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bemused_leftistIn the background are concerns among seniors about using Medicare cuts to finance Obama’s health care overhaul plan. Specifically at issue are benefits for more than 11 million seniors enrolled in private insurance plans through a popular program called Medicare Advantage. Because of a funding formula dating from when Republicans controlled Congress, the plans are paid more than it costs to care for seniors in traditional Medicare. Insurers use the money to provide more comprehensive benefits than regular Medicare.
Obama has called for trimming the extra payments to help pay for providing coverage to uninsured workers and their families. But the insurance industry is determined to block the cuts, which would lead to lower profits for industry, and higher costs and fewer benefits for seniors in private plans. About one-fourth of all Medicare beneficiaries are signed up in private plans [....]
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gm9ljtJtDJrrAPQPk8tsggrt7L9wD9BCFK001
Obama has called for trimming the extra payments to help pay for providing coverage to uninsured workers and their families. But the insurance industry is determined to block the cuts, which would lead to lower profits for industry, and higher costs and fewer benefits for seniors in private plans. About one-fourth of all Medicare beneficiaries are signed up in private plans [....]
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gm9ljtJtDJrrAPQPk8tsggrt7L9wD9BCFK001
