Does Romney know something Americans don’t know regarding the outcome of the (SCOTUS) Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on the Obama adminsitation’s landmark HCR BILL?  *Note: we may hear as early as Monday, June 18 on SCOTUS decision.

ROMNEY:  “STRIKE DOWN OF HEALTH CARE LAW WOULD BE “RIGHT THING”

CNN) – Mitt Romney on Monday said he hopes the Supreme Court does the “right thing” and overturns President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care reform.

“Gosh I hope they do the right thing and turn this thing down,” Romney told donors in Atlanta, according to pool reports. “And say it’s unconstitutional because it is.”

ROMNEY VOWED TO REPEAL OBAMACARE AND “KILL IT DEAD ON DAY ONE”

Romney: “If I’m President, I Will Repeal Obamacare, And I’ll Kill It Dead On Day One.”[Romney town hall, Collinsville, IL, 3/17/12]

ROMNEY’S PLAN WOULD END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT AND SHIFT MORE COSTS ON TO SENIORS

Romney’s Medicare Plan: “Medicare Is Reformed As A Premium Support System, Meaning That Existing Spending Is Repackaged As A Fixed-Amount Benefit To Each Senior That He Or She Can Use To Purchase An Insurance Plan.” [Romney Press Release, Spending Plan – “Cut The Spending,” 11/4/11]

• Wall Street Journal Headline: “Romney Proposes To Privatize Medicare.”[Wall Street Journal, 11/4/11]
• Associated Press Headline: “Romney Proposal Makes Medicare Voucher-Like System.”[Associated Press, 11/4/11]

Under Romney’s Medicare Plan If It Costs The Government More To Provide Traditional Medicare Than It Costs Private Plans To Offer Their Version “Premiums Charged By The Government Will Have To Be Higher And Seniors Will Have To Pay The Difference To Enroll In The Traditional Medicare Option.” “‘Traditional’ fee-for-service Medicare will be offered by the government as an insurance plan, meaning that seniors can purchase that form of coverage if they prefer it; however, if it costs the government more to provide that service than it costs private plans to offer their versions, then the premiums charged by the government will have to be higher and seniors will have to pay the difference to enroll in the traditional Medicare option.” [Issues: Medicare, Romney For President, accessed 6/11/12]

CBPP: Under Romney’s Budget Cuts, If He Cut All Nondefense Programs Proportionately But Exempted Social Security, Medicare Would Be Cut By Nearly 35%.[Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2/16/12]

ROMNEY SUPPORTED A PLAN THAT WOULD DOUBLE OUT OF POCKET COSTS TO SENIORS

Romney Said “Yes” He Would Sign The House Republican Budget. “On health care, Romney responded ‘yes’ when asked if he would sign the plan written by Rep. Paul Ryan that would restructure Medicare if it reached his desk as President, but quickly added that he would be offering his own plan.” [ABC News, 6/2/11]

The House Republican Budget Would Force Seniors To Pay Twice As Much. The Republican budget would end the traditional Medicare program for those 55 and under and essentially convert it into a voucher program. The budget forces seniors into a more expensive private plan. In 2022, a typical 65-year-old would have to pay $6,400 more in health care expenses, or twice the amount they would under the current system. [LA Times, 4/7/11]

In 2022, Beneficiaries Out Of Pocket Costs Would Be $6,400 Higher Under The House Republican Proposal Than Traditional Medicare. “In 2022, the first year the voucher would apply, CBO estimates that total health care expenditures for a typical 65-year-old would be almost 40 percent higher with private coverage under the Ryan plan than they would be with a continuation of traditional Medicare.  (See graph.)  CBO also finds that this beneficiary’s annual out-of-pocket costs would more than double — from $6,150 to $12,500.  In later years, as the value of the voucher eroded, the increase in out-of-pocket costs would be even greater.” [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/7/11]

ROMNEY WOULD REPEAL PRESIDENT OBAMA’S AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WHICH PREVENTS INSURERS FROM DENYING  COVERAGE TO AMERICANS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND FROM CHARGING WOMEN HIGHER PREMIUMS THAN MEN, AND HAS HELPED MILLIONS OF YOUNG ADULTS GAIN COVERAGE

Under The Affordable Care Act, Starting In 2014, Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions Cannot Be Denied Coverage, Charged HigherPremiums, Or Be Subject To Other Discriminatory Actions. “Up to one in five non-elderly Americans with a pre-existing condition – 25 million individuals – is uninsured.  Under the Affordable Care Act, starting in 2014, these Americans cannot be denied coverage, be charged significantly higher premiums, be subjected to an extended waiting period, or have their benefits curtailed by insurance companies.” [Healthcare.gov, Accessed 12/30/11]

In 2014, The Affordable Care Act Will Prevent Insurers From Charging Women Higher Premiums Than They Charge Men.“Before the law, women could be charged more for individual insurance policies simply because of their gender. A 22-year-old woman could be charged 150% the premium that a 22-year-old man paid. In 2014, insurers will not be able to charge women higher premiums than they charge men.” [HealthCare.gov, accessed 7/28/11]

Within The First Year, 2.5 Million Young Adults Have Gained Health Coverage Through The Provision Allowing Young Adults Under 26 To Remain On Their Parents’ Insurance,Results released today by the National Center for Health Statistics demonstrate that the extension of dependent coverage up to age 26 has increased the number of young adults with health insurance, by even more than prior analyses had suggested. These new estimates show that from September 2010 to June 2011, the percentage of adults 19 to 25 with insurance coverage increased from 64% to 73%, which translates into 2.5 million additional young adults with coverage. [Department of Health & Human Services, 12/14/11]

ROMNEY HAS BEEN CALLED OUT BY INDEPENDENT FACT CHECKERS FOR SAYING PRESIDENT OBAMA CUT MEDICARE

Politifact Rated Romney’s Claim About Obama And Medicare “False,” Noting That Romney Falsely Implied That Obama Cut Benefits When In Reality, Obama Increased Benefits For Seniors. “Romney said, ‘only one president has ever cut Medicare for seniors in this country and it’s Barack Obama.’ The statement gets it wrong on every front. The Medicare belt was tightened in 1981 and 1982 under Reagan, in 1989 under the first President Bush and again in 1997 under Clinton. So Obama is in no way the only president to cut the program. Further, by specifying that Obama cut Medicare ‘for seniors,’ Romney seems to mean that the president slashed benefits, not just the program’s spending. That’s even more egregious. Other presidents have made changes to Medicare that reduced benefits for seniors, while the health care law Obama signed actually increases them. That’s a lot of inaccuracy in a single sentence. We rate Romney’s statement False.” [PolitiFact.org ,12/12/11]

Associated Press Fact Check: The Affordable Care Act “Strengthens Traditional Medicare” By Improving Preventative Care And Increasing Payments To Primary Care Doctors But Reduces Subsidies To Medicare Advantage. “The law signed by Obama strengthens traditional Medicare by improving preventive care and increasing payments to primary care doctors and nurses serving as medical coordinators, but reduces subsidies to private insurance plans that have become a popular alternative to Medicare.” [Fact Check, Associated Press, 12/12/11]

Associated Press Fact Check: Romney Falsely Attacked President Obama For Taking $500 Billion From Medicare As The Program Was Being Overpaid And House Republicans Voted For The Allocation Change. “MICHELE BACHMANN: Obama ‘stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to Obamacare… These are programs that need to be saved to serve people, and in their current form, they can’t.’ ROMNEY: ‘He cut Medicare by $500 billion. This is a Democrat president. The liberal, so to speak, cut Medicare. Not Republicans, the Democrat.’ THE FACTS: ‘Stole’ is a hyperbolic way to describe the kinds of shifts in budget priorities that happen every day in Washington. To pay for expanded insurance coverage, Obama’s health care law cuts $500 billion in payments to the Medicare Advantage program – which a congressional agency said was being overpaid – and to hospitals and nursing homes. Nearly all House Republicans, including Bachmann, later voted for a GOP budget plan that retained the same cuts Obama had made.” [Fact Check, Associated Press, 9/13/11]

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS TAKEN STEPS TO STRENGTHEN MEDICARE FOR SENIORS, EXTENDING THE LIFE OF MEDICARE, CLOSING THE DOUGHNUT HOLE, PROVIDING FREE PREVENTIVE CARE, AND FIGHTING MEDICARE FRAUD

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DOES NOT CUT $500 BILLION FROM MEDICARE FOR CURRENT BENEFICIARIES

Factcheck.org Notes That $500 Billion Is A Reduction In The Future Growth Of Medicare Spending Over 10 Years, Not A Slashing Of The Current Budget.“We’ve seen many versions of the claim that the health care bill cuts Medicare by $500 billion.That’s actually a reduction in the future growth of spending over 10 years, not a slashing of the current budget, as we’ve pointed out….The health care law calls for a reduction in the currently projected growth of federal outlays of about 7 percent over the decade.” [Factcheck.org,10/08/10]

The Affordable Care Act Reduces Spending But Those Dollars Are Not Taken Out Of The Current Budget, They Are Not Actual Cuts, And No Currents Benefits Are Eliminated:“The Affordable Care Act does reduce Medicare spending by $500 billion over the next 10 years. But here’s the catch: Those dollars aren’t taken out of the current budget, they are not actual cuts, and nowhere does the bill actually eliminate any current benefits.” [Politifact,11/09/11]

Associated Press: President Obama’s Affordable Care Act “Strengthens Traditional Medicare.”“The law signed by Obama strengthens traditional Medicare by improving preventive care and increasing payments to primary care doctors and nurses serving as medical coordinators.” [Associated Press, 12/12/11]

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT EXTENDS THE SOLVENCY OF MEDICARE PART A TO 2024 AND ACHIEVES SHORT TERM SAVINGS OF $200 BILLION IN MEDICARE THROGH 2016, IMMEDIATELY BENEFITING THE MEDICARE TRUST FUND

The Affordable Care Act Extends The Solvency Of Medicare Part A To 2024, Eight Years Longer Than Without Health Care Reform.“The Medicare Trustees Report released today shows that the Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund is expected to remain solvent until 2024, the same as last year’s estimate, but action is needed to secure its long-term future.  In 2011, the HI Trust Fund expenditures were lower than expected. Without the Affordable Care Act, the HI Trust Fund would expire 8 years earlier, in 2016. ”[Center For Medicare & Medicaid Services,04/23/12]

The Affordable Care Act Achieves Short-Term Savings Of Over $200 Billion In Medicare Through 2016, Resulting In Immediate Benefit To The Medicare Trust Fund.“The Affordable Care Act: Achieves short-term savings of over $200 billion in Medicare through 2016 according to the independent CMS Actuary…resulting in immediate benefit to the Medicare Trust Fund.” [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,04/23/12]

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CLOSES THE DOUGHNUT HOLE IN MEDICARE PART D BY 2020, AND HAS ALREADY REDUCED THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR MILLIONS OF MEDICARE RECIPIENTS

The Affordable Care Act Closes The Prescription Drug Coverage Gap—The “Doughnut Hole”—In Medicare Part D By 2020.“The Affordable Care Act includes benefits to make your Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) more affordable. It does this by gradually closing the gap in drug coverage known as the ‘Donut Hole.’…the gap is closed in 2020.” [healthcare.gov,08/03/11]

• In 2011, Nearly 3.6 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Who Were In The Medicare Part D Coverage Gap Received Discounts On Prescription Drugs.[Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, 02/02/12]
•  In 2011, Medicare Recipients Have Saved More Than $2.1 Billion Through The Prescription Drug Coverage Gap Discount Program In The Affordable Care Act.[Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services,02/02/12]
• Medicare Recipients In The Prescription Drug Coverage Gap Saved An Average Of $604.[Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services,02/02/12]

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS ALREADY PROVIDED MORE THAN 25 MILLION AMERICANS IN TRADITIONAL MEDICARE WITH PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

Under The Affordable Care Act, At Least 25.7 Million Americans In Traditional Medicare Received At Least One Free Preventive Benefit In 2011, Including The New Annual Wellness Visit.“According to preliminary numbers, at least 25,720,996 million Americans took advantage of at least one free preventive benefit in Medicare in 2011, including the new Annual Wellness Visit. This represents 73.3% of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries.” [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 02/2012]

Combined With Seniors Enrolled In Medicare Advantage Plans, An Estimated 32.5 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Benefited From Medicare’s Coverage Of Prevention With No Cost Sharing.“This report details how over 25.7 million Americans in traditional Medicare received free preventive services in 2011.  In Medicare Advantage, last year 9.3 million Americans – 97 percent of those in individual Medicare Advantage plans – were enrolled in a plan that offers free preventive services. Assuming that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries utilized preventive services at the same rate as beneficiaries in traditional Medicare, an estimated 32.5 million beneficiaries benefited from Medicare’s coverage of prevention with no cost sharing.” [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services,02/2012]

Romney Confirms He Will Deny Insurance To Millions With Pre-Existing Conditions If Obamacare Is Struck Down

Supporters of Abortion Rights Should Fear a Supreme Court Shaped by Romney [Mother Jones, 6-12-12]

6.6 YOUNG ADULTS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THANKS TO OBAMA CARE

Thanks to the landmark 2010 health care reform law, approxmately, 6.6 million young adults signed up for health coverage through their parents’ insurance plans in the first year after a new provision in the federal health law took effect, according to estimates in a study released late last week. As part of the law, most insurance plans offered by employers to their workers had to allow parents to enroll dependents on their plans up to the age of 26, starting in September 2010. Previously, parents had been able to include children only up to their 19th birthdays, or until the age of 22 if the children were full-time college students [New Nebraska Network, 6/11/12]