Obama pulls plug on part of health overhaul law

AARP has screwed and robbed the senior community for decades! They shoved Obama’s DeathCare down the throats of seniors and ridiculed those who spoke out against it…Here are several alternatives to this Government arse-kissing leftist organization of AARP:

http://www.americanseniors.org/
http://www.amac.us/join-amac/
http://www.generationamerica.org/gena-about

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration Friday pulled the plug on a major program in the president’s signature health overhaul law – a long-term care insurance plan dogged from the beginning by doubts over its financial solvency.

“This is a victory for the American taxpayer and future generations,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., spearheading opposition in the Senate. “The administration is finally admitting (the long-term care plan) is unsustainable and cannot be implemented.”

Proponents, including many groups that fought to pass the health care law, have vowed a vigorous effort to rescue the program, insisting that Congress gave the administration broad authority to make changes. Long-term care (remember this Ins. policy will only be available through AARP, you will see their whine coming up) includes not only nursing homes, but such services as home health aides for disabled people.

Known as CLASS, the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program was a longstanding priority of the late Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

…a central design flaw dogged CLASS. Unless large numbers of healthy people willingly sign up during their working years, soaring premiums driven by the needs of disabled beneficiaries would destabilize it, eventually requiring a taxpayer bailout.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: “Despite our best analytical efforts, I do not see a viable path forward for CLASS implementation at this time,” Sebelius said in a letter to congressional leaders.

Monthly premiums would have ranged from $235 to $391, even as high as $3,000 under some scenarios

“If healthy purchasers are not attracted … then premiums will increase, which will make it even more unattractive to purchasers who could also obtain policies in the private market,” Kathy Greenlee, the lead official on CLASS, said in a memo to Sebelius. That “would cause the program to quickly collapse.”

That’s the same conclusion a top government expert reached in 2009.

“The CLASS Act was a budget gimmick that might enhance the numbers on a Washington bureaucrat’s spreadsheet but was destined to fail in the real world,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

“We’re disappointed that (Sebelius) has prematurely stated she does not see a path forward,” AARP, the seniors’ lobby, (Their monopoly cash cow has been siderailed) said in a statement. “The need for long-term care will only continue to grow.”