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Dear Senior Citizens,
I know you think Glenn Beck is the new Jesus and the black guy in the Oval Office is a Muslim pretender, but for the love of all that's holy, turn off Fox News and pay attention.
That ad at the top of this post? They LIE. They are LYING TO YOU. Don't believe me? How about Politifact? Or if Politifact doesn't do it for you, how about your own pocketbooks?
Yes, your own pocketbooks. Because in addition to the donut hole closure, those of you who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage will see your premiums drop next year. That's right. Your premiums will go down in 2011.
Medicare officials said they had held down premiums and co-payments by negotiating with insurers, which sponsor the Medicare Advantage plans.
The law, signed by Mr. Obama in March, gave officials new power to negotiate and to reject bids, as they did in a few cases.
“We negotiated more aggressively than in the past,” said Jonathan D. Blum, deputy administrator of the Medicare agency. “As a result, some plans changed their bids to produce more value for beneficiaries.”
“On average,” Mr. Blum said, “Medicare Advantage premiums will be 1 percent lower in 2011 than today. Medicare Advantage plans project that enrollment will increase by 5 percent in 2011.”
Yes, you senior citizens claiming your Medicare is being "cut" need to quit listening to your heroes at Fox News and pay attention to facts. While the rest of us suck up big increases because we don't have the benefit of the federal government negotiating on our behalf, YOU and YOU ALONE will see your premiums go down.
I'd better not see you with a sign saying for government to keep their hands off your Medicare after this. That will make it very difficult for me to respect my elders.
Also, a question for the "repeal and replace" crowd. Who will explain why you want to take premium reductions away from seniors?
