Socialism in America courtesy of Congress
Posted by Mike Sylvester - 3/8/08 @ 8:05 pm - Filed Under 2008 National Elections
Everyone remembers the bi-partisan expansion of Medicare providing drug coverage for seniors. (A terrible idea if I ever heard one)
This was touted as an optional program that seniors could enroll in and pay premiums or elect not to participate in. At the time I researched it for my mother and determined that it would cost her more money in premiums then she would derive in benefits so she did not enroll.
My mother is 75 and on Medicare; however, she has always maintained a supplemental (Private) insurance policy. She recently switched to a new provider for the secondary policy.
The Socialists in Washington (Democrats AND Republicans, they did this together and President Bush signed it) enacted legislation (Medicare Part D) that forces private health insurance providers to collect penalties and pay them to Medicare.
Here is what the notice my mother received states:
“Were writing to let you know your monthly plan premium is changing because of a late enrollment penalty. Medicare requires us to collect this penalty because they were unable to confirm that you had creditable prescription drug coverage that was at least as good as Medicare’s drug coverage.”
What sense does this make?
My mother has not been part of Medicare Part D and does not plan to be on Medicare Part D.
It is absurd that my mother is paying a penalty to Medicare through her private health insurance supplemental policy because “Medicare was unable to confirm that you had creditable prescription drug coverage.”
Why is it Medicare’s business whether my mother has “creditable drug coverage” or not?
We really need to boot most of our current politicians out of office and replace them.
Does ANYONE reading this blog think my mother should pay a monthly penalty to Medicare in this instance?
Anyone?
Mike Sylvester
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5 Responses to “Socialism in America courtesy of Congress”
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Mike - No I don’t think your mom should have to pay this penalty - but don’t directly blame the elected people in Washington - this is a bureaucratic screw-up!
Judy and I changed our Medicare Part D provider in December of 2007, as allowed by the system. I filled out the necessary forms asking that they continue to take out the monthly premium from our SS benefit, as we have been doing for almost 2 years. Guess what they did - they sent both of us a refund of two monthly premiums and told our new company that they would have to bill us. I received a note from our carrier, then called our insurance company and asked them why this was happening and they had no clue. After 3 more phone calls I finally got a bureaucrat to say, “we will make the necessary changes, but it will take 3 months to get it done”. As of last week it is finally taken care of.
Again - our government has become so complicated that it is within a couple years of failing us completely. And we the taxpayers will end up having to be on the phone full time just to keep things straight.
What good will electing others to go to Indianapolis and Washington DC do to correct problems like this? Even here in Fort Wayne our local government is running wild!!
I did the research for a couple of seniors and had to recommend the Humana PDP to both, which really cheesed me after reading that Humana had hooked up with Wal-Mart. But there really wasn’t a choice. The whole business is disgusting. Fortunately, an insurance agent had warned me to steer clear of the “advantage” plans. As I was doing the research, it amazed me, that we are requiring old and ill people to look out for themselves in these shark-infested waters.
I’m scratching my head about your mother’s supplemental plan. If it includes prescription coverage, then I can see how it got snagged by the Medicare penalty. I’d call the insurer and request that they solve it!
Oh she has talked to them several times and they keep telling here there is nothing they can do about it. The penalty is required by Medicare…
Mike
This “penalty” is actually intended to get as many people as possible into the prescription drug risk pool. It is an idea like mandatory auto insurance that gets people who don’t want to buy the insurance to buy it and be protected. In insurance language, it avoids the problem of “adverse selection,” a situation in which only those at high risk buy the insurance. If that happens the cost of the insurance goes sky high. By requiring all people to buy the insurance, or pay a penalty for not doing so, the cost of the program is spread over a larger number of people some of whom might be a low risk, but not zero risk. This makes a great deal of sense for the program as a whole, although those at low risk will not like being forced to buy the insurance or pay the penalty.
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