We were told by Mr. Obama and all the folks in the Democratic party that the Affordable Healthcare Act for America otherwise known as House Bill 3962 was not going to affect seniors or Medicare.  Well here’s the reality of what IS going to happen.  First of all, we’re going to see $426 billion in cuts to Medicare and another $143 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage plans like Coventry Advantra and Humana Gold plans that are out there right now.  Here is a quote directly from the House Bill that will crystallize this a little better:

    Section 1302 page 672 to 692 moves Medicare from a fee-for-service payment system in which patients chose which doctors to see and doctors are paid for each service they perform into what’s called a Medical Home. A Medical Home is this decades version of the HMO restriction. “A primary care provider manages access to costly specialists and diagnostic tests for a flat fee.” By the way that “home care provider” or primary care provider could be a nurse practitioner. Although this is being set up as a test system, it will be disseminated on a rapid basis throughout the country by the Sec. Of Health and Human Services the honorable Kathleen Sebelius. So if you’re wondering who’s going to pay for this and on the backs of whom this is going to be saddled, be very sure that it will be on the backs of those of us who are chronologically challenged, otherwise known as seasoned citizens. Mark my words: Medicare is going to get whacked.