Last week the Congressional Budget Office released the “results” of our 2012 fiscal year. To no one’s surprise, we had another trillion dollar deficit. But, there is another troubling number in the analysis, if you are a senior, that is. The growth in Medicare spending was 3%.
So what, you say. That is not unexpected given that the “baby boomers” (those defined as being born between 1946 and 1964) are now becomming 65, and more and more will become eligible for Medicare for many more years to come.
But Obamacare changes the way we look at that. Under Obamacare, the annual growth in Medicare spending cannot exceed our country’s annual growth rate by more than 1%. If it does, than the Independent Payment Advisory Board must make cuts to Medicare spending. This year our country’s annual growth rate is 1.3%. So, if Obamacare were in effect this year, Medicare spending could grow by no more that 2.3%.
Now what?
IPAB has only two options to achieve it’s Congressional mandate…lower payments to providers, or reduce what Medicare covers. I suppose there is a third option. As our President said, maybe at a certain point, you should just take a pill.
Luckily for you who are either on Medicare, or soon to be on Medicare, under Obamacare, you will not be forced to make that decision for yourself. The IPAB will make it for you.
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The sooner Romney and Ryan are in office so Ryan can start pushing old people off cliffs, the better our nation will be. Old people are a drain on our resources, and the spoiled brat baby boomers are going to be terribly selfish old people.
Sos, thanks (I think!). Look forward to your posts. We need to keep this board going because it’s so informative
Tim, that was hillarious. Wait, I’m at the tail end of those selfish, spoiled brat, baby boomers. Go to your room.
or is that “hilary-ious”???
Let me channel some Barry here: My 85-year-old mom is having knee problems. First thing tried was the PILL! Actually, it was lots of pills. Then, it was off to physical therapy. More pain. Now, she is waiting to be evaluated for knee replacement. (Barry-off)
The other thing not mentioned on the pill side is time. This whole thing is happening over three years. Time is the other “therapeutic agent” used. Couple pills, do some tests and a lot of time, maybe the operation won’t be necessary after all!
Make no mistake about it, rationing is here . De facto style.
JBS – allow me to suggest something. My mother and sister also had knee problems (loss of cartillage Instead of a knee operation, they tried a lubricant called (in Europe) Go On. It lasts for about 6 months and has zero side effects. It worked well for them as an alternative option for knee replacement. By the way, knee replacement in Portugal is about $10,000 +/-. In UK is around $50,00. Go figure (or Go On!).
p.s. you can have as many injections as needed, forever. They are given in a series of 3, then (recommended) wait till 6 months and repeat. It can either be an interim solution or a permanent one. It does NOT have cortisone.
Thank you, Gillie.
She has had a series of shots. Not sure if they were cortisone.
Is Go On available in the US?
It is difficult to
jb – found this link to US fda approved (sounds similar): http://osteoarthritis.about.com/od/osteoarthritistreatments/a/hyaluronic_acid.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/111758-gel-injections-joint-knee-pain/
Not sure what brand names are in US, but it gives enough info to find out….also, make sure the doctor is experienced in giving the injection.
I can’t wait to see this on the evening news! Oh wait……
This just underscores the importance of voting out Treaso-dent Obama.
… and overturning “Obamacare”
Every major world power was defeated by another world power in the past. We’re going to be the first world power to collapse under the weight of our own government, which is nothing more than a “surface democracy”.
Moe, I would think Rome could be classified as collapsing under the weight of its own government, with all that involved.