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The Public Policy
Final Proof of Democrat Decline
Forget the boorishness. Just read the final transcript of Biden-Ryan transcript.
(Page 2 of 3)
Ryan then said, “7.4 million seniors are projected to lose their current Medicare Advantage coverage they have. That’s a $3,200 benefit cut.” Biden’s interrupted: “That didn’t happen. More people signed up for Medicare Advantage after the change.”
But the change they are talking about hasn’t even happened yet. Indeed, Obama delayed the initial implementation of it until after the election, precisely because Ryan is right. Medicare’s Chief Actuary again reports exactly what Ryan said, “We estimate that in 2017, when the [Medicare Advantage] provisions will be fully phased in, enrollment in MA plans will be lower by about 50 percent (from its projected level of 14.8 million under prior law to 7.4 million under the new law).”
Shouting Ryan Down
Ryan
explained his proposed Medicare reforms during the debate as
follows:
Here’s what we’re saying: give younger people, when they become Medicare eligible, guaranteed coverage options that you can’t be denied, including traditional Medicare. Choose your plan, and then Medicare subsidizes your premiums, not as much as for the wealthy people, more coverage for middle-income people, and total out-of-pocket coverage for the poor and the sick.
Choice and competition. We would rather have 50 million future seniors determine how their Medicare is delivered to them instead of 15 bureaucrats deciding what, if, when, where, they get it.
The supposed moderator Martha Raddatz then asked Ryan: “What is your specific plan for seniors who really can’t afford to make up the difference in the value of what you call a premium support plan and others call a voucher.” But both Biden and Raddatz then interrupted and talked over Ryan so much, it is doubtful anyone understood the answer.
Ryan did get out the correct answer: “Hundred percent coverage,” as reported in the transcript. But here is why that is correct: Ryan’s plan would empower seniors 10 years from now with the freedom to choose among private health insurance plans to provide at least the same benefits as Medicare, or to stay in Medicare as today (which continues to guarantee the same benefits as Medicare today). If the senior chooses a private plan, Medicare pays a premium support payment to that chosen plan to help pay for it. If the senior chooses a more expensive plan, the senior must pay the difference.
But the amount of the premium support payment is set by competitive bidding among all the plans at an amount sufficient to pay 100% of the premium of the two lowest cost plans. So every senior would continue to have the choice of at least two health insurance plans in their area, plus Medicare. Ryan’s plan also provides more in premium support payments to lower income and sicker seniors so that they will enjoy even more cost-free choices, and be assured of full protection.
What this involves is merely extending the more modern, highly successful and popular Medicare Parts C and D to the old-fashioned Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare Part D is the prescription drug plan, which provides precisely premium support payments to the private health plan of each senior’s choice. That competition has resulted in program costs 40% below original projections. Part C is Medicare Advantage, under which one fourth of seniors have already chosen private health insurance to provide their Medicare benefits at no extra cost to them, because they believe they get better benefits from those private plans.
The Ryan reform plan originated in a proposal from two long time liberal academics, Henry Aaron of the Brookings Institution, and former CBO Director Robert Reischauer. That proposal was picked up by the Clinton Medicare reform commission chaired by former Democrat Senator John Breaux. The first Director of CBO, long time liberal academic Alice Rivlin, not only has supported the Ryan plan, but contributed to its development. Today, the Senate version of Ryan’s Medicare reform is sponsored in the Senate by Ron Wyden, liberal Democrat from liberal Oregon.
But at the debate, Biden interrupted Ryan to falsely assert, “There’s not one Democrat that endorses it,” despite the above long Democrat history with the reform concept. Biden interrupted again to falsely claim that Wyden no longer supports the Senate companion bill for the Ryan reforms, which he himself introduced and does continue to support. When Ryan brought up Rivlin, Biden falsely claimed that she has renounced it, though quite to the contrary, she has recently reaffirmed it. When Ryan tried to explain that the idea came from the Clinton Medicare Reform Commission, Biden interrupted to say that it was rejected, even though Clinton never rejected the recommendations of his own Medicare Commission.
But Biden had his own idea, saying, “if they just allowed Medicare to bargain for the cost of drugs like Medicaid can, that would save $156 billion right off the bat.” When Ryan explained that central planning bargaining would deny seniors choices, Biden asked, “Look, folks, all you seniors out there, have you been denied choices? Have you lost Medicare Advantage?”
Silly question, because the reform that Biden raised has never been passed, so how could it already be denying seniors choices? Moreover, CBO has already scored Biden’s proposal, concluding that it would result in “negligible” savings.
Tall Tax Tales
Biden proclaimed at the debate:
And instead of signing pledges to Grover Norquist not to ask the wealthiest among us to contribute to bring back the middle class, they should be signing a pledge saying to the middle class we’re going to level the playing field; we’re going to give you a fair shot again.
About the Author
Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy at the Heartland Institute, General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, and Senior Policy Advisor on Entitlements and Budget Policy at the National Tax Limitation Foundation. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George H.W. Bush.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (23) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 10.17.12 @ 7:26AM
All of us watching this debacle were glad our Daddy was safe in Heven, because the falsehoods in that debate would have made his head explode.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 10.17.12 @ 4:45PM
Ryan is the best of the four candidates-- so then the Grand Old Prevaricators ought to run him for POTUS in 2016.
Von Mises Jr| 10.17.12 @ 7:29AM
Not only will the cuts to Medicare reimbursement to doctors reduce treatment options to seniors, but the expansion of Medicaid to 138% of the poverty line will either cost the states dramatic property tax increases, or the low income people who were touted to benefit will still not have medical insurance.
In New Jersey, doctors often do not take Medicaid since the reimbursements less cost yields about 13%. For a $100 visit, the doctor earns $13. But they are then liable to malpractice suits that average one per career costing an average of $25K settlement. So at $100 per visit, the doctors must perform 1923 free visits to cover the medical suits.
If New Jersey expands Medicaid coverage, the cost per year is $5B. With a $33B Budget, that is a fifteen percent (15%) increase. So property taxes will need to be raised approximately 20% on the average of about $10K to $12K, or about $2K to $2,500 per homeowner (seniors have property tax freeze). So all homeowners and renters will see a 20% increase or the people alleged to get coverage under ObamaCare will only be potentially subject to a fine. It starts at $695 and quickly escalates to as much as 2.5% of your income in 2016.
Surprise, Surprise. This is why Biden had to lie, if he even understands the economic metrics.
TLP| 10.17.12 @ 2:05PM
"Medicare will be paying Less to Doctors and Hospitals for the Treatment of the Elderly, than Medicaire will be paying for The Poor."
There's your Death Panels.
Grzmlyk| 10.17.12 @ 2:11PM
There you go throwing numbers around. Silly, silly right-wing fascist. Why the hate speech? Y'all are jes' a bigot-homophobe-sexist-millionaire-billionaire who won't pay his fair share. You a greedy sombitch, not forking over your income so that I can have what I want.
Next thing you're gonna tell us is that you are an entrepreneur and you create jobs! Bastard! Only government should create jobs. All money is, after all, the government's (except mine, of course).
What's important about the Obama administration, and Democrat policies in general, is that there's free candy for everybody, paid for by the evil rich!!!!
Woo hoo! Barack goin' get' me ma Obamaphone next.
I loves me this free shit.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why America is going to collapse. We have forsaken reality.
Incidentally, what I saw from Romney last night was not a true conservative, but Statist-lite. Guaranteed, he's going to retain the parts of Obamacare that prove popular - and, whether von Mises Jr.'s numbers are 100% accurate or not, the gist is utterly correct - the whole POINT of Obamunism is to delete the middle class and make everybody an abject dependent on government.
Will Romney have the cajones, or the political capital, to reverse this trend?
No.
Von Mises Jr| 10.17.12 @ 3:15PM
Just take a extended vacation in Cuba or North Korea and we will take care of business here.
Grzmlyk| 10.17.12 @ 4:57PM
?? You realize the first part of that was tongue-in-cheek, don't you? Did you even read the whole post?
It's me, Grzmlyk! Helloooo!
As a nominal Austrian, I'd have thought you'd agree that Romney is a statist. He is, you know.
Has someone hijacked your moniker?
Von Mises Jr| 10.17.12 @ 8:08PM
My apologies my friend. I was confused with the post and simply do not want to hear negativity with three weeks to go.
Obama is self-destructing since events cannot be managed and everything in his world of bull$hit is $hitting the bed.
You are very reasoned and lucid when we have chatted before or I read your posts. So please excuse me if I have a hair trigger. Our children's future is at stake as well as our freedoms.
God Blesses you my friend.
c. j. acworth| 10.17.12 @ 8:13AM
Sure Biden lied through his teeth, but I'm sure the watchdog fact-checkers of the media will call him out and set the record straight Real Soon Now.
spike59| 10.18.12 @ 5:40AM
spike59| 10.18.12 @ 5:41AM
that was the sound of the crickets
Louis Jenkins| 10.17.12 @ 8:54AM
The picture? Biden isn't grinning nor is he gawfawing. Is this a posed photo? Biden was an ass during the debate, and he did exactly what his handlers told him to do. Confuse, confound, obfiscate.
Joellen| 10.17.12 @ 9:52AM
I am asking all who can (doesnt matter what your faith is) to call Cardinal Dolan's office at 212-371-1000, and humbly ask him to rescind his invitation to the annual Al Smith dinner tomorrow night. Please just do it and ask all you know to do same. This is truly a mistake on the Cardinals decision and he must be made aware that he too is prone to "wrong judgement" and must have the courage to correct and thus make right judgement. Rescind the invitation Cardinal Dolan - 212-371-1000. Ask to speak to him directly!
Joellen| 10.17.12 @ 10:16AM
Excuse the vague details, that would be rescind the invitation to Obama, the most pro-death president EVER.
TLP| 10.17.12 @ 2:13PM
I'm sorry, Joellen, but I'm starting to think that Cardinal Dolan is a Fool.
Everytime he gets an opportunity to Overturn this Moneychanger's Table, he turns the other cheek.
Until the Catholic Hierarchy takes a Principled Stand against these Democrat Politicians, and their Attacks on CHRIST'S COMMANDS, this sh*t will continue.
Excommunicate these Bastards, and do it in CHRIST'S name.
They are an Abomination in the eyes of the LORD.
Period!
Joellen| 10.17.12 @ 4:05PM
Tim, agreed. That's why I am asking all to call him. He's wrong on this and as a disciple of CHRIST, he needs to humble himself, admit it and rescind the invition. So again I ask all to call.
fmm| 10.17.12 @ 11:53AM
In comment to your last paragraph, Jack Kennedy would be an extreme right member of todays dem party. Rush played an excerpt of Kennedy's speech on taxation from 1962 and it sounded like the Ryan plan of today.
Oldefarte| 10.17.12 @ 2:18PM
First, Biden [along with his boss Obama as well as all other Democrats] IS A LIAR! This whole debate revolves around governmental welfare paid for by taxpayers. The latter are being asked to pay more and more of their hard earned income to taxiation by government, so that the former can increasingly obtain mare and more governmental welfare. For every RIGHT that someone has, there is an equal and corresponding RESPONSIBILITY in life. The Democrats make a political living over limiting the discussion to RIGHTS, and to conveniently ignoring the subject of RESPONSIBILITY. Romney/Ryan/Republicans need to make the latter the prime subject of discussion, and what the governmental welfare recipients moral obligations are to the rest of society. Most of these indigents [not all] are blood-suckers that are destroying this nation in their demands for more and more governmental welfare!!!!!!!!!!
Truth to Power| 10.17.12 @ 3:16PM
The big O was practicing for January:
http://www.realclearpolitics.c.....ebate.html
Occam's Tool| 10.17.12 @ 7:03PM
As a physician, Obama has insulted my profession and me over and over. He is a loathsome, traitorous scumbag, and so is Biden.
John II| 10.17.12 @ 7:45PM
The Professor is not a physician, Occie--although he IS indeed a scumbag. Again, I must insist on perfect spelling and perfect grammar (your first sentence opens with a dangling modifier) to grace the truth of such utterances as yours.
Am I the only one who's noticed that these thickly referenced, tightly argued, number-crunching pieces by the likes of Ferrara never draw any troll-comment?
By the way, you're right about Moe Howard, Occie: a mensch. How could it be otherwise in a man born Moses Horvitz? Most people seem to live up to their given names. I wonder if "obama" means "dirtbag" in Swahili.
CLD| 10.20.12 @ 1:04AM
The part of Ferrara's piece that struck me the most:
"But the poor cannot reliably get timely and effective care with what Medicaid pays, and suffer worse health outcomes as a result, including early death."
A very strong indictment of our country, I'd say. (And so much for the compassion our pols like to yap about.)
WKH| 10.20.12 @ 11:43PM
The one point I wish Ryan had jumped on I unfortunately have not heard anybody mention. If you check Biden's final comments you will see that, once again, the first words out of his mouth were to blame the previous administration for all our problems. You can't help but wonder if Obama were to win would we be hearing the same argument in another 4 years?