To-May-to, To-MAH-to - what's the difference when a measly $6,400/year is on the line?
http://www.rawstory.com/...
“At the end of the day, that same number crunching was voted on by virtually every single Republican in 2011 and then again in 2012. That is fair to say,” O’Brien pointed out, adding that both Romney and Ryan had promised to “save” Medicare by turning it into a “voucher program.”
“No, it’s not!” Chaffetz objected.
“It’s not a voucher program?” O’Brien wondered.
“It is not a voucher program,” Chaffetz insisted. “It is a premium support, and that is totally different than a voucher program. And every time somebody says, ‘Oh, it’s a voucher program,’ it’s false, it’s misleading, it’s derogatory and it’s inaccurate. That is not what it does.”
“You will give people money to go and buy their own insurance, right?” O’Brien pressed. “But we’re arguing over symantics. At the end of the day, isn’t it — you would give someone money to buy their own insurance.”
“No, a premium support program is different than a voucher program,” Chaffetz repeated.
“Walk me through how it’s different,” O’Brien dared the congressman.
“Because some people that have maybe more needs or medical needs or they have less income, they’re going to have more flexibility and more assets to go and do what they need to do in order to have some choice and flexibility and create competition in the marketplace,” Chaffetz explained.
“Which is they get a voucher to go buy something!” O’Brien concluded.
I think all that Chaffetz is trying to say is that the "Premium Support" system is
means tested. If you have more, you get less - if you have less, you get more -
But STILL NOT ENOUGH to cover the rising cost of your Insurance according to the CBO.
This Chart by the CBO shows that Ryan's plan to shift seniors from Medicare to Private Plans with "Premium Support" would leave them paying 68% of the difference out of their own pockets, which would average to about $6,400 per year.
Vyan