have implied that the new tax credits he is proposing to help Americans buy health insurance would be paid for with other tax increases.

But Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Sen. McCain's senior policy adviser, said Sunday that the campaign has always planned to fund the tax credits, in part, with savings from Medicare and Medicaid. Those government health-care programs serve seniors, poor families and the disabled. Medicare spending for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 is estimated at $457.5 billion.

Mr. Holtz-Eakin said the Medicare and Medicaid changes would improve the programs and eliminate fraud, but he didn't detail where the cuts would come from. "It's about giving them the benefit package that has been promised to them by law at lower cost," he said.

Both Sen. McCain and his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, have recently sought to refocus on health care. The issue once ranked at the top of voters' domestic concerns, but has in recent months been eclipsed by energy and the economy.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html#printMode

[vaberella]

1. Then the 750,000 people who lost their job because of economic collapse, now

has no form of health insurance at all. That's brilliant, on top of the 4 million people already in that mix. Thanks McCain.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Thanks for the information and source

I plan to let some folks on Medicare and Medicaid about this--and the Journal is a credible source they'll believe.

[w4rma]

So McCain's plan isn't to expand health care, but just to shift around money. (nt)

[prolesunited]

9. It also doesn't expand health care

It just relieves business of the burden as many are expected to stop offering. Also, your benefits will now be taxable like income. And it will also leave out millions like me who have pre-existing conditions.

Maintaining my health is relatively inexpensive with meds, but without them, my conditions are life threatening. I guess since I'm not rich, I'm just a useless eater.

[johnaries]

14. Yes, and shifting it to Insurance companies. nt

[Thrill]

3. Oh great. Spread the word to Florida. The older voters will love to hear this

[SteelPenguin]

4. I would like access to the healthcare that John and Cindy McCain have

Any health care I'd purchase atm would cost at least 3 times what they're paying, and be for catastrophic care instead of decent coverage.

[TooRaLoo]

5. Money First nt

[BumRushDaShow]

6. It took who knows what to block Shrub's 11% cut in Medicare

this year and I believe the cuts were restored in one of the bills passed this past summer. McLame is a fool to mess with seniors. But then I know that his running mate misused and distorted an early Reagan statement made in opposition to the creation of Medicare that used the fear card to tout the "evils of socialism".

[WeDidIt]

7. Older voters will start moving to Obama in huge numbers now

This was a stupid thing to propose by McCain. Hell, by November 4th, the 65 and older demographic could match the youth vote.

[PA Democrat]

8. I'm sending this out to everyone I know.

McCain's corporate whore masters who sell supplemental health insurance to senior citizens are gonna LOVE this. McCain values corporate greed over people's lives. Let them die, as long as huge profits are being made.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[No Elephants]

10. Great. He wants to hit those least able to pay again. Putz.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Ah ya know but at least he still has a caribou Barbie

:wtf:

[eShirl]

12. JUST SAY NO to whatever McCain has been smoking

[central scrutinizer]

13. I'm glad a light is finally being shone upon his outrageous "plan"

And from the WSJ of all places

[Blue_Roses]

15. This REALLY PISSES ME OFF!

My 88 year-old mother depends on Medicare-:argh: I'm printing this out and making copies to be distributed in her retirement home! This is despicable! Yeah, McCain really cares about "main street"...what a FUCKING LIAR!

:argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: