October 24, 2024
Bohemia, New York – AMAC CEO Rebecca Weber published an op-ed in The Washington Examiner exposing “one of the most audacious vote-buying schemes in political history.”
As Weber explains, the so-called Inflation Reduction Act – Democrats’ signature climate spending legislation – takes $230 billion from Medicare, which will lead to premium rate hikes for beneficiaries. But in a deceptive effort to delay cost increases until after the election, the Biden-Harris Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is abusing an obscure rule to effectively bribe insurers to temporarily keep premiums stable.
You can read the op-ed in its entirety here. See key excerpts below:
“In reality, the Inflation Reduction Act stole $230 billion from Medicare beneficiaries to fund the Biden-Harris administration’s climate agenda. One of the major provisions in the act gives the government the power to ‘negotiate’ (read: fix) prescription drug prices. These ‘savings’ are then diverted from Medicare to unrelated initiatives such as electric vehicle tax credits and charging stations.
“But those savings aren’t really savings at all — the costs Medicare isn’t paying will be passed on directly to Medicare recipients in the form of premium rate hikes. In other words, seniors struggling to make ends meet will pay more out of pocket for prescription drugs so that wealthy elites can enjoy thousands of dollars off on their new electric cars.”
…
“In essence, Democrats are using temporary, and possibly illegal, accounting tricks to hold back the flood of premium rate hikes until after November’s election. It’s a blatant attempt by the Biden-Harris administration to use taxpayer dollars to win support from seniors, which is exactly why Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has urged the Department of Justice to investigate the scheme as a Hatch Act violation.”
…
“In spite of the Biden-Harris administration’s best efforts, many seniors are already feeling the pinch from the Inflation Reduction Act. The average monthly premium for Medicare Part D plans increased by 21% in 2024, the largest single-year increase ever.
“Moreover, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the monthly premium for the most popular Part D stand-alone drug plan is increasing by $17. Premiums for at least eight popular prescription drug plans will increase by a staggering $35 per month in 2025, or $420 per year.”
Why are the Republicans not blasting this corruption from every rooftop???
Information as presented in this article is appreciated by those American citizens who think honorably, not in a devious way. Good article Rebecca, this work you did to see through the deception of this vote buying scheme is a great defense against the corrupt way of doing things by the corrupt people who believe in the transformation of everything that is ethical in the United States of America. Let’s all be thankful for the principles of Faith, Family and Freedom to guide this Nation on the right course. Praise for Senator Rand Paul for his efforts too.
All of our family should be sent this information. A lot of working citizens do not realize that the Medicare tax that they and their employers are paying out of each paycheck is not a just a deduction, but is being misused by our “trusted” government. Where is Congress in this blatant misuse of tax money? Why are they allowing this transfer of “escrowed funds” being diverted? This whole Administration and the “silent” Congress Reps and Senators should be voted out for their derelict duty!
What a travesty for the younger families who will be needed to help some of their elder family and also the funds depleted that they diligently contribute each paycheck being robbed from the purpose the deductions were imposed. How shameful that our government is doing as they please and not honoring their “fiduciary responsibility”.
This robbing of dedicated funds would get a Financial Treasurer charged with a crime!
Come on Government leaders, START DOING THE RIGHT THING!
Oh yes another one of these policies that don’t work but blame Trump. The insurance industry gets 7 billion in subsidy, (kickbacks) I call it for 2025. To keep copays for meds low. And what price reduction on meds did they negotiate. Only diabetes meds. Nothing else. I thank Ms Weber for shedding light on this but the culprits that did it won’t be punished for this. Because the Supreme Court has given presidents immunity from official acts while president. Just like the student loans payoffs. The dems make their own laws and rules. Even though the congress has to okay the expenditures. Only they were never told of this Medicare scheme. But Trump oh his charges they have created are real. No they are not. Only in the demented mind of Biden and Harris. Who has no mind. VOTE TRUMP VANCE IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR SS AND MEDICARE. we seniors have a duty to die. We are too expensive.
How can we sue them (jail is better) for using OUR tax money TO BUY VOTES!
Oh, we got our new premium rates for Part D and the accompanying formulary for our regular maintenance drugs. 350% increase. Will ve shopping for sure. This is so wrong.
This Party is without mind/heart.
CROOKS AND THIEVES!!!!! THEY NEED TO BE STOPPED. SENIORS CANT AFFORD THIS. WERE STRUGGLING NOW. WE DESPERATELY NEED TRUMP!
As a cancer survivor, I am feeling the increases already even with 4 coverages. How much more for others who can’t afford private insurance & can’t qualify for welfare or illegal benefits. Kamala & Joe has betrayed our trust & so did the Democrats in power.
And they are warning Elon Musk about his lottery to register voters? Guess it all boils down to which party your for as to who gets punished and who doesn’t. Not fair!
My Part D premium more than doubled in 2024. When I called to question the increase, I was told it was due to the higher cost due to the President’s efforts to lower Prescription prices. In addition, I am now being charged for Prescriptions I have never had to pay for before as they are Tier 1 drugs. And if that were not enough, I recently found that next year I will be paying an additional 40% for Part D premium.
THE BLOB.. UNITY PARTY… have been in charge for decades and the “controllable” henchmen they have in BOTH PARTIES. Understand this exists in the shadows then listen to them speak and you will see the thru their lies. MAY GOD IN HEAVEN KEEP DONALD J TRUMP SAFE!
I’m not a legal beagle but as I read the Hatch Act, it exempts the POTUS and VP. If I am correct Rand Paul will just be making a political statement with no teeth.
I agree what Biden has done, along with those in the House and Senate who were culpable in passing the IRA, is dispicable but that is what our government has become.
We must vote to rid the nation of those elitists in DC who fail to represent us.
AMERICA has never been as uninformed and corrupt as it is today and the corruptness begins at the top.It’s pretty obvious.When you see what’s happening at the top it’s difficult to trust anyone.AMERICA is great,it’s mostly the deadbeats that at the top that are the instigators.Then there is the soros cult and that hitler like in Switzerland.
THIS MONEY DOES NOT BELONG TO THE GOVERNMENT TO SPEND AS IT PLEASES. THIS MONEY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED AND PAID THROUGH THEIR PAYCHECKS ON THEIR REGULAR PAYROLL FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WITHDRAWALS FROM EACH PAYROLL PERIOD AND MAILED IN TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. IT IS NOT THEIR MONEY TO SPEND BUT TO RETAIN UNTILL THE REMITTERS ARE OF AGE TO WITHDRAW. I WORKED FOR 44 YEARS AND PAID IN TO THESE FUNDS. TAKE YOUR CROCKED HANDS OUT OF THE TILL.
I am afraid that we are headed for a roller coaster never seen before.
Is this one of the ways the Dems “preserve democracy “?
No surprise here, I’m surprised they haven’t formally created the illegal alien 5 million soldier army they imported with taxpayer dollars.
This Medicare robbery by politicians is being done to benefit them, not us, the one’s who pay for it. Instead, we get to pay twice the current amount and spend our time in half the services available to us in 2024. How long are we the people going to take another Social Security theft by our government? Time to Stand Up, Show Up, & SPEAK UP! No More! Article V them!
“Democrats” have always led with a war cry against fairness to all citizens. There is no reason to suspect that this will ever change, until our voters and body politic are exasperated enough to ensure that these theives never hold office again. They’re the type who would shake down an 8-year-old for his lunch money.
I bet CNN is on top of this story… oops, sorry, I think I’m hallucinating from listening to excerpts of Kamala’s “townhall”. Must be a fascist thing afflicting us Nazis.
if what is written is true, then sue the sons-of-guns OR have them indicted to serve jail time or pay tremendous fines OR all the aforementioned. however, i firmly believe none of this will occur because of the “deep state”, i’ve just about lost all trust and belief in our legislative and judicial system. thank goodness i’m old and not have to tolerate these incidents of lip service much longer.nw
We need a Taxpayer Revolt. Calculate tax owed. Put it in escrow until the Convention of States can meet and reign in this out of control Federal Government and the Bureaucracy it has spawned.
Our premiums for my spouse and self is jumping from $10 to $40 each. We are trying to find a better one.
OK Pennsylvania Senate race voters, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Nevada, Montana, Arizona you all have incumbent Senators and Congressman who voted yes for this harmful bill when it was passed. Now it’s your opportunity to win these seats and repeal the law. Make sure your votes are counted and your voices are heard.
The latest bribe for votes is Dictator Beijing biden apologizing to Native Americans to get their vote. This is after his recent bribe for votes on his illegal Student Loan Forgiveness SCAM which the U.S. Supreme Court said is illegal.
Stay tuned for more Bribes for votes from Dictator Beijing biden, Communist harris, and democrats.
There is not way the measly 2.5% increase in 2025 social Security will keep up with the extra money we will have to pay for Medicare Part B and Part D increases, let alone inflation. Getting screwed by Demoncrats again !!
Waiting till after the election is criminal.
My Medicare prescription coverage, PART D, premium was increased this year (January) by about $50/month. I paid $23/month the 2 years before this year, then it went up this year to at least $72/month. I was shocked by the increase. It is now costing me almost $600/month for Medicare B, C and D insurance, which I cannot afford. I have been cutting corners and canceling subscriptions for a lot of things but I have to replace what I canceled with something else, so I am not saving as much as I had hoped. Oh, and my job ended in May, with no work in the summer and the state decided not to fund the program I, and a lot of other local people were working on, so I have not job right now, and housing costs just went up $400/month, starting on November 1st. People who work for the federal government get the best medical insurance of anyone else in the country, and if they pay anything towards it you can bet it is minuscule, because we the taxpayers are paying for it even when they leave office.
The sooner we can get them out of office the better we’ll be.
Ship all Democrats to a communist where they belong!
The Democratic Party is a traitorous criminal organization Simple as that.
NOTHING these crooked Dumbassocrats are doing/have done/will do has surprised me. Biden and all of his phart catchers have been the absolute worst denizens of the White House EVER!
Well as long as ya’ll take the FAULTY VACCINES.. YOU will be sick all the time…YES= FAULTY… No more for me… YOU do know the pharmaceuticals “program” the vaccines to make sure U get SICK – so U need PHARMACEUTICALS… tHINK ABOUT IT… why ARE CHILDREN getting Autism now,??? when we were children there were FEW AUTISMS these companies need the $$$ to buy off congress!!!
Why are we hearing about this now instead of before the Act was passed? Oh, yes, all the people in Government who voted for this had to pass it first, before it was read by them, i guess. In which case why weren’t we all told before now what it would do to seniors, who are already struggling with fixed incomes and inflation.