Medicare has been a lifeline for so many Minnesota seniors like me.
But politician Dale Lueck would join Tea Party Republicans who support a plan
To endanger Medicare.
Senior woman on camera Graphic: Frannie Olson, New Brighton, MN
Senior woman sorting pills Graphic: Dale Lueck: Tea Party Plan to End Medicare Source: House Journal 9058, 04/25/11
Senior woman looking at bills
House Republicans Voted For The Healthcare Compact Bill On Passage. House Republicans voted for SF1933, the bill to bring Minnesota into the Health Care Compact, as it passed the House 70-58 on April 25, 2011. [House Journal 9058, 04/25/11]
SF1933 Would Have Established Minnesota As A Member Of The Health Care Compact. Posted in April 2012, SF1933 would have established Minnesota as a member of the Health Care Compact. [SF1933, 04/27/12]
Mother Jones: The Tea Party Supported The Health Care Compact. In March 2011 in an article about Tea Party support for the Health Care Compact Mother Jones wrote, The vehicle for this reform end run is called the health care compact, an interstate compact not very different in theory from the ones states use to create regional transit authorities, for instance. Recently, the nation's largest tea party group, the Tea Party Patriots, has thrown its weight behind the concept, seeing it as another way of downsizing the federal government. [Mother Jones, 03/29/11]
PolitiFact: The Possibility Of Endangered Beneficiaries Existed If The Federal Government Turned Medicare Over To State Legislatures. In September 2012 in an article about Medicare PolitiFact wrote, With the revision, we think the Democrats have a reasonable assertion, insofar as political endeavors go. If the federal government turned Medicare over to the state Legislature's oversight with no strings attached, as conceivable under the bill, we're not ready to predict what would happen. But the possibility of endangered beneficiaries would be there. [PolitiFact, 09/07/12]
PolitiFact Claimed The Health Care Compact Could Eliminate Medicares Guaranteed Benefits Was A Defensible Claim In September 2012. In September 2012 in an article about Medicare PolitiFact wrote, The key change is to substitute would eliminate Medicare's guaranteed benefit for 800,000 Tennessee seniors to endangers the health benefits of 800,000 Tennessee seniors. Indeed, if the original release language was changed to use the word 'could' instead of 'would,' the party would have a more defensible statement. [PolitiFact, 09/07/12]
The Minnesota Health Care Compact Would Allow The State To Suspend Federal Health Care Rules. According to www.revisor.mn.gov, SF 1933 states, Each member state, within its state, may suspend by legislation the operation of all federal laws, rules, regulations, and orders regarding health care that are inconsistent with the laws and regulations adopted by the member state pursuant to this compact. [www.revisor.mn.gov, accessed 09/12/14] This Tea Party plan would allow politicians to take over Medicare
Senior woman paying bills Graphic: Dale Lueck: Tea Party Plan to End Medicare Source: House Journal 9058, 04/25/11
MPR: The GOP Legislature Passed Legislation To Put States In Charge Of Medicare. In October 2012 in an article about Medicare MPR wrote, This session, the Legislature approved and Dayton vetoed legislation that would have affectively put states in charge of all health care programs, including Medicare. [MPR, 10/17/12]
The Health Care Compact Would Transfer Control Of Medicare To The States. Accessed in July 2014, the Health Care Compact Alliances website healthcarecompact.org noted the Health Care Compact would transfer decision making power and funding control from the federal government to the states. [healthcarecompact.org, accessed 07/14/14] And could put 700 thousand Minnesota seniors at risk. Woman helping senior with oxygen Graphic: Dale Lueck: 700,000 Seniors at Risk Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 07/01/12 There Were 705,000 Minnesotans Enrolled In Either Part A And/Or B Of Medicare As Of July 2012. According to figures from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, 705,000 Minnesotans were enrolled in Medicare as of July 1, 2012. [CMS, 07/01/12] So insurance companies make higher profits
While Minnesota seniors pay more. Senior woman on camera
Emporia Gazette Editorial: The Kansas Health Care Compact Would Force More Seniors Onto Medicare Advantage. In August 2014 in an editorial the Emporia Gazette wrote, One thing we can count on for sure if the Health Care Compact passes is that we will no longer be able to enroll in traditional Medicare. Therefore, we would be left with the choice of privatizing Medicare, that is, going to Medicare Advantage, or something worse. [Emporia Gazette, 08/08/14]
Emporia Gazette Editorial: Forcing More Seniors Means Higher Profits For Insurance Companies. In August 2014 in an editorial the Emporia Gazette wrote, Medicare Advantage is much more expensive to the government than traditional Medicare, as much as 19 percent more, with these costs going to pay for perks, advertising, administrative costs, and profit for the insurance companies. [Emporia Gazette, 08/08/14]
Medicare Advantage Plans Are Private Plans That Cost Six Percent More Than Traditional Medicare. In August 2014 in an article about Medicare the New York Times wrote, Medicare Advantage plans private plans that serve as alternatives to the traditional, public program for those that qualify for it underperform traditional Medicare in one respect: They cost 6 percent more. [New York Times, 08/19/14] Dale Lueck has the wrong priorities for Minnesota Seniors walking Graphic: Dale Lueck: Wrong for Minnesota
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