July 29, 2014 July Newsletter Dear Richard J, We live in difficult times. Both globally and domestically, higher food and gas prices, lower wages and political conflicts continue to lead the headlines. From the immigration crisis to continued legal battles over Obamacare the voice of conservative seniors has never been more important. Unfortunately with the Affordable Care Act, President Obama got away with cutting Medicare to seniors in order to pay for the expansion of Medicaid before people had a chance to read and understand it. The good news is that people are finally pushing back. A poll conducted in January indicated that 38% of Virginians were opposed to the Medicaid expansion and by late April that figure grew to 53%. Most regard Medicaid as a flawed program that delivers poor care at a high cost, is badly administered and suffers from chronic fraud as evidenced by numerous studies. Recently, the State of Virginia was supposed to expand Medicaid coverage to 400,000 additional people. Under Obamacare, the Federal government pays 100% of the Medicaid expansion cost for 3 years, then 90% until 2022. The administrative costs alone to Virginia taxpayers are estimated to be $40 - $50 million - even as the federal government pays 100% of the patient costs. When the subsidies drop to 90%, these costs will increase to $200- $250 million annually and of course no one has even posed the question as to the financial sustainability of this program beyond 2022. As this program is implemented nationally, our states will be unable to cover their portion of the payments without significantly raising taxes. For those on a fixed income, the state sales tax will also likely increase, further reducing our retirement dollars. American Seniors will continue to fight for our members to keep the money that they have earned and saved over the years, and just as importantly, fight for our ability to see the doctors we want to see, when we want to see them. With the VA as an example of a government run health program, American Seniors will be a voice to preserve choice and access for our members. It is an honor to lead this organization and carry our message to the decision makers in Washington. If you have not had a chance, please visit the American Seniors web site americanseniors.org and review our expanded benefits and discounts. We have recently added new vendors like PMAC, for mortgages, and Club Cellular, which has family phone plans as low as $11.75/month with no contract. The benefits of membership continue to offer great savings and our partners are committed to providing great customer service. I hope you are having a wonderful summer and look forward to hearing from you with comments or suggestions on how we can improve your experience. Until then, be sure to spread the word about American Seniors. As we grow our membership, we grow our influence. Sincerely, James P. Ryan President and CEO American Seniors Association
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 00:15:30 +0000
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