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Senior Citizen Politics
Democrats, Republicans Trying To Sway Senior
Citizens With Health Care Spin
Advocacy groups protest the presence of lobbyists
at the gathering of state insurance regulators
 Aug. 16, 2010 Senior citizens (age 65 and older)
the most consistent voting age group - stands out, too, as the age
group least pleased with the Obama Administration. One reason has been
confusion over health care reform. All this has made them prime targets
by both political parties for a barrage of spin.
These are some of the weekend reports of this
activity to sway senior voters..
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The Associated Press: Democrats, "running scared in an election
year," are hopeful that a $250 check - to help seniors
afford prescription drugs - will turn the tide of public opinion.
"Democrats ... are trying to overcome older people's mistrust of the new
health care law, which expands coverage for younger generations by
cutting Medicare payments to hospitals and insurers.
Behind the
hoopla, the reality is modest.
"The $250 check, for example, is just a
fraction of what many people in the prescription coverage gap have to
pay. The gap starts after Medicare beneficiaries and their insurance
plan have spent $2,830 on medications. Once total spending reaches
$6,440, Medicare's catastrophic coverage kicks in, and people pay only a
small amount. That means the 'doughnut hole' is $3,610 this year. ... .
A previous Congress, led by Republicans, came up with the idea to
control costs. It's never been popular" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 8/16).
The Hill reports that administration is acting on other
fronts: "Stephanie Cutter, assistant to the president for special
projects, took to the White House blog Friday to lambaste Rep. Paul
Ryan's proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher program.
'Under the
Ryan plan, the Medicare seniors know and trust would disappear,' Cutter
writes. 'In its place, seniors would receive a voucher to buy insurance
on the private market.' Ryan argues that the current system, even taking
into account the healthcare reform law, is 'on course to collapse'" (Pecquet,
8/14).
In the meantime, outside groups are hoping to
bolster Democrats' political fortunes.
Roll Call: "Americans United for Change is dispatching staff and
resources to battleground states in what appears to be a shoestring
effort to paint Republicans as seeking to destroy Social Security and
Medicare.
To prove their claims that Republicans are targeting Social
Security and Medicare, Democrats and activist groups like the AUFC cite
Wisconsin GOP Rep. Paul Ryan's 'Roadmap for America's Future,' which
proposes to overhaul the two programs to ensure they remain solvent
without eating up more of the federal budget. ... Republicans contend
that Democrats are trying to scare voters" (Drucker, 8/14).
The Seattle Times: In addition, advocacy groups are protesting the
presence of lobbyists at the gathering this week of state insurance
regulators. "Health-care-reform activists sported surgical gowns and
masks as they chanted and handed out packets that offered to 'disinfect'
the gathering from a 'lobbyist pandemic.' The packets included soap, a
hand wipe, a clothespin and a face mask to protect against 'lobbyist
lies ... lobbyist germs ... and lobbyist stench' underscoring that
emotions over health-care reform haven't entirely subsided since
President Obama signed a historic reform law in March.
The protest was
organized by Washington state Health Care for America Now" (Ervin,
8/14).
|
 Parts
of this
information were reprinted from
kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J.
Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser
Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up
for email delivery. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All
rights reserved. |
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