Obama Debt Plan Would Fix $14 Billion Health Care Law Glitch

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's new deficit plan would fix a $14 billion glitch in his health care law.

Unless the problem gets fixed, a million or more middle-class early retirees could get nearly free Medicaid coverage meant for the poor.

The administration downplayed concerns when The Associated Press reported on the glitch this summer. Officials then acknowledged a fix was needed.

The problem began after the health care law changed Medicaid rules so Social Security benefits would no longer count as income, as they do now.

Because of the glitch, married early retirees making $64,000 a year could qualify for Medicaid. Medicare's top number cruncher, Richard Foster, said that situation didn't make sense but policymakers weren't interested in addressing it.

The fix saves taxpayers $14.6 billion over 10 years.

Comments

[kficc]

08:30 PM on 09/21/2011

Here is the easiest question for all the liberals out there. If OBAMACARE is so could for us americans then why is it not good enough for our elected officials? I will look forward to hearing this argument. I am very curious what comes up with this. And please, if I am wrong feel free to educate me. I could only hope I am incorrect with that statement.

[Social Construct]

05:54 PM on 09/23/2011

Glad to be able to get a response from you regarding a comment of mine. I'd wish this site would recognize political debate as such, and stop censoring it; even the ad hominem stuff. It distresses me to no end that many Tea Party types see in such black and white terms, and within segmented views; refusing to make connections that have real effects on the people of our great nation. As I stated, I'm no Democrat. I'm even worse from my right winged fellows point of view. When all is said and done, however, I'm a proud citizen of the United States that loves his country, its constitution, its example to other nations and, mostly, its people, no matter what stripe of ideology and politics they wear on their shirtsleeve.

[kficc]

11:00 PM on 10/03/2011

Try to tell me this then since you totally ignored my question. Why is everyone who disagrees with liberal politcs a Tea Party member? That is just a ridiculous comment and is only used to bunch everyone up so it is easier to target the group. I do not consider myself a Tea Party member or even a right wing conservative. I feel to classify yourself as one party does not allow you to be open to some positive policies on the otehr side. I do nto think one party has all the answers because they feel they need to classify themselves and can't think for themselves. But I dont know where youa re because you do not make any sense.

[3bunnies]

12:51 PM on 09/21/2011

Well. Aren't we jus a friendly group of "Free Speech" posters today.

[DickClark]

09:57 AM on 09/20/2011

.....How to fix Medicare......

...........Cut equipment costs.....i.e. Cost for polyerathane face cushon for sleep aptha breathing machine....$90.............get real!!.........also.......made in Australia......got a problem here.....

[allyndp]

08:30 AM on 09/20/2011

So does this mean I now qualify for Medicaid as a single retiree on SS and a pension? Hmmmmmnnn

[stape45]

08:10 AM on 09/20/2011

Government supports the people. Taxes support Government. Republicans are in unanimous opposition to all of that. Is there really anything more to say? (Other than bi*ch, bi*ch, bi*ch?)

[jmpurser]

11:33 AM on 09/20/2011

I'm afraid you describe an ideal state re: Government, taxes, and people that hasn't existed in this country since 1980.

[monza866]

07:47 AM on 09/20/2011

Thats terrible that the people who actually paid into medicare would get a break. So now they count SS benefits as income? SS contributions were already taxed and now they want to tax you again. Double taxation,how nice of the govt. The govt is a Ponsi scheme and BO is at the head.

[nos2001]

05:03 AM on 09/20/2011

EVERYTHING has been a failure.. what else sould anyone expect from someone with no experience running or managing anything....not not even as little as a lemonaid stand. what were people thingking when casting a vote?

[Jim Pasterczyk]

05:26 AM on 09/20/2011

More than you seem to be capable of.

[ssnt]

05:44 AM on 09/20/2011

What had he done that qualified him to be president, Jim. Be specific.

[stape45]

08:21 AM on 09/20/2011

Then the "experienced" people who screwed up the nation's economy, must be the biggest disappointment of all. That's something to think about at the next vote.

[kficc]

08:05 PM on 09/21/2011

blame, blame, blame. Thats alll you can do. Blame all the way to 2012. Didnt work in 2010or 2011. What makes you think it will work in 2012? those glitches happen when they dont even read the bill and jam it thru. that is really responsible

[nos2001]

04:47 AM on 09/20/2011

social security should be counted as income.. the same is true for food stamps and housing allowance. can i deduct my pay,my grocerys,my house from my income. these jerks keep talking about poverty level....include the above and most would be better off than a lot of us that are working for a living. the so called povery level would be very low. all this and not having to work, welcome to the welfare state of america.

[Jim Pasterczyk]

05:27 AM on 09/20/2011

Let's see you try to live on poverty level income. I knew a guy once who had to eat lard sandwiches because that was all he could afford.

[ssnt]

05:46 AM on 09/20/2011

Did he have cable?

[monza866]

07:41 AM on 09/20/2011

Did you ever buy him some deli meat?

[Kevin Rayburn]

02:46 AM on 09/20/2011

a glitch in obama's legislative crown jewel? well maybe someone should have read the thing before the democrats single handedly voted for it, but i suppose that would mean some people in congress and the senate would actually have to earn their taxpayer funded paychecks.

[its miller time]

03:38 AM on 09/20/2011

It would be incredible and unbelieveble to think that there wouldn't be unforeseen consequences and glitches in a massive law.

Perfection does not exist, it's all fixable...that's what matters, get over it.

[nos2001]

04:47 AM on 09/20/2011

these jerks are a joke.. they don't read anything-just vote as they are told.

[kficc]

08:07 PM on 09/21/2011

so that makes it ok. you mean glitches in a massive law that no one read. Dont you think if it was a massive law it should not have been rushed and thoroughly looked at. But their philosophy is pass now why we have the votes. Which they didn't even have. Worry later. Nice, true leadership at its finest.

[Jim Pasterczyk]

05:27 AM on 09/20/2011

And no doubt you wouldn't want to fix it now even though it brings down the deficit because it would be a win for Obama.

[WakeUpinthisCentury]

02:32 AM on 09/20/2011

Just one of many "glitches" yet to be exposed/ Just like those pesky memos regarding the Solyndra loans. These guys feel like $500 MILLION and just a few BILLION aren't anything to be concerned about.

[nos2001]

04:50 AM on 09/20/2011

we are supposed to believe the big donations and four visits to the whitehouse the week before before loan approval was made was---well?

[giftsthatpurr]

09:32 PM on 09/20/2011

The pubs are having a hey day with this one and it hasn't even been investigated yet.

[Steve1976]

12:29 AM on 09/20/2011

One thing is certain about Obama Care. The U.S. Supreme Court will overturn it.

[its miller time]

03:45 AM on 09/20/2011

Wow, to know what someone else is thinking and what their next move is going to be must
be incredible!

Do you honestly think Obama didn't foresee it going to the Supreme Court, there is something still to come pertaining to Obama and HCR?

[jgmambo]

11:01 PM on 09/19/2011

When I was growing up, we had Bob Hope and Johnny Cash. Now that Obama is President there is no hope and no cash.

[media4me2]

11:38 PM on 09/19/2011

And no USA.

[LiveMind]

12:47 AM on 09/20/2011

That bad joke must really make the rounds on the trollie sites-- it was old a long time ago and never funny.

[Kevin Rayburn]

02:47 AM on 09/20/2011

actually it shows a bit of insite into what is happening in this country at the present time.

[jgmambo]

07:26 PM on 09/21/2011

No sence of humor because of your mental slavery. LOL

[pleasebereasonable]

10:53 PM on 09/19/2011

Maybe if they had read it, before they passed it.....

[its miller time]

03:51 AM on 09/20/2011

Why would anyone think that there wouldn't be unforeseen consequences and glitches in a law so big no matter how many people read it is beyond reason.

It's all fixable, that's all that matter...move on.

[ssnt]

09:39 PM on 09/19/2011

It would not matter if they let it go through because there would not be enough docs to see the patients.

[rccthatsme]

09:38 PM on 09/19/2011

maybe, just maybe they should have read it, debated it, let it go through committess, vet it out entirely and then move to pass it. He shoved it down America's throat and he has paid for it ever since.

[whitney1]

09:50 PM on 09/19/2011

Why don't you discuss the Medicare Part "D" Prescrition plan that was passed by the Republicans under Bush, Jr. This plan increases the deficit by $8 Trillion dollars over the next 10 years. The U.S. Government ( tax payers) are paying 75% of the cost of drugs (prescriptions) for Medicare patients... Oh ! I forgot..... It was a Republican plan and does not count.

[Kevin Rayburn]

02:54 AM on 09/20/2011

unlike obamacare the prescription drug plan actually benefitted some people. obamacare was passed for one reason only...to make a place for obama in thie history books, well it did and it is his own fault for letting the pelosi-reid comic duo come up with such a piece or crap that no one bothered thinking about what it would actually do for healthcare in this country, then the fool in cheif went ahead and put his name on the "law". the big difference between the 2 is that if a democrat had come up with the prescription plan you'd be singing its praises, if a republican had come up with obama care i'd still be raising hell...just directed in a different direction.

[kficc]

08:20 PM on 09/21/2011

blame bush, blame bush. Getting old whitney. Try a new tactic, that one is just killing Obamas numbers. You are helping contribute to that. In fact, please keep blaming, it is wonderful watching the liberals themselves destroy Obamas numbers on their own. Keep it up.

[its miller time]

03:57 AM on 09/20/2011

Oh for G-0D sakes...it passed in the same manner tough Republican policy has passed in the past, the hypocrisy here is unbelievable.

Debate, Republicans walked away from writing the bill, they didn't want any part of it.

He has paid for it ever since, no he hasn't, how do you figure that?

[giftsthatpurr]

09:37 PM on 09/20/2011

Well, I'm glad he got it done before the obstructionists in the House were elected.