tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post6880057419125443549..comments2024-03-27T11:22:03.840-04:00Comments on Ramona's Voices: Integrity, you out there? Is Honesty with you? Gonna be Gone Long?Ramona Grigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07160614050077886238noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-8816131855294119872011-09-13T17:02:15.722-04:002011-09-13T17:02:15.722-04:00John, I have to say I've never heard from anyo...John, I have to say I've never heard from anyone else who wanted to opt out of Medicare. I don't know why anyone would want to, but if that's the case, I agree that you should be able to do it without having to give up your SS, or having to pay Medicare premiums. (But it's my understanding that if you only use Part A you don't pay premiums anyway.)<br /><br />I see that you're in the insurance business, so I'm assuming you're able to provide your own insurance. Lucky you. Not everyone can do that, so thank God for Medicare.<br /><br />I doubt you will get many people to go along with your quest to do away with Medicare, but good luck.Ramona Grigghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07160614050077886238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-31755420480171124552011-09-13T13:38:47.418-04:002011-09-13T13:38:47.418-04:00I wish I had know of your writing regarding what I...I wish I had know of your writing regarding what I have found to unfair in the Medicare law. I am 68, self employed, and have my own private high deductible health insurane plan. I am very happy with the plan. When I turned 65 if rejected part B of Medicare but was told I could not reject part A. After some research I was told that I could reject part A but would no longer be able to receive my Social Security Retirment income and would have to pay any and all SS payment back to the govenmernt should I reject part A. To add insult to injury, I was also excluded from funding my Health Savings Account. I cant imagine why our government would not allow me to opt out of a program that they state is in financial peril. Instead they require me to stay in the program, with no benefits because of my primary private health insurance, and also disallow me to continue my HSA. What a disaster. I am working hard with my congressman to right what I think is a wrong in the law as written. Would appreciate comments. J from TexasJohn Bowershttp://www.johnbowersclu.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-48415924776256717742010-03-23T12:11:43.219-04:002010-03-23T12:11:43.219-04:00Ramona, a marvelous post. How I love stopping by t...Ramona, a marvelous post. How I love stopping by to see what you've cooked up for consumption.:)<br /><br />Conservatives know that most people will not bother to check facts, corroborate evidence with statements, or cross reference information. They count on that, as you say. It makes it very tough to fight the conservative message(horde, look back, take care of yourself) and even tougher to get people to see the progressive message(distribute evenly, move forward, take care of each other).<br /><br />I can only hope that our efforts to shed light on their media noise has effect and that our efforts as progressives prove to be fruitful, whether people like it or not.Kyle Leachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13369076904327452139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-72134016716852497042010-03-18T20:18:24.030-04:002010-03-18T20:18:24.030-04:00Hi Stan. The problem with Armey and others like h...Hi Stan. The problem with Armey and others like him is just as you say--the squeaky wheel. But isn't it odd that the squeaky wheels for the common good are routinely ignored? They can pull in people to their Tea Party movement more easily when it appears their message is universal, and giving them airtime gives them undeserved ligitimacy. <br /><br />They'll spread those "80% of the American people are satisfied with their insurance" and "the government wants to take over your lives" lies, fully confident that enough people will believe it and become followers. Sadly, they're right.Ramona Grigghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07160614050077886238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-53985008900624917162010-03-18T19:12:22.300-04:002010-03-18T19:12:22.300-04:00Armey is just a warped and frustrated old man. Hi...Armey is just a warped and frustrated old man. His sole purpose seems to make sure that everybody knows his way is the only "American Way". He's crazy and should just be ignored. Unfortunately, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. He's a squeaker, I'll give him that.<br />Thanks for posting this. It's brilliant as always.Stan in NHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473396450228240345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-22283588112502929092010-03-18T15:16:10.294-04:002010-03-18T15:16:10.294-04:00Anon, thanks for the info. I found the public doc...Anon, thanks for the info. I found the public documents about the Armey, et al lawsuit, but I'm not sure how it disputes what I said. (https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2008cv1715-21) My point is not about Armey's lawsuit but more about his trying to scare seniors into believing Medicare should be avoided. That's dishonest. He may have his own gripes based on his own philosophical or religious differences, and he and his group may even be right about the restrictions on Medicare, but that's his problem. There are millions of seniors who are perfectly happy with having Medicare as their primary care. It's interesting that Armey had already been collecting SS for several years and was also signed up with Medicare for a few years before he joined the lawsuit.<br />I'm on Medicare and yes, it's my primary care program but I can pick up any secondary care program I like and get the best care my money can buy. So can they. They're making a case for privacy issues, but it pretty much falls apart when they've already been enrolled into the programs for years before they suddenly wake up and decide their privacy is somehow being invaded. Interesting, too, that Armey has been enrolled in a government health program all of his public life. Privacy issues didn't seem to matter until now. Wonder why that is?Ramona Grigghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07160614050077886238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2772956368752433326.post-7442078722501022142010-03-18T13:01:16.094-04:002010-03-18T13:01:16.094-04:00Ramona....I think you missed the 1993 rule (tighte...Ramona....I think you missed the 1993 rule (tightened even further in 2002 by the Bush administration)<br /><br />HI 00801.002 Waiver of HI Entitlement by Monthly Beneficiary<br />A. INTRODUCTION<br /><br />Some individuals entitled to monthly benefits have asked to waive their HI entitlement because of religious or philosophical reasons or because they prefer other health insurance.<br />B. POLICY<br /><br />Individuals entitled to monthly benefits which confer eligibility for HI may not waive HI entitlement. The only way to avoid HI entitlement is through withdrawal of the monthly benefit application. Withdrawal requires repayment of all RSDI and HI benefit payments made.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com