Comments on: Medicare is the real danger, not social security http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/ Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:26:55 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: joann http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-14/#comment-19233 joann Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:41:52 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-19233 to Rose that know the 5 that should not be receiving disability...turn them in... to Rose that know the 5 that should not be receiving disability...turn them in...

]]> By: karymellyn http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-14/#comment-14729 karymellyn Fri, 15 May 2009 13:47:06 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14729 It upsets me that they talk so much about Social Security being in trouble when I already paid for mine in taxes. Yet, I still have to pay taxes on my check. So I'm paying taxes on my taxes. Where is our security going? That's the question. It upsets me that they talk so much about Social Security being in trouble when I already paid for mine in taxes. Yet, I still have to pay taxes on my check. So I'm paying taxes on my taxes. Where is our security going? That's the question.

]]> By: spirivaa http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14408 spirivaa Thu, 14 May 2009 12:33:44 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14408 What's next? Government controlled medical advice, another form of wishful thinking - wonder how big this donut will be - before you could get any sort of coverage what will the deductable be What's next? Government controlled medical advice, another form of wishful thinking – wonder how big this donut will be – before you could get any sort of coverage what will the deductable be

]]> By: Bernice http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14400 Bernice Thu, 14 May 2009 10:04:04 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14400 The Social Security program was one of the best programs created as to date. The govt. has abused this program for years by adding the disabled at a very young age to be funded by the money. Now it is a highly abused program! Heck! Our prez just gave $250.00 to each low income recipient across the US, to help them out! Help them out? There are TONS of YOUNG disabled people in our state!! TONS!!! Thet bragged on how our prez. gave them more money to "party" for the month and 2 people said they had the "time of thier lives"!! All on the Social Security system!! Anyone ever heard of OCD? That is the name of a mental disorder that is becoming widely used to aquire SSI for the young people to begin with. I know of a lady who went into a docs office and acted like she had a compulsive disorder and could not control it. She touched EVERYTHING in the docs office. The doc said she had OCD!!! She laughed as she finally got her SSI (unneeded). Others then went in and got the diagnosis of OCD. Not one has OCD! This is a joke, nothing but a joke! They have to STOP using the monies put into the program, by hard working Americans, to pay for others in which they should not be held RESPONSIBLE for! Stop the abuse done to the program by those who actually have NO medical problem to begin with. And, has it dawned on anyone yet that we give the young disabled people (or claim to be's) SSI, for they are disabled, RIGHT? Then how is it that they are allowed to make about $1000 a month over that ...through employment?? I thought they could not work to begin with. Food for thought. The Social Security program was one of the best programs created as to date. The govt. has abused this program for years by adding the disabled at a very young age to be funded by the money. Now it is a highly abused program! Heck! Our prez just gave $250.00 to each low income recipient across the US, to help them out! Help them out? There are TONS of YOUNG disabled people in our state!! TONS!!! Thet bragged on how our prez. gave them more money to "party" for the month and 2 people said they had the "time of thier lives"!! All on the Social Security system!! Anyone ever heard of OCD? That is the name of a mental disorder that is becoming widely used to aquire SSI for the young people to begin with. I know of a lady who went into a docs office and acted like she had a compulsive disorder and could not control it. She touched EVERYTHING in the docs office. The doc said she had OCD!!! She laughed as she finally got her SSI (unneeded). Others then went in and got the diagnosis of OCD. Not one has OCD! This is a joke, nothing but a joke! They have to STOP using the monies put into the program, by hard working Americans, to pay for others in which they should not be held RESPONSIBLE for! Stop the abuse done to the program by those who actually have NO medical problem to begin with. And, has it dawned on anyone yet that we give the young disabled people (or claim to be's) SSI, for they are disabled, RIGHT? Then how is it that they are allowed to make about $1000 a month over that ...through employment?? I thought they could not work to begin with. Food for thought.

]]> By: Social Security: Don’t mistake a sheep for a wolf « Washington Policy Watch http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14384 Social Security: Don’t mistake a sheep for a wolf « Washington Policy Watch Wed, 13 May 2009 21:47:51 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14384 [...] just have to read the fine print instead of glossing over the details. Here’s Bob Weiner, former chief of staff for the House Committee on Aging, doing exactly that on CNN this morning: [...] [...] just have to read the fine print instead of glossing over the details. Here's Bob Weiner, former chief of staff for the House Committee on Aging, doing exactly that on CNN this morning: [...]

]]> By: Christopher Orr http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14382 Christopher Orr Wed, 13 May 2009 20:31:20 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14382 Nice try Joe! Are you one of the executives of the interest groups against medical reform? You really have a way with numbers with your fancy calculus that brings 47,000,000 down to only 10,000,000. That is a lovely fiction or trompe l'oeil, worthy of the best art galleries in Paris (incidentally a city of 10,000,000), to trivialize the suffering (and exclusion) of a vast number of Americans almost the size of the whole population of France! It's like saying that Paris is France (pop. 56 million). Nice try! Nice try Joe! Are you one of the executives of the interest groups against medical reform? You really have a way with numbers with your fancy calculus that brings 47,000,000 down to only 10,000,000. That is a lovely fiction or trompe l'oeil, worthy of the best art galleries in Paris (incidentally a city of 10,000,000), to trivialize the suffering (and exclusion) of a vast number of Americans almost the size of the whole population of France! It's like saying that Paris is France (pop. 56 million). Nice try!

]]> By: Diana http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14375 Diana Wed, 13 May 2009 17:44:23 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14375 "Why was Social Security first enacted? Looking around my little town, there are so many young people who draw “an SSI check” ! They have never paid into the system nor have their parents because the parents are too young (and will not work living off the kids SSI check). What are these children being taught? Change the requirements back to the original intent! I get so frustrated seeing so many living off the government while my husband and I struggle to keep our family going, to keep paying into the system, to teach our children to stand on their own two feet and a work ethic, and to maintain a Christian attitude. Help yourself and help others but do not take advantage!" Just for the record, SSI and Social Security are two different programs. While the SSA handles SSI and Social Security claims, SSI is NOT funded by the Social Security trust fund. SSI is the welfare program (disability, blindness, and those who are 65 and older and have financial need are the only ones who qualify). Social Security is essentially an insurance program. You pay a monthly premium (FICA taxes) and you are insured to receive either retirement or disability benefits. This insurance premium you pay goes into the trust fund for your future needs. While it does seem scary that this fund may be "exhausted" (remember exhausted does not mean 0, it means 75%) in 30 years, keep in mind that there are very few companies (if any at all) that can project solvency 30 years into the future. "Why was Social Security first enacted? Looking around my little town, there are so many young people who draw “an SSI check” ! They have never paid into the system nor have their parents because the parents are too young (and will not work living off the kids SSI check). What are these children being taught? Change the requirements back to the original intent! I get so frustrated seeing so many living off the government while my husband and I struggle to keep our family going, to keep paying into the system, to teach our children to stand on their own two feet and a work ethic, and to maintain a Christian attitude. Help yourself and help others but do not take advantage!"

Just for the record, SSI and Social Security are two different programs. While the SSA handles SSI and Social Security claims, SSI is NOT funded by the Social Security trust fund. SSI is the welfare program (disability, blindness, and those who are 65 and older and have financial need are the only ones who qualify). Social Security is essentially an insurance program. You pay a monthly premium (FICA taxes) and you are insured to receive either retirement or disability benefits. This insurance premium you pay goes into the trust fund for your future needs.

While it does seem scary that this fund may be "exhausted" (remember exhausted does not mean 0, it means 75%) in 30 years, keep in mind that there are very few companies (if any at all) that can project solvency 30 years into the future.

]]> By: J Jon Salt http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14374 J Jon Salt Wed, 13 May 2009 17:41:34 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14374 One can point the finger at one of many issues that is wrong, needs fixing, and should be done.The issue I bring up here, tho many years old, continues to baffle me. The Federal Government would not allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies regarding RX costs, in fact, expressly forbided it. This, to me, is big news. Why the media didn't pounce all over this I don't understand. We want to lower the cost of Medicare yet do nothing about this, something Canada's government has been doing for some time. One can point the finger at one of many issues that is wrong, needs fixing, and should be done.The issue I bring up here, tho many years old, continues to baffle me. The Federal Government would not allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies regarding RX costs, in fact, expressly forbided it. This, to me, is big news. Why the media didn't pounce all over this I don't understand. We want to lower the cost of Medicare yet do nothing about this, something Canada's government has been doing for some time.

]]> By: Shelly http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14373 Shelly Wed, 13 May 2009 17:33:56 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14373 We The People have voting rights and we should insist that The Peoples social program get fixed. Your vote is the most powerful voice when it comes to the way we the people want a better future, not only for us who are already struggling, but for our kids and grand kids. We don't want them living in fear of their futures, especially when we put so much trust and control into the hands of those who are not listening to the people but are listening to their special interest for their sole benefit. WE THE PEOPLE need to raise our voices LOUD, because they can't hear us. We The People have voting rights and we should insist that The Peoples social program get fixed. Your vote is the most powerful voice when it comes to the way we the people want a better future, not only for us who are already struggling, but for our kids and grand kids. We don't want them living in fear of their futures, especially when we put so much trust and control into the hands of those who are not listening to the people but are listening to their special interest for their sole benefit. WE THE PEOPLE need to raise our voices LOUD, because they can't hear us.

]]> By: Dawn http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14370 Dawn Wed, 13 May 2009 17:24:54 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14370 As someone once said: "The government's done such a great job managing social security, Medicare, and themselves, why not give them healthcare too".... oh wait...they haven't. Are we all crazy? You want to see how much healthcare will cost, just wait until it's "free." I agree with David...no more Kool-Aid As someone once said: "The government's done such a great job managing social security, Medicare, and themselves, why not give them healthcare too".... oh wait...they haven't.

Are we all crazy?

You want to see how much healthcare will cost, just wait until it's "free."

I agree with David...no more Kool-Aid

]]> By: Sunny http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14369 Sunny Wed, 13 May 2009 17:20:35 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14369 Medicare policy is full of ridiculous if anyone who wants to return their insurance with penality which is not related your different insurance from a job. It also not pay full for their medical bills even though pay every month. Where the money go!? Medicare policy is full of ridiculous if anyone who wants to return their insurance with penality which is not related your different insurance from a job. It also not pay full for their medical bills even though pay every month. Where the money go!?

]]> By: Robert the MD http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-13/#comment-14368 Robert the MD Wed, 13 May 2009 17:15:11 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14368 Real ways to save money 1) have Judicial committees decide the payment in malpractice suits 2) limit health care of people who are not US citizens. everyday, so many people come over from other countries and get care that is paid for you and I. Yes, every human being deserves care. However, there are things that are reasonable and things that are not. My fiancee is an ER doc in San Diego, and as a simple example-a child gets meningitis in Mexico and sees a doc there who demands 25 k for treatment. They can't afford it- guess what happens. The kid gets snuck over the border and shows up in the ER here brain dead. The family still demands everything to be done, and millions are spent on a brain dead kid who eventually dies of a hospital related complication. As a physician, I have no problems taking care of the kid or spending the millions. This is the current US health care system. . However, we as a country have to start rationing care somewhere. And, lines will be drawn at some point. People need to discuss this and start addressing it- We are no longer a bottomless pit of money, though the government may think so.. Real ways to save money

1) have Judicial committees decide the payment in malpractice suits
2) limit health care of people who are not US citizens.
everyday, so many people come over from other countries and get care that is paid for you and I. Yes, every human being deserves care. However, there are things that are reasonable and things that are not. My fiancee is an ER doc in San Diego, and as a simple example-a child gets meningitis in Mexico and sees a doc there who demands 25 k for treatment. They can't afford it- guess what happens. The kid gets snuck over the border and shows up in the ER here brain dead. The family still demands everything to be done, and millions are spent on a brain dead kid who eventually dies of a hospital related complication. As a physician, I have no problems taking care of the kid or spending the millions. This is the current US health care system. . However, we as a country have to start rationing care somewhere. And, lines will be drawn at some point. People need to discuss this and start addressing it- We are no longer a bottomless pit of money, though the government may think so..

]]> By: Eric http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-12/#comment-14367 Eric Wed, 13 May 2009 17:14:55 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14367 Why does no one talk about the real issue with SS and that is when a person gets married and is married for 10 years, the can get the SS benefits of that person no matter how long after they have been divorced. So if are married 4 times and then die, and your SS benefits are greater than any of your previous spouses others, they can cash in on yours. Why does no one talk about the real issue with SS and that is when a person gets married and is married for 10 years, the can get the SS benefits of that person no matter how long after they have been divorced. So if are married 4 times and then die, and your SS benefits are greater than any of your previous spouses others, they can cash in on yours.

]]> By: roscoe http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-12/#comment-14366 roscoe Wed, 13 May 2009 17:14:46 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14366 to James Stepp I grew up in Canada and moved to the USA for a number of reasons. You have it wrong. I knew people who have died waiting in line for surgery. I personally was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago in the USA and had surgery the following day. This will change the USA like nothing you have ever seen in your lifetime. to James Stepp
I grew up in Canada and moved to the USA for a number of reasons.
You have it wrong. I knew people who have died waiting in line for surgery. I personally was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago in the USA and had surgery the following day.
This will change the USA like nothing you have ever seen in your lifetime.

]]> By: annie s http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/13/medicare-is-the-real-danger-not-social-security/comment-page-12/#comment-14365 annie s Wed, 13 May 2009 17:09:07 +0000 http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/?p=2509#comment-14365 I'm a former administrator for a multi-doctor medical practice, and I assure you that the major cost for MDs is the number of employees required to keep up with the different billing/reimbursement procedures among all of the private and managed medical insurances. Create a unified billing system and every physician I know would be happy to accept lowered Medicare reimbursement rates. In this case, the government isn't the problem - the private sector is. I'm a former administrator for a multi-doctor medical practice, and I assure you that the major cost for MDs is the number of employees required to keep up with the different billing/reimbursement procedures among all of the private and managed medical insurances. Create a unified billing system and every physician I know would be happy to accept lowered Medicare reimbursement rates. In this case, the government isn't the problem – the private sector is.

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