A (DICK) Armey of one vs Medicare

[annabanana]

http://www.newsday.com/columnists/saul-friedman/an-armey-of-one-marshals-forces-against-medicare-1.1558065

Under Gingrich and Armey, the Republican Congress gradually privatized much of Medicare, luring millions of beneficiaries into private insurance, now called Medicare Advantage, by diverting billions from Medicare as subsidies for insurance companies.

And in 2003, Republicans added the Part D drug program, all of which is privately insured. Medicare has so little control of Part D, it cannot negotiate the best drug prices.

Now Armey, who left Congress a few years ago to join a Washington lobbying firm, has found a new way to undermine Medicare. He is one of several plaintiffs behind a lawsuit and a federal court ruling that could give Medicare Part A beneficiaries the right to withdraw from the program without penalty.

The Sept. 29 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer in Washington dismissed the government's objections, clearing the way for the plaintiffs to challenge five Clinton administration rules that required enrollment in Medicare Part A as a condition for receiving Social Security benefits. Ordinarily, a person who reaches 65 and is eligible for Medicare is enrolled in Part A at no extra charge. Part A covers most hospitalization costs.