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McCain's Health Plan to Cut Medicare, Medicaid

Just another reason not to vote for McCain/Palin:

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.....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.

The cuts are how the McCain campaign claims its proposal is budget neutral and wouldn't cost taxpayers more money: [More...]

Mr. Holtz-Eakin said the plan is accurately described as budget neutral because it assumes enough savings in Medicare and Medicaid spending to make up the difference. He said the savings would come from eliminating Medicare fraud and by reforming payment policies to lower the overall cost of care. (Emphasis supplied.)

That sounds to me like McCain is planning on having Medicare and Medicaid pay less for benefits.

Like Obama says, McCain's plan is a "shell game."

Sen. Obama is focused on Sen. McCain's plan to offer a new tax credit of $2,500 per person and $5,000 per family toward insurance premiums. This would allow people to buy health coverage on the open market, where they may have more choices and might look for a better bargain.

In exchange, the government would begin taxing the value of health benefits people get through work. If an employer spends $10,000 to buy a worker health insurance, the worker would pay taxes on that money.

"It's a shell game," Sen. Obama told an outdoor rally of 28,000 people Sunday in Asheville, N.C. "Sen. McCain gives you a tax credit with one hand -- but raises your taxes with the other."

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  • Display: Sort:
    I'm not sure what the cable narrative du jour is (5.00 / 0) (#1)
    by magster on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:07:08 PM EST
    but it sure looks like an imploding campaign.

    Today's polling is awesome, McCain's denying wrongdoing in Keating 5 scandal despite confessing in his autobiography, sleazing up his message with attacks that did not stick in the primaries, and now he's alienating older voters everywhere (think FL).

    Unless Obama burns an American flag on stage at the debate tomorrow night, this is not turning around any time soon as early votes continue to be cast.

    there goes Florida.... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by georgeg1011 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:08:13 PM EST
    I mean really, is he kissing off the only demographic that he has left?  That will go over like a big turd with all the retirees here.  Honestly, have you seen a worse candidate or campaign since...when?  The wheels are soooo off..who would have thought it?

    GRG

    Florida was probably already gone (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:10:11 PM EST
    If FL is gone, McCain needs PA and OH (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by magster on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:14:19 PM EST
    Last I checked, there were old people there too.

    Parent
    They're all gone (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by andgarden on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:14:53 PM EST
    McCain is toast.

    Parent
    election (none / 0) (#6)
    by bobbski on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:22:48 PM EST
    ¨McCain is toast.¨

    I was quite young at the time but I do seem to remember people saying something similar regarding Harry Truman in 1948.

    One thing I have learned during my lifetime is that the old adage of ¨It´s not over until it´s over¨ is always accurate.

    Parent

    You think this is like 1948 (none / 0) (#7)
    by andgarden on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:26:27 PM EST
    and McCain is Truman?

    Heh, ok. Go with that.

    Parent

    If Obama grows a moustache like Dewey I'd (none / 0) (#12)
    by steviez314 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:29:15 PM EST
    start to worry.

    Parent
    election (none / 0) (#15)
    by bobbski on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 06:18:46 PM EST
    ¨You think this is like 1948?¨

    The arrogant overconfidence?

    You bet.


    Parent

    Remember the fat lady (none / 0) (#9)
    by koshembos on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:01:09 PM EST
    I hope McCain is out and over. I hope the Bush gang will stand trial for war crimes and corruption. But there is almost a month left and we shouldn't start  celebration yet. Wait for the voters.

    Parent
    McCain can't get rid of Medicare and Medicaid (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Angel on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 02:27:17 PM EST
    without help from Congress, which will hopefully remain Democratic after Nov 4th, and only if they grow a spine.  

    Eliminate fraud (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by koshembos on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:03:31 PM EST
    Rule of Thumb - Whenever a politician promises savings by eliminating fraud: he/she is a fraud.

    I'm a Floridian old fart (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Lendme50 on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:11:36 PM EST
    and I don't need a hand out but don't mess with Medicare. This I need and without it myself and thousands of others will be in dire straits.

    same with my mom and pop (none / 0) (#17)
    by coigue on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 07:55:38 PM EST
    and they are firmly in the middle class.

    Parent
    medicare (none / 0) (#18)
    by bobbski on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 08:14:17 PM EST
    What you said!

    Another OFFF...  Old Fart From Florida.

    Parent

    the people who depend on (none / 0) (#13)
    by cpinva on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 03:32:05 PM EST
    medicare/medicaid most likely don't have $2,500/5,000 sitting in the bank, to pay premiums on private health insurance. if they did, they probably wouldn't be on medicare/medicaid to begin with.

    i realize logic doesn't necessarily factor into republican campaigns, but this is so stupifyingly obvious, i'm surprised someone on sen. mccain's staff hasn't pointed that out to him.

    My guess (none / 0) (#14)
    by sj on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 04:33:22 PM EST
    I'm guessing is that the campaign will think that people won't notice.  Especially the elderly who are most affected.

    If AARP decides to represent its membership, they could singlehandedly ensure a McCain loss.  They're very good at reaching out to their membership.  Also potential membership...

    Parent

    i'm guessing you're (none / 0) (#16)
    by cpinva on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 06:29:10 PM EST
    probably correct in your assessment. which, by itself, tells you what the mccain campaign thinks of the people it wants voting for him: they're so stupid, i can tell them anything, and they'll buy right into it.

    Parent
    people on Medicare (none / 0) (#19)
    by bobbski on Mon Oct 06, 2008 at 08:23:04 PM EST
    People are on Medicare because they are 65 (or more) years old or on disability... not because they don´t have money in the bank.

    Medicare supplemental insurance, which pays most of what Medicare doesn´t, is not inexpensive.

    My Medicare cost for 2008 is $96.40 plus $168 for the supplemental...  a total of $264.40/month.

    For the math challenged that´s $3,172.80/year.

    Prescription drugs are not included in that number.

    Getting old is not what it is cracked up to be.  ;)

    Parent