New 60 Plus Ad "Deals" From The Bottom Of The Deck

60 Plus Ad "Deals" Out Little More Than False Talking Points

60 Plus Ad "Deals":

On Health Care, Washington simply isn't listening.

Congress rushed to pass a bad bill...

...even though they knew Americans were overwhelmingly opposed.

The liberals' plan would cut Medicare, raise taxes, and hurt small business.

And some of the states and the unions got special deals that don't apply to the rest of us.

Some people call these Special Deals the Cornhusker Kickback or the Louisiana Purchase.

The American people call it corruption!

Congress needs to start over, and get health care right. [YouTube, accessed 2/18/10]

60 Plus Ads To Run In 18 Congressional Districts.  According to the Journal Sentinel, 60 Plus "began airing ads opposing the Democrat's health care reform proposals in 18 House districts across the country." Those districts included in the ad buy are in North Dakota, Arizona, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. [Journal Sentinel, 2/17/10; 60 Plus Association YouTube, accessed 2/18/10]

Americans Support Health Care Reform

Poll: Americans Support Current Bill, Want It Strengthened. CBS News released a telling poll on January 11, 2010.  Regarding extending coverage to the uninsured, the poll showed that 57% of Americans support the current plan or want it stronger - only 32% believe it goes too far.  On controlling health care costs, 60% support the plan or want it to go even further - only 24% think it goes too far.  And concerning new regulations on health insurance companies, 61% support the plan or want it stronger - only 27% believe it goes too far. [CBS News poll, 1/6-10/10]

71% Of Americans Think President Obama Is Moving The Country In The Right Direction.  A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll conducted following the State of the Union revealed that Americans support the President's agenda and believe the country is headed in the right direction.

"Do you think the policies being proposed by Barack Obama will move the country in the right direction or the wrong direction?"

     Right Direction: 71%
     Wrong Direction: 27%
     Unsure: 2% 

"Do you think that President Obama's plan will or will not succeed in improving the nation's health care system?"

     Will Succeed: 51%
     Will Not Succeed: 46%
     Unsure: 4%

[CNN/Opinion Research Poll, 1/27/10; via PollingReport.com accessed 1/31/10]

Democratic Proposals For Health Care Reform Will Benefit America's Seniors

The Democratic Bill "Covers 12 Times As Many People And Saves $36 Billion More Than The Republican Plan."  The Washington Post's Ezra Klein wrote: "According to CBO, the GOP's alternative will shave $68 billion off the deficit in the next 10 years. The Democrats, CBO says, will slice $104 billion off the deficit. The Democratic bill, in other words, covers 12 times as many people and saves $36 billion more than the Republican plan." [Washington Post, 11/5/09]

"None Of The 'Savings' Or 'Cuts' (Whichever You Prefer) Come From Reducing Current Or Future Benefit Levels For Seniors." According to FactCheck.org, "The House bill would trim projected increases in payments for hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and others, including home health care providers and suppliers of motor-driven wheelchairs. But it also proposes what CBO estimates is a $245 billion increase in spending for doctors, by canceling a scheduled 21 percent cut in physician payments. None of the 'savings' or 'cuts' (whichever you prefer) come from reducing current or future benefit levels for seniors." [FactCheck.org, accessed 9/9/09]

CBO: Cost Changes To Medicare Made From Savings. According to the CBO letter to Senator Baucus: "Changes to the Medicare program and changes to Medicaid and CHIP other than those associated directly with expanded insurance coverage:  Savings from those provisions are estimated to total $93 billion in 2019, and CBO projects that, in combination, they will increase by 10 percent to 15 percent per year in the next decade." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]

Changes To Medicare Advantage Come With Extra Benefits For All Medicare Enrollees.  FactCheck.org reported: "The CBO has estimated that the move would change the value of the extra benefits Medicare Advantage participants get, but they would not receive fewer benefits than the rest of seniors who aren't on the Advantage plans. The bill does add some extras for Medicare beneficiaries, eliminating copays and deductibles for preventive services, for example." [FactCheck.org, 12/2/09, emphasis added]

Click HERE for details on the trillions of dollars Republicans have voted to cut from  Medicare.

Current Republican Proposals Stand To Hurt America's Seniors

The Republican plan does not cover the uninsured.

GOP Plan Costs $61 Billion And Leaves 52 Million Americans Uninsured.  The Los Angeles Times reported the CBO put the cost of the Republican bill at $61 billion over ten years, "[b]ut the CBO analysis also concluded that under the GOP plan, 52 million nonelderly Americans would have no insurance in 2019 -- even more than the 50 million in 2010." [Los Angeles Times, 11/5/09]

• GOP Plan Only Offers Coverage To 3 Million More Americans Over Ten Years. According to the CBO: "By 2019, CBO and JCT estimate, the number of nonelderly people without health insurance would be reduced by about 3 million relative to current law, leaving about 52 million nonelderly residents uninsured." [CBO.gov, 11/4/09]

• GOP Plan Keeps Number Of Uninsured At Same Rate As Current System. The CBO also noted: "The share of nonelderly resident with insurance coverage in 2019 would be about 83 percent, roughly in line with the current share. CBO and JCT estimate that enacting the amendment's insurance coverage provisions would increase deficits by $8 billion over the 2010-2019 period." [CBO.gov, 11/4/09]

The Republican plan does not stop insurance company abuses.

GOP Bill Allows Insurance Companies To Deny Americans Coverage For Pre-Existing Conditions.  In his write up of the Republican bill's CBO score, Jonathan Cohn wrote, "under the Republican bills, the CBO notes, there will be enormous variation in rates between the sick and the healthy. Remember, unlike the Democrats, the Republicans--in their determination to avoid passing new regulations--wouldn't prohibit charging people more because they have pre-existing conditions or would otherwise represent greater-than-average health risks." [The New Republic, 11/5/09]

GOP Bill Increases Premiums For Sick Americans.  Jonathan Cohn of The New Republic wrote, "yes, the Republican health care bill will lower premiums overall. But many people in poor health will see their premiums go up. And many people will get lower premiums only because they're getting inferior coverage. Meanwhile, more than 50 million people will have no insurance whatsoever." [The New Republic, 11/5/09]

Republican Budget Proposal Will Make Drastic Cuts To Senior Benefits

Rep. Ryan's Budget Raises Medicare Premiums & Cuts Benefits. According to the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" budget proposal: "People who are age 65 or older in 2020 and other existing enrollees at that time would continue to be covered by the current program, although some higher-income enrollees would pay higher premiums, and some program payments would be reduced." [Congressional Budget Office, 1/27/10]

Rep. Ryan's Budget Cuts Social Security Benefits.  According to the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" budget proposal: "Traditional retirement benefits would be reduced below those scheduled under current law for many workers who are age 55 or younger in 2011. People with lower earnings would experience smaller reductions in benefits, and those with higher earnings would experience larger reductions. Current beneficiaries and workers who are age 55 or older in 2010 would experience no change in benefits." [Congressional Budget Office, 1/27/10]

Rep. Ryan's Budget Raises Eligibility Age For Medicare. According to the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" budget proposal: "The age of eligibility for Medicare would increase incrementally from 65 (for people born before 1956), as it is under current law, to 69 years and 6 months for people born in 2022 and later." [Congressional Budget Office, 1/27/10]

Rep. Ryan's Budget Privatizes Medicare. According to the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America's Future" budget proposal: "Starting in 2021, new enrollees would no longer receive coverage through the current program but, instead, would be given a voucher with which to purchase private health insurance.

• In 2021, when enrollees would first receive the voucher, the average voucher for 65-year-olds would be worth $5,900 (in 2010 dollars), as specified by your staff.

• The voucher would be adjusted to reflect the age and health status of enrollees. If all Medicare beneficiaries (including older people with higher average expenditures) were to receive a voucher in 2021, the average voucher amount would be $11,000 (in 2010 dollars)." [Congressional Budget Office, 1/27/10]