Say no to Medicare Part A, you lose your social security benefits
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 4:41PM 
Photo by James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control.It came as a surprise to me, but if a senior refuses to sign up for part A of the Medicare program, social security goes down the drain. A Tennessee congresswoman is trying to change that.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sponsored H.R. 1118, the "Health Care Choices for Seniors Act," a bill to allow seniors a choice they currently don’t have. I had no idea how insurance for seniors works until I read The FreedomWorks blog by Joseph Onerati. Medicare Part A is mandated by the federal government.
Open Congress explains how this works: “The Social Security Administration’s Program Operations Manual System section HI00801.002, titled ‘Waiver of Hospital Insurance Entitlement by Monthly Beneficiary,’ provides that an individual who does not sign up for part A of the Medicare program when the individual signs up for social security benefits will lose such benefits, regardless of the desire of the individual to not participate in the Medicare program because of religious or philosophical reasons or a preference to have private health insurance.”
So you pay into social security all your life—the Obama administration wants to raise the cap even higher—and if you want a choice in health insurance, the government will refuse to pay you the social security you funded.
Is this even constitutional?
The feds are getting away with it. The American Spectator explains Blackburn’s bill gives seniors a choice: accept a voucher for a private Health Savings Account or other high-deductible private health plan in lieu of Medicare Part A "benefits," or opt out of Medicare altogether, without having your Social Security benefits confiscated.
Democrats in the 110th Congress shot down other attempts to change this regulation. Blackburn’s bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce.
Freedomworks Chairman and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and four others filed a lawsuit in October to challenge the HHS rule. As of March 31, 2009 they had not received the injunction they are seeking to give Social Security recipients the choices.
Meanwhile Democrats did sign the S-Chip bill funding it with an additional cigarette tax. Children whose parents are not in the country legally can get insurance and medical care under that bill if I am reading it correctly.
Media has not reported the senior ripoff. Apparently they’re still trying to help President Barack Obama have a positive experience in the White House. I’m not old enough for Medicare, but I plan to complain even if it doesn’t do any good. This practice is an insult to those of us who work and pay social security, and is just another example of the federal government enacting practices that favor the mega-rich and the lower socio-economic quintiles. Americans are completely duped by their government. If Congress had any integrity, they would pass Blackburn’s bill. When the government can confiscate seniors' social security because they want to pay for better quality healthcare, it's hard to believe that government belongs to the United States.
Reader Comments (2)
After many years fighting with Social Security over my disability, in late January I finely received the letter informing me that Social Security found me disabled as of January 2, 2006. They informed me that I was entitled to medical hospital insurance beginning July 2008 and medical insurance beginning January 2009.
I am a dependent of a USMC retiree and entitled to TRICARE. I have been enrolled it TRICARE prime since its conception. Now TRICARE is saying that since I was eligible for Medicare Part A in July 2008, I am not entitled to TRICARE. That is leaving me with no medical insurance from July 2008 to January 2009, even though I have paid for TRICARE prime during that time period.
Now president Obama recently said “That the first rule of government is to do no harm” Well hear I am with no health insurance because of government.
Why can’t they start my Medicare Part A the same time they started my Medicare Part B? That way I would not have all this medical bills
Will someone please help me?
Kathleen, thank you so much for sharing this with our readers.
Straightaway, if I were you, I'd call my congressman. Explain what's happened to you. And I'd also love to feature your story in a new column. We experienced a situation with a loved one who had Medicare and TriCare and I got an upclose look at what baby boomers will face, especially if govenrment manages to take over healthcare like they have done with other industries.
If you'd like to tell me more and if you'd like any help with this, please email me:
kaydayed@theusreport.com
You certainly do not deserve this kind of treatment, and please thank that Marine for all of us for service to country and the American people.
best to you, Kay Day