As a follow up to the above refernced message....I just received an email from AARP listing the top 11 myths about Medicare. AARP lists the myth and gives an explanation...their #5 myth is as follows: Myth #5 $716 billion taken from Medicare to fund Obamacare It's simply not true. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Congress' independent and nonpartisan budget scorekeeper, recently estimated that the changes to Medicare in the ACA will reduce spending by a total of $716 billion between 2013 and 2022. "That's where the number comes from," says Guterman. The largest portion of these savings would come from changes to provider payments and correcting overpayments to insurance companies that offer private Medicare plans. "And that projected savings will be used to close the prescription drug 'doughnut hole'; to pay for free, preventive care for consumers; and to increase coverage for the uninsured," Lavarreda says The first paragraph refers to the $716 billion as reduced spending.  It is actually reduced payments to doctors, treatment facilities and hospitals that they imply is being saved.  The only way this reduced Medicare spending could be considered savings is to actually capture it and leave iit in the Medicare Trust Fund.  However that is not what happens.  Any reduction in spending to doctors, treatment facilities and hospitals is taken directly to Obamacare. The second paragraph details where  the money goes.  A small percentage goes to close the donut hole for the prescription drug program for Medicare recipients and those on Obamacare and the balance goes to pay for free preventive care for indegent Obamacare participants and increased coverage for the uninsured in Obamacare.  It's a variation of  the old swindle 3 Card Monte and AARP has bought into it because it results in new insurance industry sales.  The obvious danger is that the money reduced spending in Medicare does not remain with Medicare.  The reduced payments may also result in reduced access to docors, treatment facilities and hospitals who are now getting paid less.
Posted by jvcleve2